Exemption 33 - Marine Safety (Sailing vessels with motor propulsion)

This exemption allows eligible people to work on a domestic commercial sailing vessel without the required certificate of competency.

Exemption 33 expires on 30 June 2025 and will not be renewed.

Before the exemption expires, you will need to hold a certificate of competency such as a Sailing Master Coastal NC or a Sailing Master Offshore NC. If you are only performing the engineering role on a sailing vessel, you must hold a marine engine driver or sailing certificate of competency.

To ensure continuity of your operations, please take appropriate action at least 90 days before your exemption expires.

You do not need to apply to us for this exemption.

If we request evidence of completion of a course or unit of study you must provide it to us within 14 days.

What this exemption will allow you to do

Exemption 33 allows you to perform the duties of engineer on a sailing vessel with less than 75 kilowatts secondary motor propulsion power without an engineer certificate of competency.

To use this exemption you have two options.

Option 1

Hold one of the following near coastal certificates of competency:

Coxswain grade 1
Coxswain grade 2

Option 2

Complete one of the following training courses:

at a registered training organisation — the MARC037 or equivalent motor engineering unit of the Maritime Industry Reference Committee’s Maritime Training Package for vessels with unlimited outboard propulsion power or inboard propulsion power <100 kW
the Australian Sailing–RYA Diesel Engine course and the Australian Sailing Powerboat Handling course
the Australian Sailing–RYA Diesel Engine course and the RYA Level 2 Powerboat course.