General Requirements, STCW Certificates & Training Required for Ratings Forming Part of an Engineering Watch (RFPEW)

The Ratings Forming Part of an Engineering Watch (RFPEW) is part of the engine department on a seagoing ship powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW propulsion power or more and certified according to STCW section A-III/4 and table A-III/4 of the STCW Code. This is a certification at the support level. RFPEW carry out a watch routine appropriate to the duties of a rating forming part of an engine-room watch.

The Chief Engineer reports to the master / captain and works closely with the master and ensures the physical aspect of the vessel is completely under control. In nutshell chief engineer gives orders for operation and maintenance of ship’s machinery system.

The duties include but not limited to - understand orders and be understood in matters relevant to watchkeeping duties; carry out a watch routine compliant with the duties of an engine room watch; communicate efficiently in watch-keeping matters; keep a boiler watch, maintaining the proper water level and steam pressure; and operate emergency equipment and utilize emergency procedures.

Core competencies include - perform functions of a rating forming part of an engine room watch,perform engine room housekeeping; and maintaining the water level and steam pressure to name a few. The ratings could be part of a watch in a manned engine-room or designated to perform duties in a periodically unmanned engine room.

Requirements to Obtain a Certificate of Competency as an RFPEW

Age: not less than 18 years of age.

Seagoing Service: have completed not less than 12 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service of which not less than six months shall be seagoing service as part of an approved training program or; not less than 36 months of combined workshop skills training and approved seagoing service of which not less than 30 months shall be seagoing service in the engine department. This must be documented in an approved training record book.

Education & Training: have completed approved education and training program meeting the standards of competence specified in section A-III/6 of the STCW Code.

Note: Seafarers may be considered to have met requirements of this regulation if they have served on board a ship for a period of not less than 12 months within the last 60 months preceding the entry into force of this regulation and the competence specified in section A-III/6. Notwithstanding the above requirements, a suitable qualified person may be able to undertake certain functions of section A-III/6.