When people think of working at sea, they usually think of the deck and the engine room. A ship also has a galley and an accommodation side, and the law defines separate certificates for that work. The Seafarers and Maritime Pilots Regulation of 29 August 2024 lists two certificates under "auxiliary service staff": steward (kamarot) and cook. This article explains the requirements for both and what a candidate taking this route should know.
What the auxiliary class is
The regulation divides seafarers into deck, engine, auxiliary, yacht and fishing classes. The auxiliary class includes radio officers, electro-technical personnel, medical officers and cadets. Steward and cook also sit in this class, as "auxiliary service staff". These two are the certificates the regulation defines for work outside the deck and engine departments.
The practical meaning is that someone working in the galley or in accommodation also counts as a seafarer. The general requirements for becoming a seafarer (citizenship, health, criminal record) apply to these certificates too.
The steward certificate
Under the regulation, becoming a steward requires graduation from an institution providing at least secondary education. The article also sets a minimum age. It does not list a separate vocational training requirement or an examination by the Administration for the steward certificate.
That makes the steward certificate one of the simplest entry points in the regulation for someone starting out on the hotel and accommodation side. The certificate alone is not enough, though: the basic safety and security training described below is mandatory for all seafarers.
The ship's cook certificate
The cook requirements are more detailed, and the regulation sets out two main routes.
The first route is for those trained in the field:
- graduates of the food and beverage services field of secondary education institutions,
- graduates of university departments of gastronomy and food and beverage management.
For this group, the regulation does not require a Social Security Institution record.
The second route is for those with at least secondary school education who learned the trade later. On this route, one of the following is needed:
- a cookery certificate approved by the Ministry of National Education,
- or the ship's cook training specified in the Training Directive.
Candidates on this route must also prove insured work experience in the trade through Social Security Institution records. The regulation sets a minimum period for this work; we recommend comparing the article with your own record before applying. Once the requirements are met, the Administration issues the ship's cook certificate.
The cook certificate also has its own minimum age in the regulation, and it is not the same as the one for stewards.
What about waiters, bar staff and reception?
Our positions include waiter, busser, bartender, housekeeping, reception and cleaning staff. The regulation does not list these titles as separate certificates; only steward and cook appear under auxiliary service staff.
Which document is used to work under these titles on board depends on the vessel's flag and the employer's requirements. We do not state a general rule here, because a wrong generalisation could send you towards the wrong document. When reading a job posting, look at the requirements line and the documents the employer asks for; our guide to reading job postings helps with this.
Mandatory training for both certificates
The regulation makes some training mandatory for all seafarers regardless of position. Working in the galley or in cabins does not remove it:
- Basic safety training: personal survival techniques at sea, elementary first aid, fire prevention and fire fighting, personal safety and social responsibilities, and proficiency in survival craft.
- Security training: security-related familiarisation training and security awareness training.
- If you will work on a passenger ship: passenger ship training.
We cover passenger ship training and the difference between safety and security training in separate articles.
Galley life on board
The cook is a position found on every vessel type, from cargo ships to cruise ships. On a cargo ship a single cook may be responsible for the whole crew's meals, while on a cruise ship the galley works as a large team divided into sections. This difference changes the content of the job. You can compare which vessel type suits you on our ship types page. Since you will be working as a seafarer in the galley or in cabins too, the document order of medical report, seafarer's book application and mandatory training is the same for you.
Frequently asked questions
I am a gastronomy graduate. Do I need a Social Security record to become a ship's cook?
The regulation does not require a Social Security Institution record for graduates of university gastronomy and food and beverage management departments. The general requirements and mandatory training still apply.
I worked as a cook in a restaurant but have no diploma. Can I become a ship's cook?
If you have at least secondary school education, there is a route: a Ministry of National Education approved cookery certificate or ship's cook training, together with insured work experience proven through Social Security Institution records.
Is English required to become a steward?
The regulation's steward provision contains no English score requirement. The language level an employer asks for in a posting is a separate matter, and everyday communication in English is a common expectation on foreign-flag vessels.