Maritime mate
The anchor between captain and crew – you'll plan routes and keep everyone safe as you navigate the waves.
Also known as: merchant navy deck officer, second officer, deck cadet, naval mate, mate, third mate, second mate, first mate
About the job
What it's like
In this role, you’ll work closely with the captain to keep the ship afloat! Your exact duties will differ depending on your seniority and the type of vessel you work on. Generally, you'll help with navigation, crew management and ship safety.
Working as a Merchant Navy deck officer
As a Merchant Navy deck officer, you’ll work on a commercial ship. This could include cruise liners, container ships and tankers among many other vessels.
Merchant Navy deck officers are organised into ‘watches’. This means you’ll be part of a team that works for a few hours then has a few hours of rest time. This rota will run day and night while you’re at sea.
As a deck officer, you’ll work at one of three levels depending on your experience. These are:
Third Officer – this is usually your first job after training. You'll look after the ship’s safety equipment and lifeboats.
Second Officer – you’ll use radar, satellite and computer systems to assist with navigation. You’ll also carry out watch duties at sea and in port.
Chief Officer – assisting the master or captain as you oversee work on deck.
With experience, you could become master or captain. In this position, you’ll have overall command of the ship.
Working as a maritime mate
As a maritime mate, you’ll work at one of three levels. These are:
Third Mate – leading on the ship’s safety procedures as well as supporting the first and second mate.
Second Mate – you’ll take responsibility for navigation, planning safe routes and responding to changes in the weather.
First Mate – working directly with the captain. You’ll be second-in-command and oversee all areas of the ship.
Your tasks might include:
monitoring the ship’s position, speed and route to make sure it sails safely
overseeing the crew as they moor, anchor and maintain equipment
making sure cargo is properly loaded, balanced and secure
checking emergency equipment such as lifeboats, fire extinguishers and alarms
tracking weather forecasts and adjusting the ship’s route if needed
ensuring other crew members follow the relevant maritime or Merchant Navy regulations
Green job
In this job, you may carry out duties that help the environment. For example, you could work on a renewable energy project, like an offshore wind farm. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Skills Development Scotland – Career Opportunities in Scotland across Offshore Wind
Careers at Sea – find information about careers you could do within the Merchant Navy
Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) – explore the shipping industry's body for sector-specific education, training and skills
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Select qualification level(s)
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
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Tourism and hospitality -
Transport -
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Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- reliable
- adaptability
- written communication
- verbal communication
- making decisions
- cooperating
- observation
- attention to detail
- taking initiative
- analysing
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Skills for Work: Maritime Skills
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Physics
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Geography
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Engineering Science
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
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Practical Craft Skills
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You’ll choose a different path depending on whether you want to become a Merchant Navy deck officer or maritime mate.
To do either role, you’ll need:
Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeeping (STCW) certification
an Officer of the Watch (OOW) licence
Let’s explore the routes you can take to get into your chosen career.
Merchant Navy Cadet Program
These three-year sponsored cadetships will help you get your STCW certification and OOW licence. You’ll split your time between college-based learning and practical training at sea. And it gets better – you’ll earn money while you study the program.
Once you’ve completed your cadetship, you can apply for roles as a Third Officer. There are two ways you can get into a Merchant Navy cadetship.
Find a sponsoring company. Sometimes, companies will advertise cadetship opportunities. If you feel confident enough, you can also contact companies directly and ask to be considered for a cadetship.
Complete pre-cadet training. This is a fantastic introduction to the industry and will give you an insight into what a cadetship is like. Some learning providers offer pre-cadet training that leads to a cadetship if you perform well. Access courses work similarly to pre-cadet training.
A Merchant Navy cadetship is a perfect way to become a deck officer or maritime mate.
Use the My World of Work course search to find pre-cadet training and Access courses.
Working your way up
Some maritime mates start their career as deckhands. You can apply for a deckhand role without any qualifications or experience – most employers will support you through the necessary courses.
Once you’ve built experience as a deckhand, you can progress into a maritime mate position. Your employer will usually help you gain STCW certification and an OOW licence.
If you’re an experienced Merchant Navy rating, you may be able to apply directly for deck officer positions.
Apprenticeships
A Modern Apprenticeship (MA) means you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. Check out this Maritime Occupations MA – a fantastic way into a career at sea!
Completing this MA will not lead to STCW certification or an OOW licence. But it’s a great launchpad into other maritime careers that’ll help you get aboard the industry!
Dynamic Positioning (DP) Training can be useful if you want to work on an offshore wind farm. The short course will teach you about the specialist computers you’ll use to maintain your ship’s position.
Having a basic grasp of other languages is beneficial. You may work with a multicultural crew, so this’ll help you communicate with them.
Joining the Sea Cadets or Sea Rangers can help you learn valuable water-based skills.
To progress through the ranks as a Merchant Navy deck officer, you must hold the relevant Certificate of Competency (CoC), issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
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