How to become a second mate?

To become a second mate on a ship, you usually must start in an entry-level position as a deckhand of a vessel with a merchant mariner credential (MMC). You typically must work more than a thousand hours and hold a Transportation Workers Identification Credential to become eligible for an officer position. Some choose to complete a training program or earn a bachelor’s degree from a marine academy that specializes in merchant vessels to pass the necessary exams to become an officer. Through further training, you work your way up to the duties of a second mate. Excellent hand-eye coordination, physical strength, and mechanical skills are vital to this role.