Course Description

This course is a continuation in the career of a Deck Officer in the merchant shipping navy leading to the issue of a Certificate of Competence as a Chief Mate. The training provided is at management level and learners attending this course are expected to dedicate a lot of time to their studies and to wear a merchant marine uniform whilst undergoing training ashore. The Centre for Maritime studies boasts a good reputation for discipline and all Officers are expected to abide by a Code of Conduct whilst attending the Chief Mate Course and to actively participate in organised events. Practical STCW ancillary courses, namely medical care and radar navigation including simulation exercises, are also provided as compulsory short courses for the Chief Mate Certificate of Competency

Career Prospects

Chief Officer on Sea-going Merchant ships as second in command,
Ship Senior Officer of the Bridge,
Ship Senior Officer controlling Cargo operations on a ship,
Master on Offshore Vessels,
Ship Security Officer Marine,
VTS Operator/Supervisor

Entry Requirements

Letter of Eligibility from Transport Malta

A Valid OIC Navigational Watch Certificate of Competency, together with documented evidence of 12 months at sea in that capacity

At point of application, all Applicants are expected to present a full Medical Clearance, as per Protocol issued by Transport Malta

Other Important matters to be noted and considered:

Medical Test Document required when submitting an application for this course…. this is a Transport Malta Requirement and hence the document which you will be making use of is a Transport Malta document (without which your application for the MCAST course cannot be processed).

VERY IMPORTANT ATTENTION should you wish to submit a course application for this programme of study (during Main Call for FT Course Admissions, closing on 25 August 2025):

Before you submit an application for this course, you need to download this document (click on download button hereunder).

Print the .pdf document, and take with you to a Qualified Medical Practitioner of your choice.  This is to be filled in and signed by the GP. Where applicant is under 18 years of age on date of application the parents / guardians must also fill in and sign their consent at the bottom of the form.

A scan of the  filled in and complete document is to be uploaded with all the other documents you need to upload when submitting your  online application for the course.  If this completed (properly filled in)  document (duly endorsed and signed by a Medical Doctor / GP and Parents as required) is not uploaded with your online application for this course, the application cannot be processed and vetted for eligibility.  It would be as if you have not submitted an application for the course (always by the set Main Call Online Course  Application deadline – 25^th August 2025)

Later on after that you will receive the Course Acceptance Offer and would have become an MCAST Registered student, the Original  hardcopy version of the filled-in and signed document is ALSO to be (physically) submitted at the Reception Desk, Institute of Engineering and Transport … Centre for Maritime Studies, Main Campus, Paola, by not later than the first full week of lectures at the mentioned Institute (upon which course you would hve become a Registered MCAST student).

May we remind that,  not submitting a scan of this filled-in document as an upload with your online course application (applications close on 25^th August 2025),  will make your application incomplete and cannot be processed.