IntroductionIn India R.A. Pandey Marine Academy (
RAPMA) provides pre sea training to become deck cadet. RAPMA collaborates with Singapore Technologies Education and Training (
STET) to conduct the pre sea deck cadet programme in India. RAPMA is approved by STCW ’95. To complete training to become a third mate will take 32 months and is explained in more detail below.
TrainingThere are minimum requirements to enroll in the deck cadet course. Cadets should have a pass in 10+2 or equivalent examination with physics, chemistry, mathematics and English as separate subjects, be aged between 17.5 and 25 and be medically fit. The first part of the training at RAPMA is residential and takes four months. The second part consists of a 24 - 36 months of sea service on board sea going vessels over 500 GRT. The third part is the second mate's preparatory course of four months.
RAPMA students will be required to perform a nominal sea service of 36 months during which the students are enrolled in STET’s long distance learning program. The cadets must do monthly assignments which are sent to RAPMA for approval. Cadets who have successfully completed the assignments and record book will be granted a 12 months remission; effectively doing 24 months of sea time. Upon completion of these two phases the students will obtain a diploma in shipping and transportation, but are not allowed to sail as third mate yet.
To become a third mate the students have to enroll in a second mate’s preparatory course (four months) and subsequent examination. The trajectory leading to a third mate’s license (min. 32 months) is summarized below:
1. Four months pre sea course (RAPMA)
2. 36 or 24 months of sea time (sea going vessels over 500 GRT)
3. Four months second mate’s preparatory course
