Watchkeeping Mate and Watchkeeping Mate, Near Coastal / Maritime Naval Officer Professional
1. Experience / The sea service set out in subsection
(2) of the Marine Personnel Regulations under the Canada Shipping Act. / Qualification Requirements
You must meet Canadian Forces medical standards and successfully complete a selection process that includes interviews and a wide range of examinations.
Regular Officer Training Plan - The Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP) comprises a fully subsidised undergraduate education (to the Bachelor’s degree level) at The Royal Military College of Canada or another accredited Canadian university, followed by a period of obligatory service in the Regular component of the Canadian Forces. To qualify for ROTP, you must have completed high school with the appropriate university-oriented credits, be in Grade 12 in an appropriate program with full expectation of successful completion, or be currently enrolled in an accredited Canadian university.
Direct Entry Officer - To qualify for direct entry as an officer, you must have a university degree.
2. Certificates and other documents to be provided to the
examiner / (a) MED with respect to STCW basic safety;
(b) MED training with respect to proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats;
(c) MED in advanced fire fighting;
(d) Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC) issued under the Radiocommunication Act;
(e) SEN Level I;
(f) electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS);
(g) marine advanced first aid;
(h) if applying for a Watchkeeping Mate certificate, knowledge and use of a marine sextant; and
(i) a steering testimonial attesting to the applicant’s ability to steer and containing the declaration and at least the information set out in Schedule 3 to this Part.
3. Pass examinations / (a) Communications, level 1;
(b) communications, level 2;
(c) chartwork and pilotage, level 2;
(d) navigation safety, level 1;
(e) meteorology, level 1;
(f) ship construction and stability, level 4;
(g) cargo, level 2;
(h) general ship knowledge, level 3;
(i) SIM I, after obtaining the certificate referred to in paragraph 2(e);
(j) celestial navigation, level 2, in the case of an applicant for a Watchkeeping Mate certificate, after obtaining the certificate required under paragraph 2(h); and
(k) oral examination on general seamanship, after meeting the other requirements of this table. / Following language training you will spend approximately 12 months at the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) in Esquimalt, British Columbia. Your NOTC training will consist of three courses that utilize classroom instruction, simulators, and ships at sea, and teach all aspects of navigation, bridgemanship, communications, relative motion, ship safety, emergency procedures and rules of seamanship. Upon completion of NOTC training, you will be posted to your first operational ship where, in approximately 24 months, you will complete at-sea requirements and on-the-job training leading to a Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate and Naval Officer Professional Qualification. Also included will be the Naval Operations Course in Halifax, Nova Scotia, oriented towards shipboard operations and tactics, and covering areas of study such as communications, helicopter operations and procedures, military law, and general naval knowledge.
(2) An applicant for a Watchkeeping Mate or Watchkeeping Mate, Near Coastal certificate shall acquire the following sea service performing deck duties on board one or more vessels of at least 25 gross tonnage while the vessels are engaged on voyages other than sheltered waters voyages:
(a) at least 36 months, including at least 6 months performing bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of a qualified deck officer;
(b) at least 24 months from an approved program of on-board training; or
(c) at least 12 months from an approved cadet training program in navigation. / After six months of consolidation, you will specialize for four to six months in any of the following areas: ship navigation, above or under-water weapons direction, control and direction of helicopter operations, or management of information and communication systems.