CES — Crew Evaluation System — is the computer test many ship managers use to check a seafarer's professional knowledge before a contract. Where Marlins checks your English, CES checks whether you know your job.
What it is
CES was created by the Norwegian company Seagull, now part of Ocean Technologies Group. It tests the knowledge areas set out in the STCW Convention: navigation, cargo work, engineering, safety, the environment and more. According to the developer, there are three kinds of test:
- an STCW test built for your rank, department and vessel type;
- a detailed test over ten functional areas;
- a company-specific test with the employer's own questions.
How it is taken
The test is in English, on a computer at a crewing office or training centre, without access to the internet. Questions are drawn at random from a large bank, so learning a list of answers by heart does not work. The pass mark is set by the company: one Ukrainian training centre, for example, reported a 70% threshold with about a minute per question. Ask the agency which test and which threshold apply to you.
How to prepare
- Know your rank's STCW competences — the test is built from them.
- Revise by function: for deck officers COLREG, stability, cargo work, navigation equipment; for engineers machinery, fuel and lubricating systems, electrics, MARPOL; for everyone fire-fighting, life-saving appliances and first aid.
- Read the questions in English — terminology matters; translate the key terms of your rank.
- Use practice tests, but as practice, not as an answer key: the real bank is larger and randomised.
- Answer every question — an empty answer is always wrong.
After the test
The result goes to the company and often stays in its system for your next contract. A good score is worth mentioning in your maritime CV. Then look at the vacancies for your rank.
Test types as described by Ocean Technologies Group; pass marks and timing depend on the company — check them with your agency.