Frequently asked questions about the Experienced Seafarer Route
I have completed STCW courses overseas, do I need to do them again in the UK?
Personal survival and Fire prevention and basic Fire Fighting will be accepted from any country on the IMO STCW white list.
Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats (not fast rescue boats) and Advanced Fire Fighting will be accepted from countries on the list for acceptance for a CEC (Certificate of Equivalent Competency).
All others must be done at a training centre approved by the MCA.
Is there any exemption from the course because of previous qualifications?
Any exemptions allowed will be set out by the College in your LOA.
What is the sea requirement for the experienced seafarer routes?
You must normally meet an MCA requirement to have at least 24 months engine room sea service and hold an STCW 111/4 watch rating certificate prior to commencing training and at least 30 months total before completing your training. Other rules apply for graduate entrants etc. and this is determined by College when applying for your LOA.
Main engine Power must exceed 750kW, but you must get a letter of initial assessment to confirm the MCA are accepting your service, for instance they may not accept service on some vessels such as fishing vessels, certain types of tugs etc. Only the MCA can agree to any reduction in sea service requirements. This would be done at the time of requesting a letter of initial assessment. More information is available on the MCA website.
How many teaching hours are there on the course?
On the 22 week course, you will receive approximately 30 hours tuition for each of the two terms which will have a minimum of eleven teaching weeks each. There are also 16 hours per week of evening tutorial time available to you plus additional time when the library and learning centres with computer based training and internet facilities will be available to you, free of charge, once enrolled.
Is there any distance learning option?
Yes, please follow our link to Distance Learning for Engineer Officer of the Watch III/I Sciences. You must attend the College to do the MNTB workshop skills.
Which routes can I take?
Whichever route you are considering, you need to contact the College. There are no specific academic qualifications necessary to join the experienced seafarer scheme, it was introduced partly to encourage wider participation in the officer certification schemes. You must however, have a LOA from an approved College, which requires at least 12 months previous engine room sea time, and a sound level of basic maths and English. The experienced seafarer is not meant as a training programme for those coming straight into the industry. It was developed to help those already in the industry gain their first certificate. You should not attempt to join the scheme if you do not have previous engine room sea time or if you have not obtained a letter of initial assessment from the MCA or a LOA from the College.
Can I do the MNTB Record Book before I have completed the underpinning knowledge (UPK) course?
You can start work on the purple Training Record Book once you have your Letter of Acceptance. Training Record Books can be obtained at the time of applying for your LOA.
I have completed a different Record Book, is this okay?
No. We record the date of issue of your MNTB Record Book so that this information is available for audit by the MCA. The ISF Record Book is no longer acceptable to the MCA. However, we will accept evidence in purple MNTB training record books issued by other MCA approved UK colleges, provided such evidence is gained after the issue of a letter of initial assessment.
What are the awarding bodies, MCA, MNTB, IAMI, ISF etc?
The College delivers the program of study, examinations and assessments, but is audited by the MCA. The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) is the lead body, as they developed the award to meet their requirements. One of the many roles of The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is to be responsible for the issue of certificates of competency. IAMI are the International Association of Maritime Institutions, and administer some exams on behalf of the MCA. The ISF is the International Shipping Federation, and they produced a training record book to match the International Training Requirements set down by the STCW 95. The MNTB Training Record Book (the purple book) replaced the ISF record book for use on non-NVQ programmes in October 2006.
How do I contact the College for a LOA
You should contact the Marine Engineering Department by email on . We will need to sight a copy of your LOA before you can be admitted onto any of our courses leading to Engineer Officer of the Watch Reg. III/I.
What do I have to do to join the college course?
Our course dates and information are listed below along with the Application form. Please complete the form and email it back to us with your requested documents and the required course payment.
Are there any loan arrangements or financial assistance?
If you are a home student, you may be eligible for assistance from the Marine Society. You can visit their website at . If you are intending to seek support in this way, make sure you do it well in advance of the course start.
How do I get to Tyne Coast College?
There is a map and full details on our website, but in brief the nearest airport and mainline railway station are located at Newcastle upon Tyne, and you can travel from both of these locations to South Shields using the rapid transit system, the Metro, (similar to the London Underground system). There is a taxi rank at South Shields Metro station and the College and our Halls of Residence, are situated on the same site, which is 5 minutes away by taxi.
What will I need for workshop training at the college?
For workshop and other practical sessions the following will be worn:
Boiler suit will be white or in a colour supplied by the sponsoring company, cleaned each week and kept in a good state of repair. Suits must have means of fastening up to the neck, with long sleeves with cuffs that are not too free.
Safety shoes will be of an approved type BS/8070/953 or ES DIN/4843. Trainees must inform the lecturer in charge of the session when these shoes are not worn.
Are there any recommended Course Books?
There are many suitable books available, and the college library will be available to you once you are enrolled at the college. Here are some suggested titles:
Introduction to Marine EngineeringD.A. Taylor
Butterworth Heinemann ISBN 0 7506 25309
Diesel EnginesA.J. Wharton Butterworth Heinemann ISBN 0 7506 02171
General Engineering Knowledge H.D. McGeorge
Butterworth Heinemann ISBN 0 7506 0006 3
Practical Marine Electrical KnowledgeD. T. Hall
WitherbyISBN 1 85609 182 1
A Foundation Course in Statics and Dynamics Plum & Downie
ISBN 0582-210607
Marine Medium Speed Diesel Engines D. Griffiths
ISBN 1-902 536-18-5
Technician Mathematics 1 2nd edition Bird & May
LongmanISBN 0-582-41256-0
Is there a Syllabus for the IAMI exams?
The IAMI EK exam and the IAMI Science exams are based on requirements set by the MCA. The Syllabus for the MCA Engineering Exams is comparable to that published in MGN 69(M) which is available on the MCA website:
An indicative syllabus for the IAMI Academic exams is given on the next page.
Can you get exemptions from the IAMI exams?
Absences
Please note
If candidates fail to appear more than 3 times for the IAMI EOOW EK exam, South Tyneside College will not be willing to issue a visa letter/email confirmation. Candidates will therefore not be eligible to sit the exam at this centre.
Numerous attempts
Please note
If candidates receive more than 3 failures with poor grades for the IAMI EOOW EK exam, South Tyneside College will not be willing to issue a visa letter/email confirmation without candidates studying the IAMI EOOW EK 3 week preparation course at a cost of £650 (if and when it is being scheduled), please note 100% attendance is required.
If you hold a relevant engineering qualifications (degree, HND/HNC or equivalent) you may be eligible for exemptions from:
General Engineering Science A & B course and examination;
The Control Engineering Section of the Engineering Knowledge examination.
If your degree, HND/HNC or equivalent was in Electro Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical or Marine Engineering you will be exempt from General Engineering Science A & B and Control Engineering providing it was covered in the programme. Evidence of this automatically exempt you from these if shown to the college.