Form

Guidance on Merchant NoE Requirements

Updated 25 March 2026

Seagoing service should be on merchant vessels proceeding to sea (beyond the categorised waters around the UK coast, or beyond harbour limits in non-UK areas). Vessels can be of any flag.

For All Applications

• Complete MSF 4275
• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph, cropped to 4:3
• College letter or Action Plan
• ENG1 or accepted equivalent
• 4 STCW basic safety training certificates completed by an IMO country
  • Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code A-VI/1-1),
  • Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Code A-VI/1-2),
  • Elementary First Aid (STCW Code A-VI/1-3),
  • Personal Safety & Social Responsibilities (STCW Code A-VI/1-4),

Engineer OOW

Cadetship

• Completed a HNC/HND and Sea Service within 5 years of enrolling on the course or 6 years for those that are studying Foundation Degree/Scottish Professional Diploma/Bachelor Degree
• During which time an approved MNTB Training Record Book (TRB) must be completed, this should be completed after registering with the college.
• 12 months combined seagoing service and workshop skills.
  • With a minimum of 6 months seagoing service engaged in watchkeeping or UMS duties on ships of at least 750kW
• Minimum of 3 month workshop skills (should be confirmed in college letter or certificate)
• Remaining 3 months can be
  • Seagoing service
  • Combined workshop/industrial training or
  • 1 month MCA approved Lab time and 2 months seagoing/industrial training

Experienced Seafarer

• Seagoing service of no less than 24 months in merchant ships of at least 350 kW (to be completed prior to seafarer registering with the college)
• 9 months’ seagoing service in the engine room of vessels of at least 750 kW.
  • Including 6 months’ service undertaking watchkeeping or UMS duties, during which time an approved MNTB Training Record Book (TRB) must be completed, this should be completed after registering with the college

Alternative Route

• Seagoing service must be performed on merchant ships proceeding to sea. Proceeding to sea means, beyond the categorised waters around the coast of the United Kingdom or beyond the harbour limits for waters outside the United Kingdom.
• At least 75% of the required seagoing service must be performed while the vessel is underway on sea passage.
  • Seagoing service (steaming time) will be calculated from the seagoing service testimonials.
  • During which time an approved MNTB Training Record Book (TRB) must be completed, this should be completed after registering with the college

Combined Motor and Steam EOOW CoC

• Completion of 4 months’ watchkeeping or UMS on each type of ship (motor and steam)
• Completion of all sections in the MNTB TRB (motor and steam)

Important TRB Information

Page i & ii – Contact Details – Must be fully completed

Section 1 – Guidance – Nothing to be completed

Section 2 – Record of Progress and Achievement - Must be fully completed

Section 3 – Ship and Voyage Details - Must be fully completed

Section 4 – Marine National Occupational Standards – Nothing to be completed

Section 5 – Training Tasks – The relevant tasks must be fully completed.

Section 6 – Engineering and Operations Workbook Guidance – Nothing to be completed

• Requirements for MNTB TRB – All sections must be completed and if left incomplete will delay your application. If there are any sections incomplete then please speak to your Training Provider/Nautical College.

Additional Endorsements to a current CoC (Motor or Steam)

• Complete at least 4 months’ watchkeeping or UMS duties as a trainee/junior engineer officer under the supervision of qualified engineer officers, on the type of ship for which you do not hold an endorsement.
• Two forms of evidence are required in the forms of Discharge Book or Certificates of Discharge and Sea Service Testimonials
• Complete the motor or steam section of the TRB (whichever one you do not currently hold an endorsement in);

Second Engineer

Unlimited Motorships Only or Steamships Only - EOOW UK CoC Holders

• Copy of the seafarer’s passport (verification purposes)
• 2 Passport photographs
• Evidence of the sea service on a Motorship of:
  • 12 Months seagoing service as EOOW, III/1 on vessels of at least 750kW. This should include at least 9 months’ watchkeeping or UMS duties

Unlimited Combined (Steamships and Motorships) – EOOW UK COC Holders

• Copy of the seafarer’s passport (verification purposes)
• 2 Passport photographs
• For a combined application we need to see sea service evidence of 12 months watchkeeping or UMS duties of which;
  • 6 months needs to be on a Motorship of at least 750kW and;
  • 6 months needs to be on a Steamship of at least 750kW

Non UK CoC Holders for Second Engineer

Unlimited Motorships Only or Steamships Only – Non UK CoC Holders

• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph
• Valid Non-UK CoC (this will be verified with the issuing authority)
• Evidence of the sea service on a Motorship of: - 12 Months seagoing service as EOOW, III/1 on vessels of at least 750kW and; - This should include at least 9 months’ watchkeeping or UMS duties

Unlimited Combined (Steamships and Motorships) – Non UK CoC Holders

• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph
• Valid Non-UK CoC (this will be verified with the issuing authority)
• For a combined application we need to see sea service evidence of 12 months watchkeeping or UMS duties of which;
  • 6 months needs to be on a Motorship of at least 750kW and;
  • 6 months needs to be on a Steamship of at least 750kW

Limited Second Engineer Licences

Motorships <3000kW Near Coastal (EOOW Motorships or combined CoC Holders)

• Copy of the seafarer’s passport (verification purposes)
• 2 Passport photographs
• Evidence of sea service on a Motorship of which 6 months’ seagoing service above what was required to sit the  EOOW oral examination.
• This oral examination can be taken at the same time as the EOOW oral examination as long as the sea service requirement has been met.

