Officer of the Watch (HNC/Exam Route) For Experienced Seafarers

About this course

This programme has been designed for ratings who have been working at sea with a ratings licence (accepted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)); have logged at least 36 months of seagoing service with 6 months engaged in bridge watchkeeping duties; and who are ready to progress from a Rating to achieve an Office of the Watch (II/1) Certificate of Competency (CoC) through the experienced seafarer route.

Candidates on this course will complete an HNC in Nautical Science which follows the MCA’s Modernised Officer Qualifications Syllabus and meets the standards of competency specified in section A-II/1 of the STCW Code.

What you'll study

During the programme, you will complete an HNC in Nautical Science (which includes HELM(O) and Signals) in addition to receiving tuition to support your preparation for the MCA competency assessments.  Additionally, the package of study includes ECDIS, NAEST (Operational level) and EDH courses, offering a generously discounted rate while enabling you to complete your studies as a package within WMS rather than booking these courses individually.

HNC Nautical Science

From the 1 August 2025, all OOW candidates will follow the MCA’s Modernised Officer Qualifications syllabus, which reflects the current practices and technology used aboard modern vessels and supports the development of human element skills - essential learning for today’s aspiring officers.

The modernised syllabus includes a range of modules from marine law to ship stability, and navigation to cargo operations. Embedded within the HNC Nautical Science, candidates will focus on the importance of the human element in shipping operations in addition to communication at sea through undertaking your signals examination.

All modules have had their pass marks aligned to the MCA’s safety standards and you must achieve these to be awarded the HNC Nautical Science award.

Competency Assessment preparation

The competency assessment preparation course has been designed to support candidates to prepare for the new MCA Ship Stability and Structure, and Navigation assessments administered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) in addition to preparing you for your MCA oral examination.

Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS)

This short course takes place in the WMS Simulation Centre. It has been designed to equip you with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to keep a safe navigational watch using Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), interfaced with other onboard equipment to maintain safety and navigation.

Navigational Aids and Equipment Simulator Training (Operational Level) - NAEST(O)

This short course takes place in the WMS Simulation Centre. It has been designed to equip you with the essential education and training in the skills needed to keep a safe navigational watch and to use radar, Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA), Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), echo sounders, Bridge Navigation Watch Alarm Systems (BNWAS), voyage data recorders (VDRs) and other electronic aids to maintain safe navigation.

Efficient Deck Hand (EDH)

This short course takes place in the specialised Deck Skills Workshop part of the newly opened South Coast Institute of Technology (IoT) facility located at our East Park Terrace campus. The course has been designed to provide seafarers who work in the deck department the essential education and training in seamanship to contribute to the safe and effective operation of a vessel.

Prerequisites

You must have a minimum 36 months' sea service, including six months' bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of a qualified officer. (Note: a. this is not the same as watchkeeping service; b. candidates holding a yacht OOW 3,000GT CoC or above do not need to provide any evidence of watchkeeping duties).  

You must also hold STCW 95 certificates in Medical First Aid, Advanced Fire Fighting, Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, and a GMDSS General Operators Certificate before taking your MCA oral exam. If you do not already hold these certificates, you can undertake the courses with us outside of the main certification course. 

You must have a valid personal medical fitness certification recognised by the MCA. 

Additional prerequisites

The additional prerequisites for achieving an Officer of the Watch Certificate of Competency (CoC) can be found in MSN 1856 (M+F) - Amendment 1.

International students must hold an appropriate English language qualification at IELTS 4.0 or equivalent. 

Course dates

Monday 1 September 2025 – Friday 22 May 2026
Monday 12 January 2026 – Friday 9 October 2026
Monday 13 April 2026 – Friday 18 December 2026

Course fee

£9,000

This package fee, which is designed to support self-sponsoring candidates, includes the HNC Nautical Science, competency assessment preparation, ECDIS, NAEST(O) and EDH courses. Please note that it does not include external examination fees.