Role overview
Open recruitment for crewing agencies and shipowners we work with. This is not a single vacancy with a fixed joining date: apply to be considered for upcoming Cook vacancies.
What a Cook does
The cook prepares all meals for the crew, plans menus for the food on board, orders provisions with the master, and keeps the galley, provision stores and cold rooms clean and in order. On ships with mixed nationalities the cook has to plan for different diets and religious requirements. Food hygiene is checked during port state control and flag inspections under MLC 2006.
Certificates required
- Ship’s cook certificate (MLC 2006, Regulation 3.2 and Standard A3.2): ship’s cooks must be trained and qualified; a fully qualified cook is not required only on ships with a prescribed manning of fewer than ten
- Minimum age for a ship’s cook: 18 (MLC 2006, Standard A3.2)
- Basic Training (STCW Reg. VI/1): personal survival techniques, fire prevention and fire fighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities
- Security awareness (STCW Reg. VI/6), or designated security duties if you have security tasks on board
- Seafarer medical certificate (STCW Reg. I/9 and MLC 2006 Reg. 1.2), valid for a maximum of 2 years
- Food hygiene or food safety course certificate, asked for by many employers
- Seaman’s book (discharge book) from a flag state
Sea service and promotion
Many cooks start as messman or second cook and gain the ship’s cook certificate through an approved course and sea time as set by the flag state. On large ships the galley has a chief cook and a second cook; on most cargo ships one cook works with one messman.
Typical ships
- Bulk carriers
- Oil and chemical tankers
- Container ships
- General cargo and multipurpose ships
- Offshore vessels
- Passenger ships and ferries
Contract length
Commonly 6 to 9 months, set by the employer for each vacancy. MLC 2006 limits continuous service on board to less than 12 months before the seafarer is entitled to repatriation.
Cook jobs by ship type
How to apply
- Create a free seafarer account and confirm your email address.
- Fill in your online CV: rank, sea service, certificate of competency, STCW certificates, medical and seaman’s book. Upload copies of your documents.
- Apply to this post with one click and make your profile visible to verified employers, so crewing agencies and shipowners can find you when a vacancy opens.
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Related ranks
Seafarers: see how Seafarers Recruitment works for seafarers. Employers and crewing agencies: post a vacancy or search crew.