Motorships <3000kW Unlimited Area (EOOW Motorships or combined CoC Holders)

• Copy of the seafarer’s passport (verification purposes)
• 2 Passport photographs
• Evidence of sea service on a Motorship of 12 months’ seagoing service holding an EOOW UK CoC

Non UK CoC Holders for Limited Second Engineer Licences

Motorships <3000kW Near Coastal (EOOW Motorships or combined CoC Holders)

• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph
• Valid Non-UK CoC (this will be verified with the issuing authority)
• Evidence of sea service on a Motorship of:
  • 6 months’ seagoing service since obtaining the Non-UK EOOW CoC.
  • This oral examination can be taken at the same time as the EOOW oral examination as long as the sea service requirement has been met.
• Must also complete MNTB Workshop skills and EOOW written examinations

Motorships <3000kW Unlimited Area (Non-UK EOOW Motorships or combined CoC Holders)

• Copy of the seafarer’s passport (verification purposes)
• 2 Passport photographs
• Valid Non-UK CoC (this will be verified with the issuing authority) from and FSE listed country (add further info for those that are not??)
• Evidence of sea service on a Motorship of 12 months’ seagoing service since holding an EOOW CoC

Chief Engineer

• Must hold a Second Engineer Unlimited CoC or be eligible to obtain one

Unlimited Motorships Only or Steamships Only – Second Engineer UK CoC Holders

• Copy of the seafarer’s passport (verification purposes)
• 2 Passport photographs
• Evidence of the sea service on a Motorship or Steamship of 12 Months seagoing service as a Second Engineer or Chief Engineer, III/2
  • Of which 9 months’ sea service should be performed on a vessel of at least 3000kW and the remaining 3 months’ on a vessel of at least 750kW.

or

• 36 Months sea service since obtaining a EOOW CoC.
  • Of which a minimum of 18 months sea service to be performed on a vessel of at least 3000kW in charge of the watch.
  • The remaining sea service to be performed on a vessel of 750kW

Unlimited Combined (Steamships and Motorships)

• Copy of the seafarer’s passport (verification purposes)
• 2 Passport photographs
• Evidence of the sea service on a Motorship and a Steamship of 12 Months actual seagoing service as a Second Engineer, III/2,
  • Of which 6 months actual seagoing service to be performed on motorships of at least 3000kW
  • With 6 months actual seagoing service to be performed on steamships of at least 3000kW

Non-UK CoC Holders for Chief Engineer

Unlimited Motorships Only or Steamships Only

• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph
• Valid Non-UK CoC (this will be verified with the issuing authority)
• Evidence of the sea service on a Motorship or Steamship of:
  • 12 Months seagoing service as a Second Engineer or Chief Engineer, III/2
  • Of which 9 months’ sea service should be performed on a vessel of at least 3000kW and the remaining 3 months’ on a vessel of at least 750kW.

or

• 36 Months sea service since obtaining a EOOW CoC. Of which a minimum of 18 months sea service to be performed on a vessel of at least 3000kW in charge of the watch. The remaining sea service to be performed on a vessel of 750kW

Unlimited Combined (Steamships and Motorships)

• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph
• Valid Non-UK CoC (this will be verified with the issuing authority)
• Evidence of the sea service on a Motorship and a Steamship of 12 Months actual seagoing service as a Second Engineer, III/2,
  • Of which 6 months actual seagoing service to be performed on motorships of at least 3000kW
  • And 6 months actual seagoing service to be performed on steamships of at least 3000kW

Motorships <3000kW Unlimited Area (Second Engineer Unlimited, III/2, holders)

• Hold a UK Second Engineer Unlimited CoC or a Non-UK Second Engineer Unlimited CoC (Non-UK CoCs will be verified with the issuing authority, has to be from a country on the FSE list)
• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph
• No evidence of sea service is required

Motorships <3000kW Unlimited Area (Second Engineer <3000kW Unlimited Area, III/3, holders)

• Hold a UK Second Engineer <3000kW CoC or a Non-UK Second Engineer <3000kW CoC (Non-UK CoCs will be verified with the issuing authority, has to be from a country on the FSE list)
• Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
• An attested passport photograph
• Evidence of the sea service on a Motorship of 12 Months seagoing service on a vessel of at least 750kW since obtaining the EOOW Licence.

Marine Engineer Operator Licence (MEOL)

For All MEOL Route Applications * Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person * An attested passport photograph, cropped to 4:3

Seafarer must show either: ###An apprenticeship in one of the following: - Diesel Engine Maintenance - Heavy Vehicle Maintenance, - Agriculture Machinery Maintenance or - A relevant (marine and mechanical engineering) apprenticeship acceptable to the MCA. * Seagoing service, the amount specified by the MCA after an examiner assessment, as a trainee marine engine operator on vessels of at least 200 kW; and * Complete the Approved Engine Course (AEC)

or

• A Diploma (level 2) in Maritime Studies Able Seafarer Engine (for information please contact Merchant Navy Training Board, enquiry@mntb.org.uk) and
• 6 months’ seagoing service as a trainee engine operator or as a rating forming part of the engineering watch while holding an ERWRC

or

Hold an Able Seafarer Engine Certification

or

• 24 months’ shore employment in an engineering background acceptable to the MCA and 3 months’ qualifying seagoing service as a trainee marine engine operator on a vessel of at least 200 kW and an Approved Engine Course (AEC)

or

• If a EOOW Unlimited CoC is held (UK CoC or Non-UK FSE Country CoC). Sea Service evidence of 6 months in the last 5 years

Senior Marine Engineer Operators Licence (SMEOL)

• Must Hold a UK MEOL certificate
• Sea service evidence of
  • 6 months sea service on vessels over 200kW since obtaining the UK MEOL licence.
  • All sea service must have been performed in the last 5 years
  • Copy of passport, attested by a responsible person
  • An attested passport photograph, cropped to 4:3
  • Complete the form MSF 4275