Deck officer

The anchor between captain and crew – you'll plan routes and keep everyone safe as you navigate the waves.

Also known as: first mate, second mate, third mate, mate, naval mate, deck cadet, second officer, merchant navy deck officer, maritime mate

About the job

What it's like

Deck officers work closely with the captain to keep the ship afloat! Your exact duties will differ depending on your seniority and the type of vessel you work on. Generally, you'll help with navigation, crew management and ship safety.

You could work on a boat helping to service offshore wind farms. Or you could work in the Merchant Navy as a deck officer, spending time on commercial ships such as cruise liners, container ships and tankers.

Merchant Navy deck officers are organised into ‘watches’. This means you’ll be part of a team that works for a few hours then has a few hours of rest time. This rota will run day and night while you’re at sea.

As a deck officer, you'll work at one of three levels depending on your experience:

Third Officer/Third Mate – this is usually your first job after training. You'll look after the ship’s safety equipment and lifeboats.
Second Officer/Second Mate – you’ll use radar, satellite and computer systems to assist with navigation. You’ll also carry out watch duties at sea and in port.
Chief Officer/First Mate – assisting the master or captain as you oversee work on deck.

With experience, you could become master or captain. In this position, you’ll have overall command of the ship.

Your tasks might include:

monitoring the ship’s position, speed and route to make sure it sails safely
overseeing the crew as they moor, anchor and maintain equipment
making sure cargo is properly loaded, balanced and secure
checking emergency equipment such as lifeboats, fire extinguishers and alarms
tracking weather forecasts and adjusting the ship’s route if needed
ensuring other crew members follow the relevant maritime or Merchant Navy regulations

Green job

In this job, you may carry out duties that help the environment. For example, you could work on a renewable energy project, like an offshore wind farm. Find out more about green jobs.

Explore more information about this job

Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:

Skills Development Scotland – Career Opportunities in Scotland across Offshore Wind
Careers at Sea – find information about careers you could do within the Merchant Navy
Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) – explore the shipping industry's body for sector-specific education, training and skills

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Related industries

Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.

Tourism and hospitality
Transport
Energy
Agriculture, forestry and fishing

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Getting in

Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

Skills for Work: Maritime Skills
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Geography
Engineering Science
Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
Practical Craft Skills

You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.

You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.

Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.

You’ll choose a different path depending on whether you want to work in the Merchant Navy or another maritime area.

To do either role, you’ll need:

Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeeping (STCW) certification
an Officer of the Watch (OOW) licence

Let’s explore the routes you can take to get into your chosen career.

Merchant Navy Cadet Program

These three-year sponsored cadetships will help you get your STCW certification and OOW licence. You’ll split your time between college-based learning and practical training at sea. And it gets better – you’ll earn money while you study the program.

Once you’ve completed your cadetship, you can apply for roles as a Third Officer. There are two ways you can get into a Merchant Navy cadetship.

Find a sponsoring company. Sometimes, companies will advertise cadetship opportunities. If you feel confident enough, you can also contact companies directly and ask to be considered for a cadetship.
Complete pre-cadet training. This is a fantastic introduction to the industry and will give you an insight into what a cadetship is like. Some learning providers offer pre-cadet training that leads to a cadetship if you perform well. Access courses work similarly to pre-cadet training.

A Merchant Navy cadetship is a perfect way to become a deck officer.

Use the My World of Work course search to find pre-cadet training and Access courses.

Working your way up

Some deck officers start their career as deckhands. You can apply for a deckhand role without any qualifications or experience – most employers will support you through the necessary courses.

Once you’ve built experience as a deckhand, you can progress into a deck officer position. Your employer will usually help you gain STCW certification and an OOW licence.

If you’re an experienced Merchant Navy rating, you may be able to apply directly for deck officer positions.

Apprenticeships

A Modern Apprenticeship (MA) means you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. Check out this Maritime Occupations MA – a fantastic way into a career at sea!

Completing this MA will not lead to STCW certification or an OOW licence. But it’s a great launchpad into other maritime careers that’ll help you get aboard the industry!

Dynamic Positioning (DP) Training can be useful if you want to work on an offshore wind farm. The short course will teach you about the specialist computers you’ll use to maintain your ship’s position.
Having a basic grasp of other languages is beneficial. You may work with a multicultural crew, so this’ll help you communicate with them.
Joining the Sea Cadets or Sea Rangers can help you learn valuable water-based skills.

To progress through the ranks as a Merchant Navy deck officer, you must hold the relevant Certificate of Competency (CoC), issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

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