Course duration: 16 weeks

Note: Exam dates are set by the Polish Maritime Office.

The qualification course for Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (OICEW) is a breakthrough moment in the maritime career of any engine room crew member. This is an operational level training that acts as a bridge between the work of an engine rating (motorman/oiler) and entering the ranks of officers. The main task of the officer in charge of an engineering watch is to independently maintain a safe engineering watch in the ship’s engine room (both at sea and in port), regardless of whether the engine room requires a continuous watch or is periodically unattended (UMS). This course places great emphasis on developing an engineering mindset. It teaches comprehensive knowledge about the construction and operation of powerful marine engines, electrical power supply systems, auxiliary machinery, and automation systems. Completing this training is proof of readiness to take direct responsibility for the ship’s propulsion and the safety of the crew in the zone of highest technical risk.

Requirements:

• A valid identity document (ID card / passport / mObywatel app)
• An advance payment (deposit) of 1500 EUR – if the course does not take place (e.g., due to an insufficient number of participants), the deposit will be refunded.

Visa Rejection?

100% Refund Guarantee

IMPORTANT: Documents must be submitted to the Central Maritime Examination Board (CMKE) 21 days before the practical exam date (strict deadline!)

The course price includes:

• Issuance of certificates for the exam at the Maritime Office
• Practical exam on the simulator
• Coffee / tea
• Free parking

Additional fees:

• Courier delivery of documents (upon request)

Certificate validity:

• Not applicable

Course program:

The class program is very comprehensive and covers the full spectrum of engineering knowledge:

• Marine machinery – theory of construction, thermodynamics, principles of operation, and diagnostics of main propulsion machinery (slow-, medium-, and high-speed internal combustion engines) and turbines.
• Auxiliary machinery and equipment – construction and safe operation of marine boilers, pumps, compressors, fuel/oil purifiers, steering gear, fresh water generators (desalinators), and refrigeration systems.
• Electrotechnology and Automation – generation and distribution of electricity on the ship (power generators), basics of marine electronics, control and measurement systems, and diagnosing pneumatic and electronic control systems.
• Engine room safety management – procedures for keeping an engineering watch (Engine Room Resource Management), fire protection in the ship’s engine room, and operation of life-saving appliances.
• Ship construction and stability – basics of naval architecture, strength of materials, and understanding the impact of the engine department’s activities on ship stability (including ballasting).
• Environmental protection (MARPOL) – strict rules for operating oily water separators (OWS), incinerators, and procedures for preventing oil spills in the light of international law.

What will you learn?

By participating in this demanding training, participants will be prepared to take up their first officer position on a ship. You will learn to, among other things:

• Independently, confidently, and safely keep an engineering watch and control the proper functioning of all propulsion systems.
• Quickly analyze machinery operating parameters (pressures, temperatures) and detect the first symptoms of an impending failure.
• Correctly operate complex power supply systems (electrical) and perform the synchronization of power generators (parallel operation of generators).
• Prevent fires in the engine room and effectively lead a firefighting operation in the engine department using fixed fire-extinguishing systems.
• Make precise entries in the Engine Room Logbook and the Oil Record Book in accordance with legal requirements.

What does the training look like?

The training takes the form of an intensive qualification course, engaging students continuously over many weeks.

• Theoretical lectures – conducted by qualified engineering staff (practicing officers and Chief Engineers). They provide a massive dose of academic knowledge translated into maritime realities and supported by the analysis of systems from various types of ships.
• Simulator classes – shaping watchkeeping habits and familiarization with stress during simulated failures on engine room panels (e.g., fires, loss of power/blackout, steering gear failures).

Where does the training take place and is there parking?

The training takes place in Gdynia at 13A Polska Street. Free parking is located at 6 Chrzanowskiego Street. The barrier code is provided when the course is confirmed by the secretariat staff.