Foundations

Understand the system

Offshore personnel requirements are not one list. They come from at least seven different regulatory and competence systems, and the question that matters is always who requires this — not just what's required.

How a requirement gets decided

Follow a person from their role to the frameworks that could apply to them.

PERSON What role do they perform? What type of unit are they on? Seafarer / marine crew e.g. Master, OIM, Barge Supervisor, DPO Industrial / special personnel e.g. Driller, Roughneck, Subsea Technician Potential frameworks STCW International A.1079(28) IMO MOU Framework Flag State Certification Coastal State Host jurisdiction Industry OPITO, IWCF, NI... Employer Company system A single person is very often governed by more than one of these boxes at once. The goal of this site is to show which ones — and with what confidence — not to collapse them into one list.

Personnel categories

Not every person working offshore is a "seafarer," and not everyone on a MODU is subject to STCW. These are the categories the rest of the site relies on.

Three foundational instruments

STCW

Establishes international minimum standards for training, certification and watchkeeping — for seafarers. It is not a universal offshore-worker certification system, and does not by itself cover drillers, roughnecks or other industrial personnel.

STCW Rank Explorer →

IMO Resolution A.1079(28)

The key international framework for training and certification of personnel on Mobile Offshore Units — OIM, Barge Supervisor, BCO and related categories. It complements STCW; it does not replace it.

Offshore Role Explorer →

The MODU Code

The applicable IMO MODU Code (2009, 1989 or 1979) depends on the unit's construction date. It governs the unit's construction and safety — it does not regulate the drilling of subsea wells or well-control procedures, which fall to the coastal State.

Installation Type Explorer →