Recently we’ve had a flurry of enquiries around the Ship’s Cook certificate and how to obtain one.
Here’s the short and sweet – there is no short and sweet. The ship’s cook certificate was put into place by the MCA to verify that crew working in the gallery are in fact qualified to do so. The full ships’ cook certificate course is 21 days and can be done at various centres worldwide. However, if you have been working on a yacht as a cook or higher rank, you can apply for the ship’s cook assessment which is a shortened version of the ship’s cook certificate, providing the same qualification.
The Ship’s Cook Certificate (or similar certifications, depending on the country) was put in place primarily to ensure food safety and hygiene standards aboard ships, ultimately protecting the health and well-being of the crew. The certification was implemented following many yachties applying for positions in the galley without having formal qualifications, many of whom were either home cooks or with no formal training at all. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the reasons:
Preventing Foodborne Illness: Poor food handling and preparation practices on ships can lead to outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, which can be particularly dangerous in the isolated environment of a vessel at sea. The certification ensures cooks have the knowledge and skills to safely handle, store and prepare food, minimising the risk of contamination and illness.
Maintaining Hygiene Standards: Ships can be breeding grounds for bacteria and other pathogens if proper hygiene is not maintained. Ship’s cook certifications emphasise the importance of cleanliness in the galley and adherence to strict hygiene protocols to prevent the spread of disease.
Nutritional Adequacy: A well-nourished crew is essential for maintaining morale and productivity, especially during long voyages. Ship’s cook certifications often include training on basic nutrition principles, enabling cooks to provide balanced and nutritious meals that meet the dietary needs of the crew.
Compliance with Regulations: International maritime regulations, such as those established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and national maritime authorities, often require that ships’ cooks hold valid certifications to demonstrate their competence. This helps ensure compliance with international standards and avoids potential penalties or detentions, including compliance with HACCP principles.
Professionalism and Accountability: By requiring formal training and certification, the ship’s cook certification elevates the profession and promotes accountability. Certified cooks are held to a higher standard of competence and are responsible for maintaining the health and safety of the crew through proper food handling and preparation practices.
In summary, the Ship’s Cook Certificate is a crucial measure for safeguarding the health and well-being of seafarers by ensuring food safety, hygiene, nutritional adequacy, and compliance with international regulations.
The requirements to obtain ship’s cook are:
- 18 years or older
- Must have completed a minimum of 1 month of actual sea service in any capacity
- Must have 1 year experience at sea as a chef or 1 year experience on land as a Chef/Cook.
- A culinary diploma is a benefit but not essential
If you are a head chef working on a yacht that has a crew of 10 or more, you may be required to hold a ship’s cook certificate, but this also depends on the flag state of the vessel. The MCA UK were the forerunners for accrediting the Ship’s Cook certification, but this does not mean that an MCA UKL certificate is the only option. Any certification complying with Regulation 3.2 paragraph 3 of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 will be acceptable as a valid Ship’s cook certification, if the course is aligned to the ILO (Geneva) and MSN1845(M).
The above information is provided on an “as is” basis. Before purchasing any of your courses, it is your exclusive responsibility to verify that they comply with the flag administration/approval body you require or intend to submit to. Furthermore, you should check if the course is accepted by your employer or the flag administration, as they may have specific requirements.