Requirements for Ship’s Cooks in Germany

Under German law, there is no separate German “Ship’s Cook Certificate” issued directly by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). Instead, a ship’s cook must meet the qualification requirements set out in the Safe Manning Ordinance (Schiffsbesetzungsverordnung – SchBesV).

Requirements for Ship’s Cooks in Germany

According to Section 7 of the German Safe Manning Ordinance (SchBesV), every ship must have a qualified ship’s cook. A person qualifies if they hold one of the following:

• A German professional qualification as a Cook/Chef (Koch/Köchin) or another relevant vocational qualification.
• A certificate from a German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) confirming completion of the required catering instruction course.
• A Ship’s Cook Certificate issued by a country that is a party to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
• Another equivalent foreign qualification recognized as comparable.

Crew members under the age of 18 may not serve as a ship’s cook.

Applying for Recognition or Certification

If you already hold a foreign Ship’s Cook Certificate and wish to work on a German-flagged vessel, the recognition process is handled by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

The BSH provides information and application forms for:

• Initial issuance of certificates
• Recognition of foreign certificates
• Required application documents
• Processing times (currently at least 12 weeks for most German competency documents)

General Requirements

Depending on the certificate being requested, applicants may need to provide:

• Valid passport or identity document
• Medical fitness certificate for seafarers
• Proof of professional qualifications
• Required sea service (where applicable)
• STCW safety training certificates (where applicable)
• Passport photographs
• Completed application form

Official Links

• BSH – Competence of Seafarers (Applications)
  https://www.deutsche-flagge.de/en/applications-and-documents/applications/competence-of-seafarers
• BSH – Initial Issuance of Certificates
  https://www.deutsche-flagge.de/en/competency/certificates/initial
• BSH – Recognition of Foreign Certificates
  https://www.deutsche-flagge.de/en/competency/certificates/recognition/endorsement-of-recognition
• German Safe Manning Ordinance (SchBesV), Section 7 – Ship’s Cook (German)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/schbesv_2013/__7.html
• Safe Manning Ordinance (Official English Translation)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_schbesv/englisch_schbesv.html
• Seafarers’ Competencies and Proficiencies Regulations (See-BV – English)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_see-bv/index.html

If you hold a Ship’s Cook Certificate from another country (for example, the Philippines, India, or another MLC member state), the BSH can assess it for recognition so you may work on German-flagged ships, subject to German and international maritime qualification requirements