Seafarer certificates and seaman's book
Are you a seafarer on a Dutch ship? You must have a valid certificate of competency (vaarbevoegdheidsbewijs) and a seaman’s book (monsterboekje). in some cases you need a certificate of proficiency (bekwaamheidsbewijs).
Certificate of competency
Every Dutch ship must have a Minimum Safe Manning Document (MSMD, bemanningscertificaat), which includes, among others information about the:
- sailing area of the vessel
- type of ship
- type of cargo
- number of crew members
- position of crew members
Every seafarer who is listed on the manning proposal or MSMD of a Dutch ship must have a valid certificate of competency (CoC) for the position for which they are listed. Kiwa Register issues this certificate to individuals who meet the requirements in terms of education, experience, and physical fitness. Each position has its own requirements. For your initial application of a CoC, you need a Dutch Maritime diploma no older than 4 years.
If you apply for the first time, you need to register with Kiwa to receive your login details. If you do not live in the Netherlands, you need to apply for a Kiwa-ID.
Renewing a certificate of competency
The CoC is valid for 5 years. To renew your CoC with Kiwa Register (in Dutch), you need to:
- undergo a medical examination
- undertake seafarer safety training (STCW training), for example, first aid, fire and firefighting, emergency communication
- have a certain number of months of experience at sea (sailing time).
You can check with Kiwa what documents you need for your renewal application. You cannot renew your CoC if it is expired for more than 5 years.
Certificate of proficiency
Depending on your job and the type of ship you work on, you may need one of these certificates of proficiency (CoP’s):
- Certificate of Proficiency IGF-Code for ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels (IGF)
- Certificate of Proficiency Polar Code for ships sailing to polar regions
You can apply for a certificate of proficiency through Kiwa Register’s online portal.
Recognition of a foreign CoC and/or CoP
Are you a foreign seafarer with a certificate of competence and/or certificate of proficiency from your home country? You may serve on a Dutch ship if you have a Dutch recognition of your certificate(s). You can have a foreign CoC and CoP recognised by Kiwa Register if your country is listed as an STWC-party.
Seaman's book and muster list
Every seafarer must have a seaman’s book (monsterboekje). A seaman's book provides information on an individual’s work experience and educational background. It is the basic document for the registration of crew members in the Central Crew Information Register. You can apply for a digital seaman's book to Kiwa Register. It is valid for 10 years. After that, you need to renew your seaman’s book with Kiwa.
Seagoing vessels must always carry a muster list (monsterrol). This list is also known as the crew list. It shows, among other things, the names and positions, dates of birth, and sign-on and sign-off dates of crew members. You must use the IMO Fal Form 5 to draw up the crew list. As managing owner, you must always know who is on board. Every time the captain draws up a new crew list, or changes the existing crew list, he must notify the ship operator.