Navigation (Deck) Officer

What qualities and skills do I need?

A Navigation (Deck) Officer is a vital member of the ship’s management team – responsible for making decisions on steering and manoeuvring the ship, controlling navigation and communications. So it’s important to be a good team member, decisive, calm and someone who inspires confidence in others. You’ll be interested in technology and have good mathematical, written and verbal skills. Overall – confidence, enthusiasm and self-reliance are essential.

All Navigation (Deck), Engineering and Electro-Technical Officer ranks require a seafarer Certificate of Competency (CoC) – issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. You receive the Officer of the Watch certificate (OOW), on completing your Merchant Navy Training Board course through one of the maritime colleges/universities. Then – as your experience at sea grows and you pass the required examinations – you’ll get further certificates for promotion into the next job role.

Find out what the role of a Navigation (Deck) Officer involves