Requirements of Malaysian Certificate of Competency

10:36 COC 3 Comments

If you have decided to be a seafarer and you like to travel all over the world, you might want to know the requirements for having Malaysian Certificate of Competency. Travelling all over the world on a merchant ship while getting paid thousand of Ringgit or Dollar is really sounds interesting. And for you to achieve this you will need at least a CoC with grade of Officer in Charge of Navigational Watch of 500GT or more Unlimited Trade Voyage (WKO-Unlimited) or Officer in charge of Engineering Watch of 750kW or more Unlimited Trade Voyage (WKE-Unlimited). The other option is by getting Watch Keeping Rating for Deck (WKR-Deck) or Watch Keeping Rating for Engine (WKR-Engine) but less salary lor.

Let me start by discussing the subjects of WKO-Unlimited and WKE-Unlimited here, for the rest of CoC’s grade will be discuss later.

Normally after you finish your SPM with good results especially in Maths and Science, depending on the requirements set by Maritime Training Institution, make yourself busy by surfing the website below;

ALAM - http://www.alam.edu.my/ (DNS and DME)
PUO - http://www.puo.edu.my/ (DME only)
SMA - http://www.smaswak.com.my/ (DNS and DME)

These Institution offer courses in ‘Diploma in Nautical Studies (DNS)’ and ‘Diploma in Marine Engineering (DME)’. DNS will later qualify you to WKO-UL and DME to WKE-UL.

You can always call the training provider asking about the Course Fee and duration of training program. After you enrolled in that course, you should not worry much for everything has already prepared and planned for you. What you should worry is how you can secure a seat in that institution!!! Money is the big issue here… previously, some student manage to get a scholarship from the state government, government loan or sponsored by particulars shipping company.

Nowadays it is popular and common to be sponsor by shipping company like MISC, Bumi Armada, etc… As for to-date 2010, it is estimated by the IMO that the shipping industry are shortage of 30,000 seafarers worldwide. Imagine that you are holding WKO-UL or WKE-UL, at least you can reduce the statistic and contribute to the nation, what most beneficial that you can easily get job anywhere in the world, and do you know why? It is because that the Malaysian CoC that you are holding is recognized by many countries which are the members of International Maritime Organization (IMO). Currently Malaysia have sign Memorandum of Undertaking (MOU) with 31 countries.

Here is what you should remember;

1. Enrolled in the DNS or DME course and complete your training and pass all written examination (3 year studies).

2. After you got your Diploma, apply for oral examination. Oral exam is conducted by the Marine Department’s Examiner and you can choose location of exam during application.

3. After you have completed and successfully pass the exams at (1) and (2), make an application of Certificate of Competency and submit to Marine Department port office.

Some students made mistake by assuming that the CoC will be issued right after oral examination without making any application. You need to pay the necessary ‘application fee’ for oral exam and CoC, so do not forget to apply for one.

Here is the checklist that you should keep-in-mind during application of Certificate of Competency. Since year 2009 Marine Department has already upgraded their system so called ‘Seafarer Documentation System’ by allowing user to apply online, you may surf at this address http://www.marine.gov.my . Remember, you might be requested to shows these documents (below) as an evidence when you are attending at the port office to pay the application fee.


Requirements for Officer in Charge of Navigational Watch of 500GT or more Unlimited Trade Voyage (WKO-Unlimited)

1. Seafarer Identification Document (seaman card)
2. Diploma in Nautical Studies
3. Confirmation Letter from Institution saying you have passed the written examination
4. Letter from Marine Department saying you have passed the Oral Examination
5. Medical examination certificate
6. General Operator Certificate
7. Efficiency in Survival Craft Certificate
8. Advance Fire Fighting Certificate
9. Medical First Aid Certificate
10. Radar Observer Certificate
11. ARPA Certificate
12. Electronic Navigational Aids Certificate
13. Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate (Issued by Master of the ship during cadet on board ship)
14. Discharge Book (evidence showing 12 months sea time as Deck Cadet)

Requirements for Officer in charge of Engineering Watch of 750kW or more Unlimited Trade Voyage (WKE-Unlimited)

1. Seafarer Identification Document (seaman card)
2. Diploma in Marine Engineering
3. Confirmation Letter from Institution saying you have passed the written examination
4. Letter from Marine Department saying you have passed the Oral Examination
5. Advance Fire Fighting Certificate
6. Efficiency in Survival Craft Certificate
7. Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities Certificate
8. Medical First Aid Certificate
9. Discharge Book (evidence showing 6 months sea time as Engine Cadet).

Most of the certificate above is already included in the course program, and will be issued once you have undergone training and exam. During your training as cadet, make sure to complete the Training Book for Cadet because during the oral examination the examiner might ask question pertaining your duties onboard ship.

That is it for now on Certificate of Competency, hopefully you might have some ideas on how to go about it.

Lastly, IMO have launched a theme for this year World Maritime Day “2010-Year of the Seafarer”.