Entry & progression
There are exactly three ways into the Engineer Watchkeeper certificate. MO72 Schedule 2. You must be 18, hold the CoST, and complete one of them. They are not interchangeable, and they do not take the same amount of time.
1. Engineer cadet program
The traditional route, and the longest. At least three years. An approved course meeting STCW A-III/1, including a workshop skills training program of at least 36 weeks. Then qualifying sea service of at least 36 weeks on vessels ≥750 kW, performing engineer watchkeeper duties under the supervision of a person holding an Engineer Watchkeeper, Engineer Class 2 or Engineer Class 1 certificate, of which at least 16 weeks must be on a vessel using propulsion of the kind. All of it documented in an approved Training Record Book.
2. Trainee engineer program
For the tradesperson. You must already hold a workshop skills equivalent qualification — a legally defined list, not a general impression of competence. Then combined workshop skills and qualifying sea service of at least 12 months, including the same 36 weeks on vessels ≥750 kW under supervision, of which 16 weeks on propulsion of the kind. Training Record Book again.
The trade certificate is doing enormous work here. It replaces the 36-week workshop training program and collapses a three-year cadetship into twelve months.
3. Engineering experience training program
The route up from the domestic ladder. You must hold or have held an Engineer Class 3 near coastal certificate for at least 12 months (or a State unrestricted Engineer Class 3 issued before 1 July 2013). Then an approved A-III/1 course, and qualifying sea service of at least 26 weeks while holding that certificate, on vessels ≥750 kW, of which at least 16 weeks on propulsion of the kind. Training Record Book.
| Program | Prerequisite | Sea service | Vessel ≥ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineer cadet | none (≥3 yr program, 36 wk workshop skills) | 36 weeks supervised | 750 kW |
| Trainee engineer | workshop skills equivalent qualification + 12 months combined | 36 weeks supervised | 750 kW |
| Engineering experience | EC3 NC held ≥12 months | 26 weeks while holding it | 750 kW |
All three require at least 16 weeks on propulsion of the kind, and all three require a Training Record Book.
And then the rest of it
- The engineer training program short courses — advanced fire fighting; medical first aid; and basic safety training comprising personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities, and security awareness
- PSCRB — proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats
- A certificate of medical fitness
- A final assessment — MO72's term. AMSA calls it the oral examination
CAUTION — Does superyacht sea service count toward MO72? No primary source says either way. MO72 never uses the word "merchant". Schedule 3 says vessels and ships, and a superyacht is not excluded by the text. But AMSA has published no statement confirming it accepts superyacht time toward an international engineering certificate, and MO70 s18 lets AMSA discount service it considers of little relevance.
What is certain: the vessel must be ≥750 kW, the propulsion must be of the kind, and there must be a certificated EWK, EC2 or EC1 holder aboard to supervise you and sign the Training Record Book. Get AMSA's answer in writing before you start counting weeks.