Qualifying sea service will count when you are doing duties or functions on a vessel and if the machinery is available or in use for:
- At least 8 hours in a 24 hour period and you are on duty or on call for that period: calculate sea service as a whole day (and no more than a whole day).
- Less than 8 hours in a 24 hour period and you are on duty or on call for that period: calculate sea service as the actual hours served plus 25 per cent of that time.
This applies whether you live on board or not.
Qualifying sea service is calculated in Schedule 3.2 and 3.3 of Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014.
Qualifying sea service must be confirmed by a letter issued by the company. Letters issued on board a vessel by a master or chief engineer will not be accepted.
How to complete your training record book
This is a mandatory requirement.
For an international engineer watchkeeper certificate of competency you must complete a training record book and all of the following tasks on board vessels ≥750 kW propulsion power:
- Perform your duties or functions in an engine room.
- Perform your duties under the supervision of a person holding one of the following certificates of competency:
- engineer watchkeeper
- engineer class 2
- engineer class 1
- Have the training record book signed by the chief engineer on each vessel.
- Submit your training book for assessment by an engineer examiner or AMSA approved training organisation. (Note: If the training record book is assessed by an AMSA approved training organisation, you will need a letter from this organisation confirming you have completed all sections of the training record book.)
- Submit the assessed training book to the engineer examiner who will review it at the time of the oral examination.
- Have the training record book signed off by the engineer examiner.
For those who have completed an engineer class 3 near coastal task book
We will accept an engineer class 3 near coastal task book for either:
- Those completing the engineer experience training program.
- Those completing the trainee engineer program.
If you have not completed an engineer class 3 near coastal task book, you must get your training record book signed off before sending it to us.
Do this in one of the following ways:
- If there is a higher ranking engineer on board, have them sign off the training record book. They must hold at least a certificate as marine engine driver grade 1 and above.
- If an engineer class 3 is the highest ranking engineer or sole engineer on board, we will permit the master or superintendent of the vessel to sign off on the training record book. No sea service penalties will apply.
Read more about specific requirements for engineering certificates.
How to apply for an international sea service assessment—masters, deck officers and engineers officers only
Once you have met the sea service requirements for your certificate, you will need to lodge an application for a sea service assessment.
Do this with seafarer's form 419.
If you are applying for a master, deck officer or engineer officer certificate, you will need to complete an oral examination, as instructed in your AMSA assessment letter.