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
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
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 |
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Master |
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Chief Mate |
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2nd Officer |
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Third Officer |
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Deck Cadet |
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STCW Courses for Marine Engineers
Rank | STCW Course Required |
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Chief Engineer |
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2nd Engineer |
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3rd Engineer |
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4th Engineer |
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Engine Cadet |
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STCW Course Fees
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.