How to Get Your STCW Able Seafarer - Deck (AS-D)

To add STCW Able Seafarer - Deck to your USCG license, you need to hold a USCG Able Seaman endorsement and then meet the requirements for STCW.

You have two main paths to choose from:

1. Complete 360 sea days of deck service on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters, be qualified as an STCW RFPNW and pass a USCG approved STCW Able Seafarer - Deck (AS-D) course.
2. Complete 540 sea days of deck service on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters, be qualified as an STCW RFPNW and complete the NVIC 14-14 Checklist.

‍What is an STCW Able Seafarer - Deck?

An Able Seafarer - Deck endorsement is an STCW supplement endorsement to your Able Seaman Coast Guard Deck rating. The International Maritime Organization STCW Able Seafarer - Deck rating and the USCG Able Seaman ratings are completely different endorsements that are both issued by the United States Coast Guard. You must hold at least one of the USCG Able Seaman ratings to qualify for holding an STCW Able Seafarer - Deck rating.

STCW Able Seafarer - Deck is becoming more and more required on US vessels for US mariners. Currently there are less than 500 ships in the United States that require their mariners to hold STCW Able Seafarer - Deck and they are primarily large commercial ships and a few tugboats typically manned by members of the Seafarers International Union (SIU).

Do I need to hold RFPNW before my sea time towards STCW Able Seafarer - Deck starts to count?

No! The Coast Guard temporarily revised the policy on October 8th, 2024 for obtaining an STCW Able Seafarer - Deck (AS-D) and STCW Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) endorsements by simplifying the sea service requirement to accept service in the deck department on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters on any size vessel.

Historically, it used to be complicated but now it is very straightforward. 

If you are working in the deck department on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters on any size vessel you are earning sea time towards your STCW RFPNW and STCW Able Seafarer - Deck (AS-D).

These temporary changes in service requirements for STCW deck rating endorsements are set to expire Dec. 22, 2026. 

What Able Seaman Ratings are Eligible for STCW Able Seafarer - Deck?

If you currently hold or qualify for Able Seaman Unlimited, you automatically meet the sea time requirements for getting STCW Able Seafarer - Deck certification. You just need to complete all the items on the NVIC 14-14 Checklist and have them signed off by someone who is approved as a Qualified Assessor under NVIC 19-14. Though it may be easier to complete an approved STCW Able Seafarer - Deck course that meets all the items on the NVIC 14-14 Checklist.

If you currently hold or qualify for Able Seaman - Limited, you will meet the sea time requirements for adding STCW Able Seafarer - Deck certification if all 360 days of your sea time is on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters. You would need to complete an approved STCW Able Seafarer - Deck course that meets all the items on the NVIC 14-14 Checklist.

If you hold Able Seaman - Special, Able Seaman - OSV, Able Seaman - Fishing or Able Seaman - Sail and you have 360 days in the deck department on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters you will meet the sea time requirements for adding STCW Able Seafarer - Deck certification by taking an approved STCW Able Seafarer - Deck course that meets all the items on the NVIC 14-14 Checklist.

If you hold Able Seaman - Limited, Able Seaman - Special, Able Seaman - OSV, Able Seaman - Fishing or Able Seaman - Sail and you have 540 days in the deck department on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters on any size vessel you should upgrade to Able Seaman Unlimited at the same time that you add the STCW Able Seafarer - Deck certification.

How Many Days of Deck Service do I Need for my STCW Able Seafarer - Deck?

All of your sea service for STCW Able Seafarer - Deck requires that it must be deck service and on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters on any size vessel. According to 46 CFR 10.107: The Deck department means the department aboard a ship responsible for navigation, cargo, command, and control functions. ‍

Without taking an STCW Able Seafarer - Deck Course

You need to have 540 days of sea time on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters on any size vessel as a member of the deck department.

With taking an STCW Able Seafarer - Deck Course

If you take a USCG Approved STCW Able Seafarer - Deck course that meets all of the required sign-offs for NVIC 14-14 Checklist you only need to have 360 days of sea time on Near Coastal, Oceans or Great Lakes waters on any size vessel as a member of the deck department.

Should I Take an USCG Approved STCW Able Seafarer - Deck Course?

Yes! If you can get your employer or union to pay for it. If not, we do not recommend taking the STCW Able Seafarer - Deck course and instead working to get the NVIC 14-14 Checklist completed.

The only time we ever recommend paying out of your own pocket for USCG approved training as an Able Seaman is if there is an opportunity to immediately make more money via a new position or company and you are fully qualified for STCW AS-D.

Be cautious when selecting courses for STCW Able Seafarer - Deck, as numerous course providers do not meet the full requirements of the sign-offs for NVIC 14-14 Checklist. Make sure to check with the training center you plan on taking your course from, and if they do not fully meet the requirements, you will still need 540 sea days of deck service making the course a waste of time and money.

How Often Do I Need to Renew My STCW Able Seafarer - Deck USCG License?

Your STCW Able Seafarer - Deck rating is part of your Merchant Mariner Credential and is valid for five years. Renewing your STCW Able Seafarer - Deck rating is very simple and straightforward, requires the following:

Documented Sea Time: Ensure you have accurate records of your sea time.

Drug test documentation: Must be obtained within 185 days prior to renewal.

USCG physical: Up-to-date physical exam results are required.

TWIC: You must either have a renewed TWIC or a TWIC Exemption memo if a TWIC is not necessary for your work.

Depending on how many sea days you have on vessels that qualify for STCW sea time for renewal you will need to take either STCW Basic Training Refresher or Revalidation.

Does MM-SEAS Help Me Get My STCW Able Seafarer - Deck?

Yes! The path and complexity around STCW endorsements can be overwhelming. We always recommend getting your sea service all documented first so that you know which of the sea service requirements you have already met. If you have questions, the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!

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