You have three options for qualifying as a Coxswain Grade 3:
- Obtain a Coxswain Grade 3 certificate.
- Qualify and operate as a Coxswain Grade 3 without a physical card.
- Qualify for marina and mooring operations only.
Vessels a Coxswain Grade 3 can operate
As a Coxswain Grade 3 you can command and operate the engines of domestic commercial vessels under 12 metres, with limits depending on the type of operation.
General operations
As a Coxswain Grade 3 you can operate a vessel that meets these criteria:
| Length | Less than 12 metres. |
|---|---|
| Propulsion power | Inboard engine under 500 kilowatts. Any outboard engine. |
| Operating hours | Daylight hours only when carrying passengers. Any time when not carrying passengers. |
| Operating area |
|
Tender vessels
As a Coxswain Grade 3 you can operate a tender vessel that meets these criteria:
| Length | Less than 12 metres. |
|---|---|
| Propulsion power | Inboard engine under 100 kilowatts. Outboard engine under 250 kilowatts. |
| Operating hours | Daylight hours only when carrying passengers. Any time when not carrying passengers. |
| Operating area | Based on the training pathway you choose:
|
Towing people (e.g. water skiing)
As a Coxswain Grade 3 you can operate a vessel used for towing people (e.g. water skiing) that meets these criteria:
| Length | Less than 12 metres. |
|---|---|
| Propulsion power | Under 500 kilowatts. |
| Operating hours | Daylight hours only. |
| Operating area | Waters approved as a water ski area by a State or Territory authority. |
Marina and mooring area operations only
If you choose to qualify for marina and mooring operations only, you won’t be issued a physical card. Once you qualify, you can operate vessels that meet these criteria:
| Length | Less than 12 metres. |
|---|---|
| Propulsion power | Inboard engine under 500 kilowatts Any outboard engine. |
| Operating hours | Daylight hours only when carrying passengers. Any time when not carrying passengers. |
| Operating area |
|
What do you want to do?
Qualify as a Coxswain Grade 3
What do I need to do?
To qualify as a Coxswain Grade 3 you will need to:
- Check your eligibility
To be eligible for this certificate you must be:
- at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date
- able to speak, read and understand English
- medically fit for the duties required.
- Complete medical and eyesight test
You will need to see a medical practitioner to check that you are medically fit for working at sea. They will assess you in line with our eyesight and medical requirements for domestic certificates.
Download the Certificate of medical fitness for near coastal seafarers (AMSA form 1850) and follow the instructions on the form.
If you have a current Certificate of medical fitness (AMSA form 303) you can use this instead.
If you have colour deficient vision, you will be restricted to working only in daylight hours.
- Pick your training pathway
You can choose to complete a training course or use a recreational boat licence to qualify as a Coxswain Grade 3.
Complete a training course
You can complete any of the following:
- all three of the following MAR Maritime Training Package units at a registered training organisation:
- MARI003 Comply with regulations to ensure safe operation of a vessel up to 12 metres
- MARK007 Handle a vessel up to 12 metres
- MARN008 Apply seamanship skills aboard a vessel up to 12 metres
- an Australian Sailing Powerboat Handling course
- an RYA Level 2 Powerboat course
- an IYT Small Powerboat & RIB Master Certificate of Competence
Recreational boat licence
If you want to apply using a recreational boat licence issued by a State or Territory, you will also need to complete both:
- practical on-water tasks witnessed and signed off by an observer* using AMSA form 1882
- one day of qualifying sea service on a commercial vessel.
*Make sure your observer meets the requirements for the duties you want to qualify for. Check the AMSA form 1882 page for details.
Record your sea service on one of the following:
- a Record of sea service form 771
- the on-board sea service record from any task book
- a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master, or chief engineer detailing your sea service
- an approved sea service log book.
- all three of the following MAR Maritime Training Package units at a registered training organisation:
- Complete first aid training
You must also hold a:
- first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent).
If your first aid or medical certificate expires within 90 days of submitting your application, we may request an updated certificate.
- Confirm that you qualify
To qualify as a Coxswain Grade 3, gather the required documents:
- a signed certificate of medical fitness (AMSA form 1850)
- a current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent)
- either:
- evidence of completing the required training course, or
- a recreational boat licence, a completed AMSA form 1882, and evidence of sea service
While you carry these documents, you can operate as a Coxswain Grade 3 without an AMSA-issued certificate. You must keep copies of these documents on board whenever you are operating.
Make sure your certificate of medical fitness and first aid certificate are always valid while operating. If you are using the recreational boat licence pathway, you must also keep that licence valid.
- Optional - apply for the certificate
If you want to get a physical Coxswain Grade 3 certificate:
- Gather the required documents:
- a signed and current certificate of medical fitness (AMSA form 1850)
- a current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent)
- either evidence of completing the required training course or a recreational boat licence
- if using a recreational boat licence: completed AMSA form 1882, and evidence of sea service
- Complete and print the Certificate of competency application form 426.
- Submit the form with copies of the required documents at a participating Australia Post outlet. You will also need to provide proof of your identity.
