Offshore Supply Vessel Jobs
No open vacancies on Offshore Supply Vessels right now
No open vacancies on Offshore Supply Vessels right now
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Upload your CVAbout Offshore Supply Vessels
Offshore supply vessels support offshore oil, gas and wind work. PSVs carry deck cargo, fuel, water, mud and cement to platforms and rigs. AHTS vessels handle anchors, tow and support diving or ROV work. Crew boats move people, while standby, guard and pollution control vessels keep watch and respond to incidents. The work is not a long ocean passage. It is short trips, close manoeuvring near installations, DP holding, cargo transfer by crane and hose, and deck work in weather. The vessel must keep station and keep the deck safe. Ranks on board include Master, Chief Officer, Second Officer, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, ETO, Bosun, AB, Motorman/Oiler and Cook. Crew need strong deck and engine teamwork and clear radio talk.
Cargo and operations
An offshore supply vessel carries deck cargo, fuel, fresh water, drill water, mud, cement and equipment to offshore installations. PSVs have a large open deck and tanks below. AHTS vessels handle anchors, tow rigs and support diving or ROV work. Crew boats move people. Windfarm support vessels carry technicians and spare parts. Standby, guard and pollution control vessels keep watch and respond to incidents. Cargo work uses cranes, winches, capstans and transfer hoses. Main risks are dropped objects, crane and winch failure, mooring line snap, chemical contact, fuel transfer spills and heavy seas alongside a rig.
Crew on board
Master and Chief Officer plan the approach to the installation and the cargo sequence. Second, Third and Fourth Officers keep navigational watches and handle DP, radio and cargo papers. Junior Officer, Deck Cadet and Engine Cadet learn under supervision. Bosun, AB and OS work the deck, cranes, winches and mooring. Pumpman and Fitter care for cargo pumps, transfer gear and deck machinery. Chief Engineer, Second, Third and Fourth Engineer run main engines, thrusters and power. Motorman/Oiler and Wiper work in the engine room. ETO and Electrician keep DP, sensors and electrical systems running. Cook and Messman run the galley and mess.
Special training
Offshore supply vessels are not passenger ships or tankers by default, so STCW V/2, STCW V/1-1 and STCW V/1-2 do not apply unless the ship is used for those trades. All seafarers need BST under STCW VI/1 and security training under STCW VI/6. Crew who perform radio duties need GMDSS under STCW IV/2. Crew who handle survival craft need PSCRB under STCW VI/2, and fire teams need AFF under STCW VI/3. In polar waters, STCW V/4 applies to masters, chief mates and officers of the watch. On ships using gas or low-flashpoint fuels, STCW V/3 applies to designated crew. DP training is separate from STCW.
Requirements
| Document | Convention | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Competency (deck officer) | STCW II/1 | Every officer in charge of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must hold a CoC. |
| Certificate of Competency (Master or Chief Officer) | STCW II/2 | Every master and chief mate on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must hold a certificate of competency. |
| Rating forming part of a navigational watch | STCW II/4 | Every rating forming part of a navigational watch on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must be certificated, except ratings under training and ratings whose duties on watch are unskilled. |
| Able seafarer deck | STCW II/5 | Every able seafarer deck serving on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must be certificated. |
| Officer in charge of an engineering watch | STCW III/1 | Every officer in charge of an engineering watch on a seagoing ship with main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more must hold a CoC. |
| Chief engineer officer and second engineer officer | STCW III/2 | Every chief engineer officer and second engineer officer on a seagoing ship with main propulsion machinery of 3,000 kW or more must hold a certificate of competency. |
| Electro-technical officer | STCW III/6 | Every electro-technical officer on a seagoing ship with main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more must hold a CoC. |
| GMDSS radio operator | STCW IV/2 | Every person in charge of or performing radio duties on a ship required to participate in the GMDSS must hold an appropriate GMDSS certificate. |
| Basic safety training (BST) | STCW VI/1 | Seafarers must receive safety familiarization and basic training or instruction. |
| Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats (PSCRB) | STCW VI/2 | A candidate needs approved seagoing service of not less than 12 months, or an approved training course and approved seagoing service of not less than six months. |
| Advanced fire fighting (AFF) | STCW VI/3 | Seafarers designated to control fire-fighting operations must complete advanced training in fire fighting, with emphasis on organization, tactics and command. |
| Medical first aid | STCW VI/4 | Seafarers designated to provide medical first aid on board must meet the standard of competence in medical first aid. |
Sea service
STCW sets no separate sea service rule for offshore supply vessels. Service requirements come from the certificate sought, for example STCW II/1 for deck officers, STCW II/5 for AB or STCW III/1 for engineers.
Medical fitness
Seafarers need a valid medical certificate before work. It states hearing and sight, and colour vision where relevant, are satisfactory. Maximum validity is two years, or one year if under 18; colour vision certificate maximum six years.
Documents
- CDC / Seaman's book
- Valid medical certificate
- CoC or CoP for your rank and ship size
- GMDSS certificate if you perform radio duties
- PSCRB, AFF and medical first aid certificates where designated
- Security training certificate
- Polar training certificate if serving in polar waters
Ships in our database
8,100+ Offshore Supply Vessels in the Krew Guru ships database
Deadweight (DWT), most ships100–4,000
Gross tonnage (GT), most ships200–3,400
Range covers the middle 80% of ships of this type in our database.
Jobs on Offshore Supply Vessels: questions and answers
What does an OSV do that a normal cargo ship does not?
An OSV works close to offshore installations. It carries deck cargo and bulk products to a platform or rig, holds position with DP, and may handle anchors, tow, carry ROV or diving teams, move crew or stand by for rescue and pollution response. The trips are short and the deck work is frequent.
Which STCW certificate do I need as AB on an OSV?
On a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more, an AB must be certificated. STCW II/5 requires age 18, the STCW II/4 requirements, and approved deck service of 18 months, or 12 months with approved training. You also need the competence standard in section A-II/5.
Do I need tanker training for OSV work?
Only if your duties relate to oil or chemical cargo or cargo equipment on an oil or chemical tanker. STCW V/1-1 then applies. On a liquefied gas tanker, STCW V/1-2 applies. A supply vessel carrying mud, cement, fuel, water or deck cargo does not automatically make you a tanker officer.
Do I need polar training on an OSV?
If the vessel operates in polar waters, masters, chief mates and officers in charge of a navigational watch need basic training under STCW V/4. Masters and chief mates also need advanced training. Advanced training requires the basic certificate, at least two months of deck service in polar waters or equivalent, and an approved course.
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Sources
- ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)
- IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (1 July 2010), Resolution 1: The Manila Amendments to the annex to the STCW Convention
- IMO, Resolution MSC.416(97) (adopted 25 November 2016), amendments to the STCW Convention
- IMO, Resolution MSC.396(95) (adopted 11 June 2015), amendments to the STCW Convention
Checked against the official texts on 26 Oct 2026.