STCW - FAQ

Make sure your national Certificate of Competency is revalidated. 

An application for a revalidation of a Belgian certificate of competence may be submitted:

• Online with STCW-on-Web2
• Or mail the application with Form F16-Application Recognition STCW and attachments to stcw95@mobilit.fgov.be
• Or send documents (scans) by post or deposit documents at the counter in Antwerp at DG Shipping, Certification of Seafarers Antwerp (STCW).

Attachments

1. A recent photograph (jpg, jpeg or Tiff) (>150 kB, equal background)
2. A scan of your identity card or international passport
3. The training certificate of the course or refresher course
4. A copy of the medical fitness declaration for seafarers, issued by an approved doctor
5. Certificates of service
6. For officers deck: the revalidated GMDSS certificate
7. If applicable the declarations of sea service for special ships (tankers, IGF, polar waters)

Tip: Give attachments a meaningful name (example: Refr-AFF-20250910-name.pdf).  Avoid using accents in the file names. Do not exceed the maximum file size (2 MB for scans, photograph 500 kB)

The compulsory refresher courses should be followed within five years of the previous module. 

If this deadline has passed then the complete (initial) module should be followed. 

No, a refresher course has to be followed with five year intervals.  The date of expiry of the certificate of competency does not matter. 

See the list of accredited maritime institutions on our website.

We also accept the course certificates of the recognized maritime institutions under the supervision of the Netherlands.  

We accept certificates of proficiency issued under the authority of another EU Member State.

(°1 : Refresher of "elementary firefighting" is not required for those who have taken the refresher course "advanced firefighting". 

Send your request to BIPT-IBPT via maritime@bipt.be  (contact +32 02 226 88 88 (NL) or +32 02 226 88 87 (FR). Anyone who already has a Belgian GMDSS certificate will be contacted in writing by BIPT about one month before the due date.

For the endorsement of the Belgian GMDSS-certificate a valid medical fitness declaration is required and at least 12 months of approved sea service in the last 5 years. 

a) "Basic tanker training": requirements for a Belgian certificate of competence "basic tanker training":

Approved Basic tanker training for OIL and CHEM or LIQ. GAS tankers

OR         

minimum 3 months of service on tankers of the type oil, chemicals or liquefied gas.  See website to download the correct form “Declaration of Compliance for ..”  

b) " Advanced tanker training": requirements for a Belgian certificate of competence "advanced tanker cargo operations":

Approved advanced tanker training for OIL, CHEMICAL or LIQUEFIED GAS tankers

AND after this training 3 months of sea service on tankers of the appropriate type

OR

Approved advanced tanker training AND 1 month of sea service with participation in at least 3 loading and 3 unloading operations (each at least 60% of the loading capacity) AND submitting the completed "training record book for tankers" (MNTB).  See website to download the correct form “Declaration of Compliance for Adv  ..”  

A certificate of competence "basic tanker training" is valid indefinitely. 
An advanced tanker training certificate is valid for five years. 

The (cadet) training record book will be checked by the maritime training center.

CoP II/4: The "Training record book for ratings navigational watch" is required for a certificate II/4. In that case, you must demonstrate at least 2 months of sea going service as trainee on seagoing vessels larger than 500 GT. 

CoP III/4: The "Training record book for ratings engineering watch" is required for a certificate III/4. In this case, you must demonstrate at least 2 months of sea going service as trainee on seagoing vessels with propulsion power of more than 750 kW. 

Alternatively, those who have obtained the knowledge and skills of II/4 or III/4 through practical training and can prove at least 6 months of sea service are not required to complete a training record book RPNW or RPEW. A declaration by the shipping company on the practical knowledge II/4 or III/4 is required. See website to download the correct form “Declaration of Compliance for COP..”

COP II/5: a “Training record book for ratings navigational watch / able seafarer deck” is required for the certificate II/5 (able seafarer deck). 

COP III/5: a “Training record book for ratings engineering watch / able seafarer engine” is required for the certificate III/5 (able seafarer engine). 

CoC II/1: The “Cadet Training Record Book for deck officers” (CTRB) is required for a certificate of competency II/1 (officer in charge of a navigational watch). In that case a minimum of 12 months of approved sea service in required on board a sea going vessel of 500 GT or more, of which at least 6 months involved in tasks related to bridge watchkeeping functions. 

CoC III/1: The “Cadet Training Record Book for engine officers” (CTRB) is required for a certificate of competency III/1 (officer in charge of an engineering watch). In that case a minimum of 12 months of approved sea service is required on board a sea going vessel with a propulsion power of 750 kW or more, of which at least 6 months involved in tasks related to engine watchkeeping functions. 

If no Cadet training record book is used, then at least 36 months of approved sea going service is required. 

Anyone who has successfully completed a maritime training accredited by Belgium can apply for a Certificate of Proficiency .  Sometimes additional sea going service is required.