Here's a quick summary of the certificates covered one by one in this series, so you can decide faster.
For everyone (regardless of ship type)
STCW basic safety training (not covered in this series — a separate topic) is already mandatory for all seafarers. This series covers the additional special certificates required depending on your target ship type.
Quick summary by ship type
- Targeting tankers (oil/chemical/gas): Start with the relevant tanker type's basic training; if you're aiming for officer/engineer, plan for the advanced level too.
- Targeting passenger/Ro-Ro ships: Crowd management is required for everyone; add crisis management or passenger service training depending on your role.
- Targeting LNG/LPG-fuelled or polar-water ships: Look into IGF or polar navigation certificates.
- Targeting offshore/DP vessels: Progress through the DP Operator certificate in stages (starting with Induction).
- Targeting watchkeeping officer roles (regardless of ship type): GOC/ROC and REO (radar/ARPA) are required for nearly every position.
Practical tip
Use the "Special Certificates" filter when searching listings to see jobs matching what you already hold. If you don't have any yet, use the ship-type mapping in this guide to decide what to prioritise.
You can find the other parts of this series from "Certificate Guide: What Does Each Document Do?".
