Check pilot licence

Check pilots assess the competence of other coastal pilots.

On this page:

About this licence
Eligibility requirements
How to apply
How to renew
Pilotage providers

About this licence

Check pilots are authorised to assess the competence of other coastal pilots on behalf of AMSA.

Eligibility requirements

To be issued with a check pilot licence, you must meet these requirements:

hold an unrestricted pilot licence for the pilotage area
hold a Certificate of Medical Fitness (form 303)
have a letter of support from current employer
have satisfactorily completed required training and assessment
have satisfactorily completed the required number of transits while performing the duties of a licenced pilot
have satisfactorily completed a competency assessment within the 2 years before applying.

Required training and assessment

To be issued with a check pilot licence, you must complete this AMSA-approved training and assessment:

check pilot specific training mapped to IMO model course 1.30
human factors training
mentor training
a psychometric assessment
an oral examination.

Who is not eligible

You will not be eligible for a check pilot licence if your unrestricted pilot licence has been suspended for more than 5 days within the 2 years before you apply.

Number of transits by area

Inner Route

Minimum required transits:

20 transits of the area within the 12-month period before you apply
100 transits of the area including:
- 50 transits on vessels operating under the Under Keel Clearance Management (UKCM) system
- 10 transits on container vessels
- 10 transits on tankers
- 50 transits on bulk carriers.

Note: A tanker includes a gas carrier, oil tanker or chemical tanker in loaded or ballast conditions.

Hydrographer's Passage

Minimum required transits:

6 transits of the area within the 12-month period before you apply
35 transits of the area including:
- 10 transits at night in each direction i.e. 5 east bound and 5 west bound
- 10 transits on capesize bulk carriers.

Note: A capesize bulk carrier has an overall length equal to or more than 290 metres.

Great North East Channel

Minimum required transits:

100 transits west of Alert Patches
30 transits of the Great North East Channel (east of Alert Patches) including:
- 6 transits that have occurred within the 12-month period before you apply
- 10 transits that have occurred at night in each direction - 5 north bound and 5 south bound.

How to apply

Complete an application for a coastal pilot licence renewal form 1021. Include all supporting documentation relevant to the requirements.
Pay an application fee based on the schedule of fees.

How to renew

To renew your check pilot licence, you must:

have held a check pilot licence in the 2 years before applying to renew
have completed continuing professional development to the satisfaction of AMSA within the 2 years before applying
hold a Certificate of Medical Fitness
meet the transit requirements for the related pilotage area under the unrestricted licence
not have been suspended more than 5 days in the 2 years before applying
complete the following, as a check pilot, in the 2 years before applying:
- 3 check pilot transits
- 1 coastal pilot proficiency check (CPPC)
- 1 competency assessment with AMSA observing.

Note: If your check pilot licence has been expired for more than 12 months but less than 2 years, it will be downgraded to a restricted licence (removing check pilot capacity) even you meet all other renewal requirements.