Published on 6 January 2025

Endorsements for foreign certificates

Certificates of Competency (CoC) for employment on cargo vessels and Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) for tanker ships that have been obtained abroad are recognised for serving on commercial seagoing vessels under the Swiss flag. Endorsements are issued on request.

A worker in overalls stands in front of a commercial seagoing vessel, representing foreign seafarers.

Since there are no academies in Switzerland that offer offering maritime courses or nautical training in accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW Convention), nautical training and further education for commercial seagoing vessels must be undertaken abroad.

Certficates obtained abroad are recognised for service on Swiss-flagged commercial seagoing vessels if the issuing maritime authority fully implements the STCW Convention (provisions under Regulation I/7 and I/8 of the STCW Convention) and is accordingly included on the STCW White List maintained by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). All certificates of officers must be checked and recognised by the SMNO; the SMNO will issue the endorsement at the request of the shipping company.

The following documents are required to apply for an endorsement:

  • Copies of passport
  • Copies of seaman’s book
  • Recent passport photos (Deck: 4x for CoC and GOC / Engine: 2x for CoC), write family name (in capitals) and first name (in lower case) on the reverse side
  • Copy of a valid Certificate of Competency (CoC) – depending on the function, one of the following:
    • Copy of a valid Certificate of Competency for deck officers, chief officers and masters
    • Copy of a valid Certificate of Competency for radio operators
    • Copy of a valid Certificate of Competency for engineer officers and chief engineer officers
  • For masters, deck officers and engine officers working on tankers: Copy of a valid Certificate of Proficiency (CoP) for service on tankers in addition to their Certificate of Competency (CoC)
  • Copy of the endorsement attesting the issuance by a foreign administration (if any)
  • Copy of a medical certificate according to Regulation I/9 of the STCW Convention and Regulation 1.2 of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC)

Documents

Contact

FDFA Swiss Maritime Navigation Office SMNO
Elisabethenstrasse 33
P.O.Box
Switzerland - 4010 Basel