Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)

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Master

Work as a Master, Chief mate or Watchkeeper deck on ships of any gross tonnage.

This certificate allows you to perform the duties or functions of Master, Chief mate or Watchkeeper deck officer on ships of any gross tonnage in any operating area.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Master certificate of competency you must meet medical, sea service and course requirements. The requirements depend on whether you are getting a certificate for the first time or revalidating an existing certificate. Each requirement and how to prove that you meet them is explained in these instructions.

This certificate is issued under Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014 and Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014, made under the Navigation Act 2012.

Important disclaimer

These instructions are summary information only. We make decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2014, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014, Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014 and Marine Order 74 (Master and deck officers – yachts) 2015. Please refer to these marine orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.

What type of qualification do you need?

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What do I need to do?

To get this certificate, you need to:

Provide proof of medical fitness

Prior to the initial issue of a certificate of competency and Certificate of recognition you must hold a valid Certificate of medical fitness [1]. As per Marine Order 76 (Health—medical fitness) 2017 [2] you can only perform the duties of a seafarer on a relevant vessel if you are medically fit to perform those duties.

For initial issue of a certificate of competency you are required to obtain a Certificate of medical fitness in Australia. The medical examination can be organised by contacting Sonic HealthPlus [3]. We strongly recommend that you complete the medical examination before you commence training to ensure that you are medically fit for a seagoing career.

To book a medical examination, you can:

  • Call toll free: 1300 763 822
  • Email: seafarermedicals@sonichealthplus.com.au [4]

Read more about medical fitness [5].

Complete training courses

You will need to complete these courses:

  • Master certificate of competency
  • Security awareness training
  • Advanced fire fighting
  • Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats
  • Medical care on board ships.

These courses must be completed with an approved training organisation [6].

All of the certificates and training you complete and provide evidence of must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

Provide evidence of sea service

You will need to provide evidence that you have completed one of the following options:

Option 1

You will need to complete 36 months sea service as an officer in charge of a navigation watch. This service must have been completed on vessels greater than or equal to 500 GT. At least 6 months of this service must have been completed on ships greater than or equal to 1500 GT. You must have completed this service while holding one of the following certificates:

  • Watchkeeper deck certificate of competency
  • Chief mate less than 3000 GT certificate of competency
  • Master less than 500 GT certificate of competency
  • Chief mate certificate of competency
  • Master less than 3000 GT certificate of competency
  • Mate less than 500 GT certificate of competency (with Chief mate less than 3000 GT near coastal endorsement)
  • A foreign certificate we consider equivalent to the above.

Option 2

You must have completed at least 24 months sea service in charge of a navigation watch. This service must have been completed on vessels greater than or equal to 500 GT.

Of this 24 months, at least 6 months must have been served on ships greater than or equal to 1500 GT.

Of this 24 months, at least 12 months must have been served on vessels as Chief mate or Master while holding, while holding one of the following certificates:

  • Master less than 500 GT certificate of competency
  • Chief mate less than 3000 GT certificate of competency
  • Chief mate certificate of competency
  • Mate less than 500 GT certificate of competency (with Chief mate less than 3000 GT near coastal endorsement).

In addition

For both option 1 and option 2, you will also need to complete at least 24 months sea service on voyages of at least 24 hour duration. In addition, you must have served on ships for at least 12 months while holding one of the following certificates:

  • Chief mate less than 3000 GT certificate of competency
  • Chief mate certificate of competency
  • Master less than 3000 GT certificate of competency

Read more about sea service [7].

How to apply for sea service assessment

You will need to complete this sea service and then submit a Seafarer form 419 [8] to us so we can assess your sea service and issue you with an AMSA assessment letter. This letter is the evidence you need to prove that you have met the sea service requirements for your qualification. This letter will also instruct you to complete your oral examination.

Pass an oral examination

Once you have been assessed and issued with an assessment letter you will need to book and successfully pass an oral examination. Read more about booking an oral examination [9].

Provide existing certificates

You must provide evidence that you hold, or have held, one of these certificates:

  • Master less than 3000 GT certificate of competency
  • Chief mate certificate of competency
  • Chief mate less than 3000 GT certificate of competency.
Additional requirements

You will need to hold one of the following valid certificates:

  • GMDSS radio operators certificate
  • GMDSS certificate of recognition

If you are serving on an ECDIS equipped ship, you will also need to hold an ECDIS endorsement.

How to apply

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419 [8] to be assessed towards the requirements for a Master less than 500 GT certificate of competency.

Lodge from within Australia

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419 [8], attach all required supporting documents and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet [10].

You will need to pay the fees for your application at the post office at the time of lodgement.

Lodge from overseas

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419 [8], attach all required supporting documents and send the paperwork to us at our postal or courier address:

  • Postal address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations GPO Box 2181 Canberra City ACT 2601 Australia
  • Courier address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations 82 Northbourne Avenue Braddon ACT 2612 Australia

You must include payment with your application.

