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

About this course

This programme is designed for ratings who have been working at sea with a ratings licence (accepted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)); have completed a College Action Plan (issued by an MCA approved centre); have completed an MNTB Training Record Book (TRB); and who are ready to compete the necessary training to obtain an EOOW (III/1) Certificate of Competency (CoC).

The programme has been created to support the Alternative Seafarer route to qualification described in MSN 1857 (M+F) - Amendment 1. 

What you'll study

Candidates on this programme will complete the required MCA workshop skills training; all additional STCW certification courses; and attend tutorials prior to undertaking IAMI EOOW Engineering Knowledge (EK) written exams (on general, steam/motor, and instrumentation and control engineering knowledge) and the MCA oral exam. 

Candidates on this course will complete the mandatory MCA approved workshop skills course in addition to receiving support towards completing the General Engineering Science A and B, Controls and Engineering knowledge examinations run by IAMI on behalf of the MCA.

MCA Workshop Skills

This course is a mandatory part of the MCA’s EOOW programme and gives candidates an appreciation of a range of critical engineering workshop skills including the use and care of hand tools, measuring equipment, drilling machines, centre lathes, vertical milling machines, off-hand grinding machines and welding equipment. The programme then advances to cover maintenance skills, assembly skills and electrical/electronic practice.

General Engineering Science A and B

The General Engineering Science A and B exams have been designed to meet the minimum requirements of the underpinning knowledge required to be awarded a CoC. This is an external examination run by IAMI on behalf of the MCA.  

• The Engineering Science A exam covers Mechanics and Naval Architecture, and has a 2-hour duration. 

• The Engineering Science B exam covers Thermodynamics, Hydrostatics and Electricity, and has a 2-hour duration.  

Engineering Knowledge and Controls

The Engineering Knowledge exams have been designed as part of the MCA approach to competency assessment, ensuing that candidates have the operational and safety knowledge to work safely onboard.  The Engineering Knowledge syllabus is broken into sections which are represented in the Engineering Knowledge exam.

How to request an action plan (programme prerequisites) 

To register with WMS on the Experienced Seafarer Route, you must apply to have an action plan completed and MNTB training record book issued. To do this, you must:

• Have completed 24 months’ seagoing service on merchant ships of at least 350 kW (engine room seagoing service consisting of cleaning duties only will not be accepted). 
• Hold either:
  • An Engine Watch Rating Certificate STCW regulation III/4; or
  • A Marine Engine Operator Licence (MEOL); or
  • A Senior Marine Engine Operator Licence (SMEOL).
•  Hold basic STCW safety training certificates:
  • Personal Survival Techniques (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-1)
  • Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-2)
  • Elementary First Aid (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-3)
  • Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities (STCW Code – Table A-VI/1-4).
• Hold a valid ENG1 (medical fitness certificate) or MCA accepted equivalent. 

To apply for your action plan you should send the above documents to the admissions team at admissions@solent.ac.uk. 

Please note that you will need to pay a non-refundable fee of £500 for your documentation to be reviewed and, where necessary, action plan to be generated. This fee also covers your payment for an electronic MNTB Training Record Book (eTRB).

Once an action plan has been created, you must complete an additional nine months' seagoing service in merchant ships of at least 750 kW, which includes six months engaged in watchkeeping or UMS duties, where you must complete your MNTB eTRB and gather evidence of completing each task (known as the operations workbook).

Once you have completed the above steps, you will be eligible to apply for this programme.

Additional prerequisites

The additional prerequisites for achieving an Officer of the Watch CoC can be found in MSN 1857 (M+F) - Amendment 1.

Course dates

7 September 2026 - 26 February 2027

19 April 2027- 8 October 2027

Course fee 

To support self-sponsoring candidates, a package rate for the IAMI Exam preparation courses, MCA orals preparation and Workshop Skills of £8,850.

Please note that this fee does not include external examination fees.

Examinations can be booked here.