What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Approved Electro-Technical Officer training programme under STCW Regulation III/6 and Code section A-III/6, with an approved Training Record Book (TRB)
- Spanish route: cadet of a Marine Engineering / Marine Technologies degree or equivalent giving access to the Spanish Electro-Technical Officer certificate (RD 973/2009 framework, amended by RD 80/2014 — indicative, to be verified)
Basic STCW
- STCW A-VI/1 Basic Safety Training (survival, firefighting, first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities)
- Valid seafarer medical certificate (in Spain, ISM medical examination)
Specific courses
- Electrical safety: lockout/tagout (LOTO) and high-voltage course (> 1,000 V) where the ship has HV installations
- Automation and control: PLCs, alarm and monitoring systems (AMS) and variable-frequency drives (modules of the approved programme)
- Completion of the electrical-specialisation TRB signed off by the ETO and the Chief Engineer
Indicative experience
Regulation III/6: the ETO certificate requires combined workshop training and ≥ 12 months of seagoing service within an approved programme (≥ 6 months of sea service documented in the TRB), or 36 months combined without a programme (≥ 30 at sea). The typical embarked cadetship is 6 to 12 months (indicative).
Observations
Progression route: ETO Cadet → Electro-Technical Officer (STCW III/6) → senior ETO / electrical superintendent; not to be confused with the Electro-Technical Rating (STCW III/7), a support rating. On board, the cadet never works alone on live switchboards: the culture of electrical work permits and dead-testing is learned at this stage. Minimum age for the ETO certificate is 18.
What this role does
Training position of the electrical branch: the cadet prepares for the Electro-Technical Officer certificate (ETO, STCW Regulation III/6) within an approved programme, documenting each competence in the Training Record Book (TRB). It combines workshop periods (electrical machines, power electronics, automation) with sea service supervised by the ETO and the Chief Engineer. Discipline with the TRB and with electrical safety — lockout/tagout and high voltage — defines the quality of the future officer.
Typical watches
- Practice schedule
Key responsibilities
- Assistance in electrical maintenance.
- Inspection of lights, alarms and control panels.
- Completion of the electrical-specialty Training Record Book (TRB).
Operational scope
- electrical training
- Support in inspections
- Taller
Profile reviewed by HydroAbyss (2026). Cited rules and timeframes are indicative: the final requirement is set by the flag State, the Administration and each company.