What you need to perform it
Primary qualification
- Professional Offshore Skipper certificate, Spanish merchant marine (RD 269/2022), via the higher vocational diploma in Maritime Transport and Deep-Sea Fishing (CFGS)
- Issued by DGMM — General Directorate of the Merchant Navy (Ministry of Transport)
Basic STCW
- A-VI/1 Basic Safety Training
- A-VI/2-1 Personal survival and fast rescue boats
- A-VI/3 Advanced fire fighting
- A-VI/4-2 Advanced medical care
Specific courses
- GMDSS Operador General (GOC)
- Automatic Tracking Radar (ARPA)
- ECDIS (Electronic Chart System)
- Specific advanced health training
- Ship management and maneuvering
Indicative experience
12 months of boarding as a bridge student after completing CFGS academic studies.
Observations
It is the professional qualification of the Higher Cycle of Maritime FP. Compatible with additional STCW ratings for boards and tanks. The expansion to 3,000 GT requires additional specific shipping.
What this role does
The Patrón de Altura is the highest-ranking professional nautical qualification in the Spanish merchant marine system. It qualifies for command of vessels up to 1,600 GT in any navigational area, and up to 3,000 GT with additional specific sea time. It is functionally equivalent to the STCW Officer in Charge of Navigational Watch (II/1) and approximate to the Chief Mate STCW II/2 in the MCA system.
Typical watches
- 4 or 8 hour bridge navigation watch shifts
Key responsibilities
- Comprehensive command of merchant vessels of up to 1,600 GT (or 3,000 GT with experience).
- Command of passenger ships with up to 500 passengers in deep-sea navigation.
- Compliance with the STCW, SOLAS convention and national laws.
- Management of stowage, loading and cargo security.
- Safety of human life and protection of the marine environment.
Operational scope
- International navigation without limit of distance from the coast (offshore)
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.