AMSA Recognition of RAN Sea Service for AMSA Engineer Qualifications
Application Assessment
When an applicant applies for a sea service assessment they must also supply a letter from the RAN explaining their “employment detail” in terms of watchkeeping on main propulsion or auxiliary machinery, day-work maintenance etc.
AMSA has assessed the following RAN service and qualifications as suitable for entry into the appropriate certificate of competency oral examination. The RAN has converted all of their previously recognised certificates, eg machinery charge certificates, etc, into the relevant certificates named in the information noted below. RAN applicants with documents in the ‘old style’ RAN nomenclature/terminology should apply to the RAN to get their qualifications assessed and re-classified into the new RAN nomenclature/terminology.
Engineer Watchkeeper
For issue of an Engineer Watchkeeper certificate of competency an applicant is required to:
- hold the rank of leading seaman MT and hold an RAN Advanced Certificate in Marine Propulsion Maintenance; or a Certificate IV in Engineering - Higher Engineering Trade MEM40198;
- hold an Australian Tradesman’s Rights Certificate or state Certificate of Recognition for trades persons in fitting and machining or equivalent;
- complete an approved marine college course (marine colleges may grant exemptions from particular course subjects where the applicant can provide proof of completion of equivalent subjects);
- prove completion of at least 36 weeks qualifying sea service on vessels with propulsion power of 750 kW or more while holding an RAN Machinery Watchkeeping Certificate or a Marine Systems Controller certificate;
- pass an AMSA oral examination in appropriate operational knowledge; and
- prove completion of approved short courses in personal survival techniques, basic and advanced fire fighting, proficiency in survival craft and medical first aid at sea.
Engineer Class 2
For issue of an Engineer Class 2 certificate of competency an applicant is required to:
- hold the rank of PO MT and hold an RAN Associate Diploma of Engineering in Marine Systems Maintenance or a Diploma of Engineering MEM50198;
- hold an Australian Tradesman’s Rights Certificate or state Certificate of Recognition for trades persons in fitting and machining or equivalent;
- complete an approved marine college course (marine colleges may grant exemptions from particular course subjects where the applicant can provide proof of completion of equivalent subjects);
- prove completion of the sea service specified for issue of an Engineer Watchkeeper (paragraph d) plus at least 15 months qualifying sea service on vessels with propulsion power of 750 kW or more while holding an RAN MT Engine Room Watchkeeping Certificate or a Marine Systems Manager certificate
- pass an AMSA oral examination in appropriate operational knowledge; and
- prove completion of approved short courses in personal survival techniques, basic and advanced fire fighting, proficiency in survival craft and medical first aid at sea.
Engineer Class 1
For issue of an Engineer Class 1 certificate of competency an applicant is required to:
- hold the rank of CPO MT and hold an RAN Diploma of Engineering in Marine Systems;
- hold an Australian Tradesman’s Rights Certificate or state Certificate of Recognition for trades persons in fitting and machining or equivalent;
- complete an approved marine college course (marine colleges may grant exemptions from particular course subjects where the applicant can provide proof of completion of equivalent subjects);
- prove completion of the sea service specified for issue of an Engineer Class 2 (paragraph d) plus at least 15 months qualifying sea service on vessels with propulsion power of 3000 kW or more while holding an RAN MT Charge Certificate;
- pass an AMSA oral examination in appropriate operational knowledge, and
- prove completion of approved short courses in personal survival techniques, basic and advanced fire fighting, proficiency in survival craft and medical first aid at sea.
Sea Service
Sea service in the RAN is counted at half rate unless fully documented (denoting actual days at sea) and must also have been performed as either an engineer, trainee engineer, engineer cadet or equivalent capacity regularly engaged in engine room watchkeeping or ‘on call’ in unattended machinery spaces.
Sea service must have been accrued on ships using propulsion of the kind to which the certificate of competency relates, however AMSA will recognise sea service on gas turbine ships, at half rate, up the following amounts:
- Engineer Watchkeeper certificate - 20 weeks;
- Engineer Class 2 certificate - 6 months;
- Engineer Class 1 certificate - 6 months.
RAN sea service even on day work may count to the same quantity as allowed for in Marine Orders Part 3 - Seagoing Qualifications, however the service must be related to engine room duties.
Sea service gained following leaving the RAN may count towards issue of a certificate however it will only count from the date of completing the approved trade.
Gaining Higher AMSA Qualifications
Once the applicant has gained entry into the AMSA certificate structure by obtaining an AMSA certificate of competency, all sea service for future certificates commences from that time (previous sea service does not count for additional certificates at a later date).
RAN personnel who do not hold any of the certificates noted above for which special consideration is given must meet the full requirements as specified in Marine Orders Part 3 - Seagoing Qualifications.
Oral Examination
For information regarding the oral examination syllabus please refer to the URL:
http://www.amsa.gov.au/Marine_Qualifications/Oral_Exam_Syllabus/