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AMSA Recognition of Customs National Maritime Unit Sea Service towards gaining a STCW Deck Certificate of Competency

1. Introduction

This document provides information on recognition of Customs National Maritime Unit (NMU) patrol vessel sea service for NMU personnel to gain a STCW Certificate of Competency (Deck) whilst serving in the Customs service or after they have left.

The issue of sea-going qualifications by AMSA meet the requirements set out in Marine Orders Part 3 – Seagoing Qualifications (MO3), which gives effect to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).

Before a NMU Officer can gain a STCW Certificate of Competency (COC) from AMSA, they must have completed the same requirements as any other applicant wishing to gain a STCW COC, namely:

Completed an AMSA approved course of study which at least meets the standards specified by STCW for that certificate;
Completed a pre-requisite amount of equivalent qualifying sea service as specified in section 15 of Marine Orders Part 3 (MO3);
Hold a valid certificate of medical fitness; and
Pass an AMSA oral examination.

AMSA conducted a joint project with the Australian Customs NMU to ascertain the validity of accepting sea service in the NMU served onboard NMU Patrol vessels, as equivalent to service on trading ships, for acceptance as qualifying sea service for certain STCW qualifications. The following sections are the result of AMSA’s investigations and are designed to clarify and expand on requirements where appropriate to assist NMU personnel when making applications for an AMSA qualification.

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2. AMSA Approved course of study

The current academic requirement for a COC as Master < 500GT, Mate < 500GT and Mate < 500GT(Watchkeeper only) is the AMSA approved Diploma Course for Deck Watchkeeper, with the additional modules for the Mate/Master <500GT.

Any NMU Officer who wishes to complete an AMSA approved course should first have a formal qualifying sea service (QSS) assessment completed by an AMSA Examiner (see below), and if QSS requirements are met, then approach an AMSA approved training provider to gain more information on available course options and the possibility of recognition of prior learning where applicable for components of the required training already completed.

A list of AMSA approved training providers is available at http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Qualifications/AMSA_Approved_Courses/

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3. Qualifying Sea Service

Fully documented seagoing service as a Master, Watchkeeping Officer or rating on the Customs NMU Bay class patrol vessels, will be accepted by the Manager Ship Operations and Qualifications as equivalent service under MO3 paragraph 15, therefore satisfying the qualifying sea service requirements on trading ships for the purpose of qualifying for a certificate as Master < 500GT or Mate < 500GT.

Such fully documented seagoing service is already accepted as qualifying sea service on trading ships under MO3 paragraph 26.5.2, for the purpose of qualifying for a certificate as Mate < 500GT with a capacity limitation as Watchkeeper Only.

In any period of sea service, qualifying sea service in a patrol vessel of the NMU is :

where the vessel is under way for two-thirds or more of the posting the whole period the person was posted to that vessel; and
where the vessel is under way for less than two-thirds of the posting – the actual period underway plus 50% of that period;
only counted for voyages of 24 hours or more in duration.

Official documentary evidence must be supplied to AMSA providing, as a minimum, details and name of the NMU vessel served in, position held and dates of service, before qualifying sea service will be accepted by AMSA.

In regards to NMU applicants, specific requirements for the issue of each particular AMSA STCW COC are as follows:

Mate < 500GT with capacity limitation as Watchkeeper Only

To be eligible for a certificate of competency as Mate < 500GT with a capacity limitation as Watchkeeper Only, a person must:

be 20 years of age or more;
meet qualifying sea service requirements in MO3 paragraph 25.6.2(b). Note service on NMU Patrol vessels counts as QSS on trading ships in paragraph 25.6.2(b);
have satisfactorily completed an AMSA Approved Deck Watchkeeper course that meets the relevant standards specified in STCW and MO3 paragraph 25.6.2(c);
hold a certificate of proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats;
hold a valid GMDSS General Operators Certificate; and
have passed an oral examination in appropriate operational knowledge conducted by an AMSA examiner.

