STCW Courses

What is STCW Course?

The Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping course or in short STCW sets a minimum standard of training for every seafarer according to IMO that he needs to go through before going onboard ship. Every seafarer must go through the proper training depending on the type of ship and the rank he is going at. Without a proper valid STCW certificate, a seafarer cannot work on a ship, pleasure crafts, or any other floating platform. 

To ensure the proper training, the IMO has made STCW courses compulsory for every seafarer. Let’s check which STCW courses you need to complete at which rank and what is the price for that course.

Find STCW Course Near Me

Choosing the right maritime institute for STCW Course can be confusing, and challenging. To solve that, Merchant Navy Decoded has launched STCW Course Finder portal to book your STCW Course easily. So no more calls, surfing websites, only easy booking. 

Search any STCW Course anywhere in India with STCW Course Finder and book your Course with 3 easy steps. You might also get a discount of up to 10% on your STCW Course booking.

Full STCW Course List

The STCW Course consist mainly 5 types of courses:

  • Basic STCW Course 
  • Advanced STCW Course
  • Refresher STCW Course
  • Simulator Course
  • Value Added Course

Basic STCW Courses

Basic STCW courses are those courses that every seafarer has to complete before going on their first ship. These courses are very important for seafarers as it trains them to tackle any emergency situations onboard such as fire, man overboard, or flooding on ship. Some basic STCW Courses are: Basic Safety Training Course, STSDSD Course, OCTCO and LGTF.

Advanced STCW Courses

The advanced STCW courses are necessary for seafarers who have completed their basic STCW Course and are now looking to get the 2nd Mate, Class 4 or other CoCs. Without completing the advance STCW Courses like Advanced Fire Fighting, Medical First Aid, or PSCRB you cannot apply for the assessment exam to get the CoC. Even after getting the CoC, you need to apply for the advanced courses like CHEMCO, TASCO or GASCO depending on the ship you are going to.

Refresher STCW Courses

Some STCW Courses are valid for only 5 years and after 5 years their certificates expire. So, instead of going through the whole course again, the DG Shipping conducts the Refresher STCW Courses with which a person can renew their STCW Certificate for the next 5 years without completing the whole course again. Unlike Basic STCW Courses, or Advanced STCW Courses, the refresher STCW course does not have any Exit Exam. Students can directly download their certificate from INDoS Checker without clearing any STCW Exit Exam.

Simulator Course

The simulator courses train the seafarers by using simulations and showing real life maritime scenarios to the seafarers. It helps the seafarers to understand what actions they should take in different situations. It also provides the training to run the software or machine such as ECDIS, GMDSS, ROS, ARPA etc.

Value Added Course

These courses are not compulsory but it provides additional value and training to the seafarers which will help them to grow in their career or to get training in a particular area of shipping. Some examples of these courses are Marine Boiler Courses, Port Facility Security Officer, Company Security Officer etc. 

You can search all of these courses on our website STCW Course Finder where you will find the dates, nearest colleges and also discount up to 10% on STCW Course Booking.

STCW Courses You Need At Different Ranks

To join and to get the promotion in the merchant navy, you need to complete the STCW Courses, let’s check which courses you have to do for which rank in the engine and deck department.

STCW Courses for Deck Officers

Rank STCW Course Required
Master                                     
  • Master ASM Course
  • Refresher Courses (If Expired)
  • Ship Manoeuvring Simulator Course
Chief Mate
  • Refresher Courses (If Expired)
  • Chief Mate Phase I
  • Chief Mate Phase II
  • Medicare Course
  • RANSCO
2nd Officer
  • Refresher Courses (If Expired)


Third Officer
  • 2nd Mate Function Course
  • Advanced Fire Fighting
  • Medical First Aid
  • PSCRB Course
  • ROSC, ARPA, ECDIS
  • GMDSS Course
Deck Cadet
  • Basic Safety Training Course
  • STSDSD Course
  • OCTCO Course
  • LGTF Course

