The course is principally intended for candidates for certification as master or chief mate on seagoing ships. Those wishing to enter this course should preferably be the holders of certificates satisfying the requirements of regulation II/1 or II/3 of the STCW convention as officer in charge of a navigational watch or they should therefore have completed a course of training which meets or exceeds the standard set out in table A-II/1 of the STCW code, and preferably completed the sea service needed for certification as master or chief mate while qualified as an officer in charge of a navigational watch.