What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Certificate of proficiency in ADVANCED chemical-tanker training (STCW Reg. V/1-1, section A-V/1-1 paragraph 3).
- Base: an STCW officer certificate (II/1 or III/1) with the prior oil-chemical basic (A-V/1-1 paragraph 1).
- Advanced-level service requirement: 3 months on chemical tankers, or 1 supernumerary month with at least 3 loadings and 3 discharges recorded (Reg. V/1-1.5).
Basic STCW
- A-VI/1 Basic Safety Training
- A-VI/3 Advanced firefighting (by post)
Specific courses
- IBC Code: product categories, ship types and the Certificate of Fitness list
- MARPOL Annex II and the P&A manual: prewashes, discharges and the cargo record book
- Compatibilities, inhibitors and tank coatings; sampling and custody
- Terminal-inspection and vetting preparation (CDI as sector reference)
Indicative experience
Beyond the V/1-1 requirement, parcel-chemical operators demand supervised multi-product hitches before full responsibility: the real complexity is loading 30 products without crossing two incompatibles.
Observations
The A-V/1-1 paragraph 1 basic is shared with oil tankers; the chemical advanced is specific. Five-yearly revalidation. Route: officer with basic → voyages → advanced → chemical-tanker chief mate, one of the parcel trade's most sought deck profiles.
What this role does
The officer with immediate cargo responsibility on chemical tankers: plans stowage by compatibility against the Certificate of Fitness list and the IBC Code, directs multi-product loading and discharge under strict segregation, manages MARPOL Annex II mandatory prewashes with the P&A manual and answers for atmospheres, tank coatings and samples. The bridge's most 'chemical' billet.
Typical watches
- Navigation watches and loading/discharge operations per the chemical terminal plan
Key responsibilities
- Plan and execute loading, discharge, transfer and care in transit of bulk liquid chemicals under the IBC Code.
- Control cargo compatibility and segregation, tank washing and mandatory prewashes under MARPOL Annex II.
- Supervise atmosphere testing, inerting and crew protection against toxic and corrosive cargoes.
- Apply product-specific emergency procedures (safety data sheets, SMPEP plan).
Operational scope
- Chemical product terminals
- Toxic, corrosive and flammable cargoes under the IBC Code
- High-risk operations
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.