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Revalidate

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What do I need to do?

To revalidate your certificate, you need to:

Provide proof of medical fitness

You will need to provide evidence that you are medically fit to perform duties in the capacity of a Master. As per Marine Order 76 (Health—medical fitness) 2017 [2] you can only perform the duties of a seafarer on a relevant vessel if you are medically fit to perform the duties.

If you need to revalidate your current certificate, you can provide evidence of a medical completed in Australia, or in a country with an agreement with us.

You can organise a medical examination by contacting Sonic HealthPlus [3].

To book a medical examination, you can:

  • Call toll free: 1300 763 822
  • Email: seafarermedicals@sonichealthplus.com.au [4]

Obtain a Certificate of medical fitness from overseas

We will accept a Certificate of medical fitness [1] completed in a country we have an agreement with for revalidation purposes.

You will need to print the relevant medical paperwork and make an appointment with a medical examiner. The medical examiner must be approved by the administration of the country which has an agreement with us.

Read more about medical fitness [5].

Provide evidence of sea service

You will need to provide evidence that you have completed sea service performing functions for your current certificate for either:

  • At least 12 months in total during the preceding 5 years before application
  • 3 months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating.

All submitted sea service must be documented qualifying sea service. Read more about sea service [7].

Complete training courses

All certificates and training must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and be with an organisation we have approved.

If you are revalidating your certificate and you are an overseas permanent resident, some STCW short courses may be completed in a country we have an agreement with.

If you are serving on an ECDIS equipped ship, you will need to hold an ECDIS endorsement.

With required sea service

If you already have the required sea service, you will need to:

  • Obtain a letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming:
    • sea service
    • your participation in the mandatory abandon ship and fire drills required by SOLAS
    • your participation in scheduled drills required by the on board Safety Management System (see sample template [11]).
  • Keep the original of this letter and send us a copy with your application.
  • Complete continued competence training for the STCW short courses in Advanced fire fighting and Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats in the previous 5 years.

These continued competence training courses are valid for up to 5 years.

Note: An international STCW certificate of competency, certificate of proficiency or certificate of safety training only remains valid if you have, within the previous five years, completed a full course or continued competence training in sea survival and firefighting at the appropriate level. Failing to do this will mean your certificate will lapse and you will not be able to serve on a vessel.  Similar continued competence training requirements apply for the Fast Rescue Boat endorsement. This is a STCW Convention requirement introduced by the 2010 Manilla amendments.

Note: Continued competence training is also known as refresher training by foreign flag state administrations.

Without required sea service

If you do not have the required sea service, you will need to complete the full STCW short courses in:

  • Advanced fire fighting
  • Survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats.

You will also need to complete one of the following options:

  • Complete an approved revalidation course for your certificate within 5 years before applying to revalidate your certificate.
  • Complete an oral examination.
  • Perform duties and functions that we consider at least equivalent to sea service.

Read more about approved training organisations [6] and revalidating your current certificate.

Additional requirements

You will need to hold one of the following valid certificates:

  • GMDSS radio operators certificate
  • GMDSS certificate of recognition

If you are serving on an ECDIS equipped ship, you will also need to hold an ECDIS endorsement.

How to apply

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419 [8] to be assessed towards the requirements for a Master certificate of competency.

Lodge from within Australia

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419 [8], attach all required supporting documents and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet [10].

You will need to pay the fees for your application at the post office at the time of lodgement.

Lodge from overseas

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419 [8], attach all required supporting documents and send the paperwork to us at our postal or courier address:

  • Postal address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations GPO Box 2181 Canberra City ACT 2601 Australia
  • Courier address—Australian Maritime Safety Authority Seafarer Certification Service, Operations 82 Northbourne Avenue Braddon ACT 2612 Australia

You must include payment with your application.


Source URL: https://www.amsa.gov.au/qualifications-training/international-qualifications/master

Links
[1] https://www.amsa.gov.au/forms/certificate-medical-fitness-international-certificates
[2] https://www.amsa.gov.au/node/14053
[3] http://www.sonichealthplus.com.au/
[4] mailto:seafarermedicals@sonichealthplus.com.au
[5] https://www.amsa.gov.au/qualifications-training/international-qualifications/medical-fitness-international-certificates
[6] https://www.amsa.gov.au/qualifications-training/international-qualifications/approved-training-courses
[7] https://www.amsa.gov.au/qualifications-training/sea-service-and-task-books/calculate-sea-service-international-certificate
[8] https://www.amsa.gov.au/forms/seafarer-form-419
[9] https://www.amsa.gov.au/node/937
[10] https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/who-we-are/australia-post-retail-outlets
[11] https://www.amsa.gov.au/qualifications-training/sea-service-and-task-books/sea-service-letter-international-seafarers