Ordinary Seaman (OS) Jobs in the Merchant Navy
The ordinary seaman is an entry-level deck rating building sea time toward Able Seaman.
What a Ordinary Seaman (OS) does
The Ordinary Seaman (OS) is an entry-level deck rating, assisting the Able Seamen and Bosun with deck maintenance, mooring, lookout, cleaning, and general duties. It is the standard starting rating for a career on deck, building the sea time needed to become an AB.
Certificates and requirements
- STCW Basic Safety Training and Personal Safety and Social Responsibility
- A valid medical certificate (and often a watchkeeping rating course)
- A willingness to work and learn on deck - the entry point to a deck career
- Tanker familiarisation where required
Which ships hire Ordinary Seaman (OS)s
Ordinary Seamen join all vessel types and it is the most common way to start a seagoing deck career.
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