Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 near coastal

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.

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 your have experience working at sea:

• as a general purpose hand (with or without a certificate), a Coxswain grade 2 or 1 near coastal, or assisting an engineer
• on commercial vessels with at least 75 kilowatts propulsion power.

Amount of sea service required

You can reduce the amount of sea service you need by completing an AMSA task book.

With an AMSA task book	Without an AMSA task book
20 days	60 days

At least half of your sea service must be on vessels with inboard diesel engines.

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 II in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 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.

Pass a final assessment

You must complete an AMSA Mandated Practical Assessment (AMPA) with a registered training organisation (RTO).

Use the course syllabus to find out what may be included in your final assessment.

Submit your application

1. Gather the required documents:
   • a signed and current certificate of medical fitness (AMSA form 1850)
   • evidence of your sea service
   • your Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 Near Coastal) course completion certificate
   • a current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent)
   • the cover page of your final assessment (AMPA)
   • a colour passport-sized photograph that meets our requirements.
2. Log in to myAMSA using your Australian Government myID.
3. Fill in the application form online and upload copies of your documents.
4. Pay the required fee and submit your application online.

Apply 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.

Apply for an interim certificate

After applying for your certificate, you can apply for an interim certificate of competency from your RTO. 

This will allow you to start working immediately (for up to 60 days while we assess your application).

The decision to issue an interim certificate is at the discretion of the RTO.

A Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 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:

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.

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

1. Gather the required documents:
   • your existing Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 (if you are applying online, there will be a copy in your myAMSA account)
   • a current first aid certificate (HLTAID011 'Provide first aid' certificate, or equivalent)
   • a colour passport-sized photograph that meets our requirements.
2. Log in to myAMSA using your Australian Government myID.
3. Fill in the application form online and upload copies of your documents.
4. Pay the required fee and submit your application online.

Apply 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.

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

1. Gather the required documents:
   • your existing Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 (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.
2. Log in to myAMSA using your Australian Government myID.
3. Fill in the application form online and upload copies of your documents.
4. Pay the required fee and submit your application online.

Apply 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.