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OOW Revision: Application, NOE & Oral Examination (MSN 1856, Sections 16-19)

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Revision card 7 of 7 — Officer of the Watch (OOW) Unlimited, STCW Convention Regulation II/1, MSN 1856 (M+F) Amendment 1.

Application

Apply using form MSF 4274, with the correct fee and supporting documents
Meeting the requirements gets you a Notice of Eligibility (NOE) — your ticket to book the MCA oral exam. It's valid for 5 years from the date of issue

The appropriate fee
ENG1 (or accepted equivalent)
Passport (attested copy)
Required photos
Proof of seagoing service
The four STCW basic safety training certificates
A completed Training Record Book (cadetship route) and a college attendance letter
At least 6 months of your qualifying seagoing service must fall within the 5 years immediately before your NOE is issued — the same rule applies again when your CoC is issued

Take your current passport (with visa, if applicable) as identification
It's recommended you complete all your education and training first — the exam is based on it
A pass is valid for 3 years, and must still be in date when your CoC is issued
Fail it, and re-sits follow fixed minimum gaps: 2 weeks before a second attempt, 2 weeks before a third, then 3 months for each attempt after that — the examiner can adjust this, including imposing extra seagoing service on a candidate who shows a lack of basic competency across the syllabus

Once issued, your CoC is valid for 5 years from the date the qualifying conditions were actually met
Submit your GMDSS certificate with your NOE pass so its STCW endorsement expiry can be synchronised with your CoC