As a Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 (MED 1) you can work as chief engineer on vessels with:
- an inboard engine under 1500 kilowatts propulsion power
- an outboard engine with any propulsion power.
You can also work:
- as second engineer on a vessel with propulsion power under 3000 kilowatts
- as an assistant under the general supervision of a chief engineer
- in the engine room of a vessel with propulsion power under 3000 kilowatts
When you're ready to apply:
What do you need to apply for?
New certificate
To obtain this certificate 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 have completed sea service while holding either:
- a Marine Engine Driver Grade 2
- a workshop skill equivalent qualification
- 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 AMSA’s medical requirements.
Download the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic 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.
- Provide evidence of sea service
Type of sea service required
You need to show you have experience working at sea:
- as an engineer or assisting an engineer
- on commercial vessels with inboard engines with at least 375 kilowatts propulsion power
- while holding either a Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 or a workshop skill equivalent qualification
Amount of sea service required
The amount of sea service you need will depend on which certificate you held while completing the sea service.
You can also reduce the amount of sea service you need by completing an AMSA task book.
With a Marine Engine Driver Grade 2:
With an AMSA task book Without an AMSA task book 120 days 240 days With a workshop skill equivalent qualification:
With an AMSA task book Without an AMSA task book 90 days 180 days Recording your sea service
Use 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.
- Complete a training course
Complete a Certificate IV in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 Near Coastal) at a registered training organisation (RTO).
- Complete first aid training
You must hold a current 'Provide first aid' certificate (HLTAID011), or equivalent.
If your first aid or medical certificate expires within 90 days of submitting your application, we may request an updated certificate.
- Submit your application
- Gather the required documents:
- a copy of either your Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 or workshop skill equivalent qualification
- a signed and current certificate of medical fitness (AMSA form 1850)
- evidence of your sea service
- your Certificate IV in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 Near Coastal) course completion certificate
- a current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent)
- a colour passport-sized photograph that meets our requirements.
- Log in to myAMSA using your Australian Government myID.
- Fill in the application form online and upload copies of your documents.
- Pay the required fee and submit your application online.
If you cannot use myAMSA
Complete and print the Certificate of competency application (AMSA 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:
- Pass a final assessment
You need to pass a final oral exam before we will issue your certificate of competency. An AMSA examiner will ask you to answer questions verbally to test your skills and knowledge.
Booking your exam
When we've assessed your application we will invite you to book the exam (if you haven't already passed an AMSA exam at your training organisation).
You will need to:
- confirm your booking
- pay an exam fee.
If you don't pass, you can try again. You must pay the fee each time you sit the exam.
Prepare for your oral exam.
Renewal
A Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 certificate is valid for 5 years. To keep working, you need to apply to renew your certificate before it expires.
To renew your certificate you need to:
- 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 AMSA’s medical requirements.
Download the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic 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.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You must show that you have 120 days of sea service working as an engineer or assisting an engineer.
Recording your sea service
Use 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.
If you don't have the required sea service
You must provide evidence that you have (any one of the following):
- completed an approved final assessment
- at least 60 days of sea service in the last 6 months
- worked in a seasonal fishery for at least 120 days in the last 5 years
- other approved industry experience (e.g. state or territory marine safety agency assessor, fleet manager, shore-side servicing, maritime studies teacher at a registered training organisation, marine surveyor)
- completed a Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 task book in the 5 years before your application.
- Complete first aid training
You must also hold a current 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.
- Submit your application
- Gather the required documents:
- your existing Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 (if you are applying online, there will be a copy in your myAMSA account)
- evidence of your sea service
- a current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent)
- a colour passport-sized photograph that meets our requirements.
- Log in to myAMSA using your Australian Government myID.
- Fill in the application form online and upload copies of your documents.
- Pay the required fee and submit your application online.
If you cannot use myAMSA
Complete and print the Certificate of competency application (AMSA 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 an endorsement
Steam endorsement
Endorsement as chief engineer on vessels with steam propulsion less than 750 kilowatts in the EEZ.
You can apply for this endorsement when applying for a new certificate, or add it to an existing certificate.
To add this to a new certificate, include the following with your application for a new certificate:
- evidence of 100 hours of sea service on vessels with steam propulsion power up to 750 kilowatts
- the seafarer details page from your completed AMSA steam task book
- a high risk work licence for standard boiler operation issued by a State or Territory authority responsible for work health and safety legislation.
To add this to your existing certificate:
- Declare your medical fitness
You must declare that you are medically fit to work at sea. This includes declaring any changes to your eyesight.
- Complete a steam task book
You must complete an AMSA steam task book.
Contact us to order a steam task book.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You need to show you have at least 100 hours of sea service while working both:
- as an assistant to an engineer or engine driver, or as a general purpose hand
- on vessels with steam propulsion power up to 750 kilowatts.
Submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:
- a completed Record of sea service (AMSA form 771)
- a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service
- an approved sea service log book.
- Obtain other safety certificates
You must hold both:
- a current 'Provide first aid' certificate (HLTAID011), or equivalent.
- a current high risk work licence for standard boiler operation issued by a State or Territory authority responsible for work health and safety legislation.
- Submit your application
- Gather the required documents:
- your existing Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 (if you are applying online, there will be a copy in your myAMSA account)
- a copy of the seafarer details page from your steam task book
- a current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent)
- a current high risk work licence for standard boiler operation issued by a State or Territory authority responsible for work health and safety legislation
- a colour passport-sized photograph that meets our requirements.
- Log in to myAMSA using your Australian Government myID.
- Fill in the application form online and upload copies of your documents.
- Pay the required fee and submit your application online.
If you cannot use myAMSA
Complete and print the Certificate of competency application (AMSA 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:
Equivalence
If you hold any of the following AMSA certificates, you can work as a Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 near coastal:
- Engineer Watchkeeper (Motor)
- Engineer Watchkeeper (Motor and Steam)
You do not need to hold a Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 near coastal to work while holding these certificates, but you can choose to apply for one as equivalent.
If you hold a perpetual certificate of competency or a domestic certificate of competency that expired more than 5 years ago, you can also apply for an equivalent domestic certificate.
To get a Marine engine driver grade 1 near coastal:
- 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 AMSA’s medical requirements.
Download the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic 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.
- Complete first aid training
You must hold a current 'Provide first aid' certificate (HLTAID011), or equivalent.
If your first aid or medical certificate expires within 90 days of submitting your application, we may request an updated certificate.
- Submit your application
- 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)
- your existing certificate
- a colour passport-sized photograph that meets our requirements.
- Log in to myAMSA using your Australian Government myID.
- Fill in the application form online and upload copies of your documents.
- Pay the required fee and submit your application online.
If you cannot use myAMSA
Complete and print the Certificate of competency application (AMSA 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:
After submitting your application
We will confirm receipt of your application, and you can check your application's progress in myAMSA.
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.
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.