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Mate < 500GT

To be eligible for a certificate of competency as Mate < 500GT, a person must:

be 20 years of age or more;
hold a certificate as Mate < 500GT(Watckeeper only), State Master Class 4 (unrestricted), State Master Class 5 (unrestricted), or such other certificate as the Manager considers to be equivalent;
meet qualifying sea service requirements in MO3 paragraph 25.6.1(c). Note service on NMU Patrol vessels counts as QSS on trading ships in paragraph 25.6.1(c);
have satisfactorily completed an AMSA approved course of study (Diploma in Transport & Distribution Master < 500GT or Diploma in Applied Science Master < 500GT) that meets the relevant standards specified in the STCW Convention, and MO3 paragraph 25.6.1 (d);
hold a certificate of proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats;
hold a valid GMDSS General Operators Certificate; and
have passed an oral examination in appropriate operational knowledge conducted by an AMSA examiner.

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Master < 500GT

To be eligible for a certificate as Chief Mate a person must:

To be eligible for issue of a certificate of competency as Master (<500GT)(Basic), Master < 500GT(with endorsement as Chief Mate on vessels less than 3000GT on Near Coastal voyages) or Master < 500GT(with endorsement as Master on vessels less than 3000GT on Near Coastal voyages), a person must:

be 20 years of age of more;
hold a certificate as Mate < 500GT(full), State Master Class 4 (unrestricted), State Master Class 3 (unrestricted), or such other certificate as the Manager considers to be equivalent;
at least 12 months of the qualifying sea service referred to in point 4, must have been served whilst holding a certificate referred to in point 2.
whilst holding one of the following certificates; Mate < 500GT(Watchkeeper only), Mate < 500GT(full), State Master Class 5 (unrestricted) State Master Class 4 (unrestricted), State Master Class 3 (unrestricted), Watchkeeper (Deck) or such other certificate as the Manager considers to be equivalent, have completed qualifying sea service as officer in charge of a navigation watch:
- for the Master < 500GT (basic), of at least 36 months on trading ships, RAN ships and NMU Patrol vessels equivalent to at least 80GT, and
- for Master < 500GT (with endorsement as Chief Mate on vessels less than 3000GT on Near Coastal voyages) at least 6 months of this service must be on trading ships, RAN ships or NMU Patrol vessels of more than 500GT, and
- for Master < 500GT (with endorsement as Master on vessels less than 3000GT on Near Coastal voyages), 24 months on trading ships, RAN ships or NMU Patrol vessels over 500 GT, of which at least 6 months must be on trading ships of more than 500GT which are not NMU ships or RAN ships.
have satisfactorily completed an AMSA approved course of study (Diploma in Transport & Distribution Master < 500GT or Diploma in Applied Science Master < 500GT) that meets the relevant standards specified in the STCW Convention, and MO3 paragraph 25.3 (d);
hold a certificate of proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats;
hold a valid GMDSS General Operators Certificate; and
have passed an oral examination in appropriate operational knowledge conducted by an AMSA examiner.

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4. Certificate of Medical Fitness

Any applicant for a certificate must obtain a certificate of medical fitness issued in accordance with Marine Orders Part 9. A list of appointed medical inspectors of seaman has been provided on the AMSA website.

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5. Oral Examination

Once all other requirements for the issue of an AMSA certificate of competency have been met, an applicant is required to pass an oral examination with an AMSA Examiner.

The syllabus for the various levels of AMSA orals can be found on the AMSA website at http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Qualifications/Oral_Exam_Syllabus/

The AMSA oral examination provides a final check on the applicant’s competency before the issue of an STCW Certificate of Competency.

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6. Currency of approved training

Marine Orders Part 3 section 7.3 applies to all AMSA issued certificates, where the issue of a certificate to a person is dependent upon that person satisfactorily completing an approved course, then that course must have been completed:

if the applicant provides proof of continuity of sea service since completion of the course then within 10 years of the certificate being issued; or
in any other case—within 5 years of the certificate being issued

7. CUSTOMS National Maritime Unit Vessel Size

The Gross Tonnage of a Customs Bay Class Patrol Vessel is 240GT.

The size category gross tonnage that the current fleet of National Maritime Unit Patrol vessels fall into, is therefore greater than 80 GT and less than 500GT.

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