Exemption 36—Marine Safety (Steam-powered vessels)

This exemption is relevant to people who work on or who want to work on a steam-powered domestic commercial vessel without a Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 NC or Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 NC certificate of competency.

You can apply for Exemption 36 by completing and submitting AMSA form 758 to DCVapplications@amsa.gov.au and provide supporting documents to confirm you meet the eligibility criteria mentioned below.

What this exemption allows you to do

1) Exemption 36 allows a person to perform the duties of Chief engineer without a Marine engine driver, grade 2 or 3 near coastal certificate of competency on the following vessels:

any vessel that has steam as its main method of propulsion with propulsion power less than 750 kilowatts, or
a specific vessel that has steam as the main method of propulsion with propulsion power less than 750 kilowatts.

2) Exemption 36 also allows for a person who holds one of the following certificates:

Engineer class 1 (Steam)
Engineer class 2 (Steam)
Engineer watchkeeper endorsed as Chief engineer less than 3000 kilowatts near coastal (Steam)

to perform the duties of Chief engineer, without a Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 or 3 Near coastal Certificate of competency, on any vessel that has steam as its main method of propulsion with propulsion power less than 750 kilowatts.

Eligibility

You are eligible for part 1) of this exemption if you:

are at least 16 years old; and
hold a statement of attainment from a registered training organisation, for the following units of the MAR Maritime Training Package:
- MARF027 Apply basic survival skills in the event of vessel abandonment or equivalent;
- MARF028 Follow procedures to minimise and fight fires on board a vessel or equivalent;
- MARF029 Meet work health and safety requirements or equivalent; and
have completed at least 100 hours of sea service on vessels with steam as the main propulsion power undertaking duties as a general purpose hand or as an assistant to an engineer, an engine driver, a chief engineer or a second engineer; and
meet the medical and eyesight requirements for a Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 NC certificate of competency; and
hold a Basic Boiler Licence or a licence to operate a standard boiler (VET Code MSMBLIC001 or equivalent) issued by a State or Territory authority; and
complete relevant task book requirements; and
pass a final assessment.

Other requirements

You must also comply with the following:

For a vessel carrying passengers, you must hold a first aid certificate of at least HLTAID011, Provide First Aid or an equivalent certificate.
For a vessel carrying a life raft or survival raft, you must hold a statement of attainment from a registered training organisation for completion of MARF030 Survive at sea using survival craft (a unit of the MAR Maritime Training Package) or equivalent.
You must tell us, in writing, of any long term or permanent medical condition that is likely to affect your ability to perform the duties to which the exemption applies.
You must undergo any medical examination we consider necessary to demonstrate whether you are able to perform the duties to which the exemption applies.
You must not perform duties under this exemption if we consider that an examination shows that you are no longer able to perform these duties.
You may resume performing the duties under this exemption if we are satisfied that a further medical examination shows that you are able to perform these duties to which the exemption applies.

We may impose other conditions based on local conditions or ones that we consider necessary for marine safety.