- Gather the required documents:
Marina and mooring area operations only
Follow these steps if you would like to operate as a Coxswain Grade 3 in a marina or mooring area only.
Note: You will not be issued a certificate of competency. If you would like a physical certificate of competency, please follow the steps under ‘Qualify as a Coxswain Grade 3’.
What do I need to do?
To qualify as a Coxswain Grade 3 for marina and mooring area operations only, you will need to:
- Check your eligibility
To be eligible for this certificate you must be:
- at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date
- able to speak, read and understand English
- medically fit for the duties required.
You must also hold:
- a current recreational boat licence issued by a State or Territory.
- Complete medical and eyesight test
You will need to see a medical practitioner to check that you are medically fit for working at sea. They will assess you in line with our eyesight and medical requirements for domestic certificates.
Download the Certificate of medical fitness for near coastal seafarers (AMSA form 1850) and follow the instructions on the form.
If you have a current Certificate of medical fitness (AMSA form 303) you can use this instead.
If you have colour deficient vision, you will be restricted to working only in daylight hours.
- Complete practical on-water tasks
You will need to complete both:
- practical on-water tasks witnessed and signed off by an observer using AMSA form 1882
- one day of qualifying sea service on a commercial vessel.
Record your sea service on one of the following:
- a Record of sea service form 771
- the on-board sea service record from any task book
- a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master, or chief engineer detailing your sea service
- an approved sea service log book.
- Confirm that you qualify
To qualify as a Coxswain Grade 3, gather the required documents:
- a signed certificate of medical fitness (AMSA form 1850)
- a recreational boat licence
- a completed AMSA form 1882
- evidence of sea service
While you carry these documents, you can operate as a Coxswain Grade 3 in a marina or mooring area without an AMSA-issued certificate. You must keep copies of these documents on board whenever you are operating.
Make sure your certificate of medical fitness and first aid certificate are always valid while operating.
Renew certificate
A Coxswain Grade 3 near coastal certificate of competency is valid for 5 years. To keep working, you need to apply to renew your certificate before it expires.
What do I need to do?
To renew your certificate you need to:
- Declare your medical fitness
As part of the renewal application process, we will ask you to declare that you are medically fit to work at sea. This includes declaring any changes to your eyesight.
If your existing Coxswain Grade 3 certificate has a daylight hours restriction, this restriction will be carried across to your renewed certificate.
- Provide existing certificates
You will need to provide the following certificates:
- a copy of your existing Coxswain Grade 3
- a first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent).
- Submit your application
To apply:
- Gather the required documents:
- your existing Coxswain Grade 3 certificate
- a first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent).
- Complete and print the Certificate of competency application form 426.
- Submit the form with copies of the required documents at a participating Australia Post outlet. You will also need to provide proof of your identity.
- Gather the required documents:
Add a ferry-in-chains endorsement
Endorsement to command and operate the engines of a vehicular ferry-in-chains attached to the shore by a cable
You can apply for this endorsement when applying for a new certificate, or add it to an existing certificate.
To add it to a new certificate, you must include evidence of 20 days sea service on a ferry-in-chains with your application for a new certificate.
To add this endorsement to a current certificate you will need to:
- Declare your medical fitness
We will ask you to declare that you are medically fit to work at sea. This includes declaring any changes to your eyesight.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You need to show you have experience working in a deck, or deck and engineering role on a ferry-in-chains. You must have completed:
- 20 days sea service on a ferry-in-chains
You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:
- Record of sea service form 771
- the on board sea service record from your task book
- a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service
- an approved sea service log book.
- Provide existing certificates
You will need to provide the following certificates:
- a copy of your existing Coxswain Grade 3
- a first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent).
- Submit your application
To apply:
- Gather the required documents:
- evidence of sea service
- your existing Coxswain Grade 3 certificate
- a first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent).
- Complete and print the Certificate of competency application form 426.
- Submit the form with copies of the required documents at a participating Australia Post outlet. You will also need to provide proof of your identity.
- Gather the required documents:
Daylight hours only restriction
If you have this restriction on your certificate you may apply to have the restriction removed.
What do I need to do?
To remove this restriction, you will need to:
- 1. Meet medical and eyesight requirements
Download the:
1. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate
The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know you are not colour blind.
If you are colour blind, we will not be able to remove your daylight hours restriction.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.
If you do not meet the colour vision requirements of the eyesight test you must also get the practitioner to provide a certificate or statement stating that you do not suffer any greater abnormality in colour vision than could be tested by the Ishihara Test.
If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead.
You must submit your completed medical forms with your Certificate of competency application form 426.
- 2. Provide existing certificates
You must submit a copy of your:
- existing Coxswain grade 3 (front and back)
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- 3. Complete and submit a certificate of competency application
To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.
Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.
After submitting your application
We will confirm when we receive your application.
We will also contact you if:
- your application is incomplete
- the documents you provided are not suitable
- we need more information to make our assessment.
See our incomplete application policy for more information on application processing times.
The regulations
Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2022 provides for certificates of competency and sets out the standards for the qualifications of the crew and masters on domestic commercial vessels.