STCW Courses for Marine Engineers

RankSTCW Course Required
Chief Engineer
  • DECGS Course
  • MEO Class 1 Preparatory Course
  • Refresher Courses (If expired)
2nd Engineer                                                       
  • Refresher Courses (If Expired)
  • MEO Class 2 Preparatory Course
  • ERS (Management Level)
 
 
3rd Engineer
  • Refresher Courses (If Expired)
 
 
4th Engineer
  • SSO Course (Optional)
  • Advanced Fire Fighting
  • Medical First Aid
  • PSCRB Course
  • Engine Room Simulator (Operational)
 
Engine Cadet
  • Basic Safety Training Course
  • STSDSD Course
  • OCTCO Course
  • LGTF Course

STCW Course Fees

STCW Course fees typically vary from ₹1,000 to ₹50,000 depending on the course, college location, and maritime institute. Until now, students were required to check the fees of the college by going to their respective websites, but now seafarers can check the price, and dates of any STCW Course at just one place, STCW Course Finder. 

What is STCW E-Learning

E-Learning is an online learning platform launched by the DG Shipping to ensure that every seafarer must have minimum theoretical understanding before attending the practical classes physically. It is mandatory for seafarers pursuing the modular and refresher courses to complete the E-Learning and assessment to apply for the physical classes of the E-Learning.

How to Enroll in STCW E-Learning?

Students can enroll for the E-Learning by following these simple steps:

  • Go to the DG Shipping website: https://www.dgshipping.gov.in/
  • In the main menu, go to the E-Learning Section and click on the modular section.
  • There you will have your STCW E-Learning Portal in which you need to click on ENROLL NOW
  • Insert your INDoS Number, Date of Birth, and select your course, and click on VERIFY. 
  • Login with your User Name and Password and start your STCW E-Learning. 

STCW Exit Exam Preparation

To clear the STCW Exit Exam, it is very important to practice the previous year STCW questions, however it is quite difficult to get your hands on the STCW multiple choice questions that easily. But now, students can prepare for both basic and advanced level of Exit Exam from our STCW Course Finder where we have summed up the most asked STCW previous year questions. It will help you understand the exam format and the types of questions that will be there. 

You can use our STCW Exit Exam Portal to practice both basic and advanced STCW Exit Exam. 

STCW Course Certificate

Once you complete your STCW E-Learning, practical classes and pass the STCW Exit Exam then you will be given a STCW Course Certificate, stating that you have successfully completed this course from your respective institute and after that you can download the STCW Certificate from the DG Shipping INDoS CoP Checker

How to Download STCW Course Certificate

To download the STCW Certificate, you need to follow these steps:

  • Visit the “DG Shipping” website dgshipping.gov.in
  • Click on the “Indos/COP Checker” website.
  • From the drop-down menu, select “STCW Course.”
  • Enter your INDOS number and date of birth, then click “Search.”
  • Locate your certificate and click on the “Certificate Number.”
  • Your certificate will open; save it to your device for future use. 

STCW Course Validity

The STCW Courses are valid for only 5 years after which every seafarer has to go through refresher courses. However, there are some courses that do not have any validity, they are valid for lifetime, e.g. Simulator courses and courses like OCTCO, LGTF, CHEMCO, TASCO, and GASCO. You are not required to do these courses again and again, so there is no refresher course for them as well. However, you need to keep renewing your DCE after courses like CHEMCO, TASCO, and GASCO Course.

STCW Course Frequently Asked Questions

The full form of STCW is Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW). 

It is a training program designed to train seafarers to survive in any emergency situation on the ship such as fire, flooding or abandoning of ship.  

The fees vary on multiple factors: the course you are choosing, the location you want and other services such as accommodation provided by the college. If you want to check the exact price and STCW Colleges near me then CLICK HERE. 

You can apply and complete the STCW E-Learning Online, however, you need to be physically available at the institute to get you course done. 

To pass the STCW Exit Exam, you need to practice previous year STCW questions. For that you can take help of our STCW Exit Exam Portal where you’ll get hundreds of STCW Exit Exam previous year questions.