Master less than 24 metres foreign going

Prior to the initial issue of a certificate of competency you must hold a valid Certificate of medical fitness. As per Marine Order 76 (Health—medical fitness) 2017 you can only perform the duties of a seafarer on a relevant vessel if you are medically fit to perform those duties.

For initial issue of a certificate of competency you are required to obtain a Certificate of medical fitness in Australia. The medical examination can be organised by contacting Sonic HealthPlus. We strongly recommend that you complete the medical examination before you commence training to ensure that you are medically fit for a seagoing career.

To book a medical examination, you can:

• Call toll free: 1300 763 822
• Email: seafarermedicals@sonichealthplus.com.au

Read more about medical fitness.

You will need to complete these courses:

• Master less than 500 gross tonnage, including modules in command navigation, shipmasters business and management, and vessel operations and administration.
• Basic safety training, including security awareness training.
• Advanced fire fighting.
• Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats.
• Medical care on board ships.

These courses must be completed with an approved training organisation.

All of the certificates and training you complete and provide evidence of must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

You will need to have completed 24 months sea service as an officer in charge of a navigation watch on vessels greater than or equal to 12 metres on voyages of at least 24 hours duration.

These hours must be completed outside sheltered waters while holding an unrestricted Master less than 24 metres near coastal certificate of competency.

This certificate of competency must be issued under National Standards for Commercial Vessels Part D, Crew Competencies, or an equivalent qualification.

All of the sea service you submit must be documented qualifying sea service. Read more about sea service.

How to apply for sea service assessment

You will need to complete this sea service and then submit a Seafarer form 419 to us so we can assess your sea service and issue you with an AMSA assessment letter. This letter is the evidence you need to prove that you have met the sea service requirements for your qualification. This letter will also instruct you to complete your oral examination.

As per your assessment letter, you will need to book and successfully pass an oral examination. Read more about booking an oral examination.

You will need to hold one of the following valid certificates:

• GMDSS radio operators certificate
• GMDSS certificate of recognition

If you are serving on an ECDIS equipped ship, you will also need to hold an ECDIS endorsement.

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419 to be assessed towards the requirements for a Master less than 24 metres FG certificate of competency.

Lodge from within Australia

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet.

You will need to pay the fees for your application at the post office at the time of lodgement.

Lodge from overseas

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents and send the paperwork to us at our postal or courier address:

• Postal address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations GPO Box 2181 Canberra City ACT 2601 Australia
• Courier address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations 82 Northbourne Avenue Braddon ACT 2612 Australia

You must include payment with your application.

You will need to provide evidence that you are medically fit to perform duties in the capacity of a Master less than 24 metres FG. As per Marine Order 76 (Health—medical fitness) 2017 you can only perform the duties of a seafarer on a relevant vessel if you are medically fit to perform the duties.

If you need to revalidate your current certificate, you can provide evidence of a medical completed in Australia, or in a country with an agreement with us.

Obtain a Certificate of medical fitness in Australia

You can organise a medical examination by contacting Sonic HealthPlus.

To book a medical examination, you can:

• Call toll free: 1300 763 822
• Email: seafarermedicals@sonichealthplus.com.au

Obtain a Certificate of medical fitness from overseas

We will accept a Certificate of medical fitness completed in a country we have an agreement with for revalidation purposes.

You will need to print the relevant medical paperwork and make an appointment with a medical examiner. The medical examiner must be approved by the administration of the country which has an agreement with us.

Read more about medical fitness.

You will need to provide evidence that you have completed one of the following:

• Complete sea service performing functions for your current certificate for either:
  • At least 12 months in total during the preceding 5 years before application
  • 3 months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating.
• Complete an approved revalidation course for your certificate within 5 years before applying to revalidate your certificate.
• Complete an oral examination
• Perform duties and functions that we consider at least equivalent to sea service.

All submitted sea service must be documented qualifying sea service. Read more about sea service.

All certificates and training must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

If you are revalidating your certificate and you are an overseas permanent resident, Fire prevention and fire fighting and Personal survival techniques STCW short courses may be completed in a country we have an agreement with.

If you are serving on an ECDIS equipped ship, you will need to hold an ECDIS endorsement.

With required sea service

If you already have the required sea service, you will need to:

• Obtain a letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming:
  • sea service
  • your participation in the mandatory abandon ship and fire drills required by SOLAS
  • your participation in scheduled drills required by the on board Safety Management System (see sample template).
• Keep the original of this letter and send us a copy with your application.
• Complete continued competence training for the STCW short courses in Basic fire fighting and Personal survival techniques in the previous 5 years.

These continued competence training courses are valid for up to 5 years.

Note: An international STCW certificate of competency, certificate of proficiency or certificate of safety training only remains valid if you have, within the previous five years, completed a full course or continued competence training in sea survival and firefighting at the appropriate level. Failing to do this will mean your certificate will lapse and you will not be able to serve on a vessel.  Similar continued competence training requirements apply for the Fast Rescue Boat endorsement. This is a STCW Convention requirement introduced by the 2010 Manilla amendments.

Note: Continued competence training is also known as refresher training by foreign flag state administrations.

Without required sea service

If you do not have the required sea service, you will need to complete the full STCW short courses in:

• Fire prevention and fire fighting (Basic fire fighting)
• Personal survival techniques.

You will also need to complete one of the following options:

• Complete an approved revalidation course for your certificate within 5 years before applying to revalidate your certificate.
• Complete an oral examination.
• Perform duties and functions that we consider at least equivalent to sea service.

Read more about approved training organisations and revalidating your current certificate.

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419.

Lodging from within Australia

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet.

You will need to pay the fees for your application at the post office at the time of lodgement.

Lodging from Overseas

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents and send the paperwork to us at our postal or courier address:

• Postal address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations GPO Box 2181 Canberra City ACT 2601 Australia
• Courier address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations 82 Northbourne Avenue Braddon ACT 2612 Australia

You will need to include payment with your application.