The Coxswain grade 1 near coastal will allow you to command, and operate the engines of, a vessel less than 12 metres long with unlimited outboard engine propulsion, or inboard engines less than 500 kilowatts:
- In inshore waters (refer to National Standard for Commercial Vessels Part B—General requirements) or designated waters (under state or territory waterway management legislation).
- As a tender or auxiliary vessel within 3 nautical miles of a parent vessel within the exclusive economic zone.
- Act as a chief mate or deck watchkeeper on a vessel <24m long in inshore waters.
You can also undertake the duties and perform the functions of a General Purpose Hand NC, Coxswain Grade 3 NC and Coxswain Grade 2 NC.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Coxswain grade 1 near coastal certificate you must:
- Be at least 16 years of age on the certificate issue date.
- Be able to speak and understand English, including written documents.
- Be medically fit for the duties, including eyesight
- Gain any needed sea service
- Complete training
For more information, select what you need to apply for below
Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2022
Syllabus
Important disclaimer
These instructions are summary information only. We make decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2022. This document has full details of the eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.
What do you need to apply for?
New certificate
What do I need to do?
To obtain this certificate you will need to:
- Meet medical and eyesight requirements
Download the:
1. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate
The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.
If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them fill out the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.
If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead.You must submit your completed medical form with your Certificate of competency application form 426.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You need to show you have experience working at sea in a deck, or a deck and engineering capacity, on vessels at least five metres long. You must have completed either:
- 30 days on commercial vessels with a completed AMSA task book
- 150 days on commercial or recreational vessels without an AMSA task book.
If you have completed a task book you must attach a copy of the seafarer details page to your application.
You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:
- Record of sea service form 771
- the on board sea service record from your task book
- a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service
- an approved sea service log book
Read more about qualifying sea service.
If you want a task book
You can get a Coxswain Grade 1 task book from us or from some registered training organisations. To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form.
Read more about task books.
- Complete a training course
Complete a Coxswain grade 1 course at a registered training organisation.
You will need to submit your course completion certificate or your interim certificate of competency with your Certificate of competency application form 426.
- Meet additional requirements
You must also hold a:
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- Short range operator certificate of proficiency, or equivalent.
If you do not hold these certificates, contact a registered training organisation.
- Pass a final assessment at a registered training organisation
Before being issued your certificate of competency you will need to complete an AMSA mandated practical assessment (AMPA). This must be conducted by a registered training organisation approved by us as a final assessor.
Refer to the syllabus document PDF960.21 KB to find out what may be included in your final assessment.
After passing the final assessment the registered training organisation may give you an interim certificate of competency that will allow you to start working immediately. To be eligible for the interim certificate of competency you must have completed your Certificate of competency application form 426 including signing the declaration.
- Complete and submit a certificate of competency application
To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.
Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.
Renewal of Certificate
A Coxswain grade 1 near coastal certificate of competency is generally valid for five years. To keep working using your certificate you need to renew it every five years.
What do I need to do?
To renew your certificate you will need to:
- Meet medical and eyesight requirements
You must complete a declaration of medical fitness on the Certificate of competency application form 426. This lets us know that you are still medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.
If your existing Coxswain grade 1 certificate has a daylight hours restriction, this restriction will also be on your renewed certificate.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You do not need sea service to renew a Coxswain grade 1 near coastal certificate of competency.
- Provide existing certificates
As part of your renewal application, you must submit a copy of your:
- existing Coxswain grade 1 (front and back)
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- Complete and submit a certificate of competency application
To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.
Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.
Endorsements and restrictions
Remove a daylight hours only restriction
If you have a restriction on your certificate, you may apply to have the restriction removed.
What do I need to do?
To remove a daylight hours restriction you will need to:
- 1. Meet medical and eyesight requirements
Download the:
1. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate
The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know you are not colour blind.
If you are colour blind, we will not be able to remove your daylight hours restriction.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them fill out the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.
If you do not meet the colour vision requirements of the eyesight test you must also get the practitioner to provide a certificate or statement stating that you do not suffer any greater abnormality in colour vision than could be tested by the Ishihara Test.
If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead
Submit your completed forms with your Certificate of competency application form 426.
- 2. Provide existing certificates
You must submit a copy of your:
- existing Coxswain grade 1 (front and back)
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- 3. Complete and submit a certificate of competency application
To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.
Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.
Endorsements and restrictions
You may apply for the following endorsements to your certificate:
- command and operate the engines of a vehicular ferry-in-chains attached to the shore by a cable
Endorsement to command and operate the engines of a vehicular ferry-in-chains attached to the shore by a cable
What do I need to do?
If you want to get this endorsement at the same time as your certificate, you can add this on your application form for a new certificate. You will need to include the sea service laid out below with your application.
If you are adding this endorsement to a current certificate, you will need to:
- 1. Meet medical and eyesight requirements
You must complete a declaration of medical fitness on the Certificate of competency application form 426. This lets us know that you are medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.
- 2. Provide evidence of sea service
You need to show you have experience working in a deck, or deck and engineering, capacity on a ferry in chains. You must have completed:
- 20 days of sea service on a ferry in chains
You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:
- Record of sea service form 771
- the on board sea service record from your task book
- a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service
- an approved sea service log book.
- Read more about qualifying sea service.
- 3. Provide existing certificates
You must submit a copy of your:
- existing Coxswain grade 2 (front and back)
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- 4. Complete and submit a Certificate of competency application
To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.
Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.
Equivalent certificate
If you hold any of the following certificates, we welcome you to apply for a Coxswain grade 1 certificate of competency as an equivalent certificate:
- Watchkeeper Deck <3000 GT (Yachts)
- Chief Mate <3000 GT (Yachts)
- Master <500 GT (Yachts)
- Master 3000 GT (Yachts)
If your existing certificate is restricted to operating within daylight hours, your new certificate will have the same restriction.
What do I need to do?
To get a Coxswain grade 1 near coastal you will need to:
- Meet medical and eyesight requirements
Download the:
1. Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers
The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.
If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them fill out the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.
If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead.
- Provide existing certificate
As part of your application for an equivalent certificate you must submit a copy of your:
- existing certificate of competency
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- Complete and submit a certificate of competency application
To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426 online
Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.