Keeping your certificates in date

An out-of-date certificate can cost you a job on the day you are due to join. Most crew find out when a captain asks for copies. A few dates, kept in one place, prevent that.

What expires

• Seafarer medical. A UK ENG1 is valid for up to two years (one year if you are under 18). A doctor can issue a shorter one.
• STCW safety training. Personal Survival Techniques and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting must be updated every five years. So must Advanced Fire Fighting and Proficiency in Survival Craft and Rescue Boats if you hold them. Fire fighting has to be refreshed ashore.
• Certificates of competency are revalidated every five years, with their own conditions.
• Passport and visas. Many countries want six months left on a passport. Visas each have their own dates.

Rules differ by flag state and they change. Check with the authority that issued your certificate.

Let Crew HQ remember

1. Open your documents page and add each certificate with its expiry date and a scan or photo.
2. Crew HQ emails you about three months before one runs out, and tells you if one already has.
3. When you renew, replace the file and the date.

Storing documents is part of Premium, or comes free with a seat on your captain's crew list.

Who sees them

You. A captain whose crew list you have joined. Employers with Professional Membership who open your full profile. You can also choose to show the list of what you hold, not the files, on your Crew HQ Me link.

Booking a refresher

The training school directory shows schools on a map, and the schools nearest to your own pin appear beside your profile. Book early: refresher weeks before the season fill up.

Sources: Maritime and Coastguard Agency, MSN 1865 (five-year updating of STCW safety training) and MSN 1887 (medical certification, two-year maximum) on gov.uk.