Deck Officer Cadetships

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Applying For A Deck Officer Cadetship.

We’re currently taking applications. You can apply here. But what is a Deck Officer Cadetship and how have others like you fared?

Let’s start with the basics. A Deck Officer maintains watches on the bridge at sea, and maintenance and cargo operations when in port.

They are responsible for passage planning, the safe navigation of the ship, cargo loading and discharge, ship stability, communications and the maintenance of the hull and deck equipment.

What is a Deck Officer Cadetship?

A Deck Officer Cadetship is the combination of your course study, your at sea placements, your qualification and the wider mentoring and welfare we offer and administer.

Each Cadetship is sponsored by a marine charity or commercial maritime company. See our list of Sponsors.

A Deck Officer Cadetship is the springboard to an exciting career away from the normal office based nine-to-five routine. With no shortage of opportunities, Deck Officer Cadets who qualify will be provided with a wealth of opportunities that long-term can be continued at sea or ashore.

What Courses Can I Study?

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Deck Officer of the Watch - Foundation Degree

Most Marine Colleges/Universities offer a full Deck Officer Cadet programme by a degree route, leading ultimately to the award of a UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Deck Officer’s Certificate of Competency (STCW’95 II/I OOW), a Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Marine Operations and a direct top-up pathway to BSc (Hons) Marine Operations Management.

The scheme consists of five phases (usually over three years), three spent at the college/university for academic delivery and two at sea gaining practical experience. The education and training programme consists of three distinct but complementary elements:

  • Academic education at the college/university in conjunction with work-based learning on board ship to attain the Foundation Degree in Marine Operations, which provides a direct top-up pathway to the BSc (Hons) Marine Operations Management.
  • Practical training on board ship, including completion of an MNTB Training Record Book. This enables candidates to develop the professional competency needed for initial certification by the UK’s MCA.
  • In addition to the academic studies, the MCA requires officer cadets to take a number of safety and survival courses during their Cadetship.

For more information on courses, location and accommodation available, click here to find the best option for you.

Deck Officer of the Watch - Higher National Diploma Programme

Most Marine Colleges offer a full deck officer cadet programme by a HND route, leading ultimately to the award of a UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) Deck Officer’s Certificate of Competency (STCW’95 II/I OOW), a High National Diploma (HND) in Marine Operations..

The scheme consists of five phases (usually over three years), three spent at the college for academic delivery and two at sea gaining practical experience. The education and training programme consists of three distinct but complementary elements:

  • Academic education at the college in conjunction with practical skills to attain the HND in Marine Operations.
  • Practical training on board ship, including completion of an MNTB Training Record Book. This enables candidates to develop the professional competency needed for initial certification by the UK’s MCA.
  • In addition to the academic studies, the MCA requires officer cadets to take a number of safety and survival courses during their cadetship.

Safety and Survival courses

Basic Safety Training Week is made up of four courses which meet the minimum STCW 2010 familiarisation and basic safety training requirements.

Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities
A classroom-based course covering basic induction training in safety procedures and accident prevention, it also familiarises novices with the employment conditions and working environment on board.

Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting
Outlines precautions for minimising the risk of fire, the causes of fires and how to extinguish them. Also practical training using fire fighting equipment and breathing apparatus to extinguish various types and sizes of fires.

Personal Survival Techniques
Teaches the actions to be taken by individuals to protect themselves in emergency situations and includes practical training using life jackets and inflatable life rafts.

Elementary First Aid
A combination of theory and practical training for basic first aid and life-saving skills.

Proficiency in Security Awareness
Providing knowledge, understanding and proficiency to personnel intending to work on ships who will not have any designated security duties.

For more information on courses, location and accommodation available, click here to find the best option for you.

Entry Requirements:

HND or Foundation Degree

HND in Marine Operations

This route would be suited to candidates who have or will expect to have GCSE Maths at grade 5 (or above) or Scottish Standard National Level 5; and GCSE’s at grade 4 (or above) or Scottish Standard National Level 4 in English, Physics or Combined Science and at least two other subjects.

Foundation Degree in Marine Operations

Suitable for candidates who possess the above criteria, but who will also have or expect to attain a minimum of 48 Tariff points (120 UCAS points pre 2017) through A Levels or their equivalents, preferably in Mathematics or a Science based subject. For Marine Engineering and Marine Electrical/Electronic Engineering BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma’s are considered.

Honours Degree in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering

Suitable for candidates who possess the above criteria, but who will also have or expect to attain the admission requirements of the university or college were they wish to study. A minimum of 80 Tariff points (120 UCAS points pre 2017), in accordance with the requirements of the sponsoring company, through A Levels or their equivalents, including Mathematics or a Science based subject.

OOW Certificate of Competency

Suitable for candidates who possess the above criteria, but who will also have or expect to attain a minimum of 120 UCAS points through A Levels or their equivalents, preferably in Mathematics or Physics.

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Need Some Help? Read Our Cadetship FAQ’s

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Will I be with other Chiltern Cadets or are we spread at different colleges?

Yes, we hope that there will be a number of cadets at the same college – it all depends on who accepts and what course they are doing.

Broadly speaking, what are the typical shift patterns of a maritime Cadet?

Ships operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Usually, when you first join you will be on day work – this is 7.00am – 5 pm (ish) with breaks for lunch. Then as time goes on, you move onto watch keeping, again this is normally split into three shift patterns 8am-12 noon, 12 noon-4pm and 4pm-8pm. This means you will do two – 4-hour shifts a day i.e. 8-12 in the morning and 8-12 in the evening.

During training, Cadets usually get some time off to study and, on occasions, when the ship is in port you may be allowed to go ashore.

Do I only get paid my bursary while at sea?

Your sponsor will pay your bursary both whilst at sea and at college.

When at college, do you arrange your own lodging and pay for this separately?

During Phase 1 of your Cadetship, you normally stay on campus. This will be arranged for you and you pay for this out of your bursary. When you return to college after phase 1 for phase 3, most cadets share a house.

What is the relationship between Chiltern Maritime and a cadet manager?

Chiltern will remain in regular contact throughout your cadetship as the cadet manager. We visit you at college and communicate with you whilst at college and at sea.

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