Officer of the Watch Engineering - HNC (SQA)

The HNC Nautical Science has been developed to deliver the underpinning knowledge required for Merchant Navy Certificates of Competence as defined in the IMO convention on the Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW 95).

This underpinning knowledge is clearly defined in STCW 95 and has been further clarified by both the UK Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) and the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

The knowledge and skills developed in the suite of Units within the HNC match the underpinning knowledge required for Officer of the Watch (OOW) Certification. (However, candidates aspiring to OOW certification will be required to undertake additional HN Units as outlined on page 10).

For the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment, it is essential that seafarers have a level of competence that enables them to carry out their duties safely and effectively.

Accordingly it is a requirement of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that merchant vessels are operated by seafarers who hold a ‘Certificate of Competency’ which attests to their competence at the level or rank for which they are employed. The current requirements are detailed in the IMO ‘Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers’ convention as amended in 1995, commonly referred to as ‘STCW 95’.