Master less than 35 metres near coastal

With this certificate you can command a vessel less than 35 metres near coastal.

This certificate will allow you to work as:

Master on commercial vessels up to 35 metres long within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Master on vessels up to 80 metres long in inshore waters.
Chief mate or deck watchkeeper on vessels up to 80 metres long within the EEZ.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Master less than 35 metres near coastal certificate you must:

Be at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date.
Hold either a Master less than 24 metres near coastal or Mate less than 80 metres near coastal certificate of competency.
Meet medical, eyesight, sea service and course requirements.

For more information, select what you need to apply for below.

Syllabus

Master less than 35 metres near coastal is a domestic certificate of competency issued under Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2013.

Important disclaimer

These instructions are summary information only. We make decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2013 and National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part D—Crew competencies. These documents have full details of the eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.

What do you need to apply for?

New

Revalidation

Endorsements and restrictions

Equivalent certificate

Change your name on your certificate of competency

Replace your lost, stolen or damaged certificate of competency

Would you like to print?

New certificate

What do I need to do?

To obtain this certificate you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Eyesight test certificate

The Eyesight test certificate form 542 lets us know that your eyesight meets the necessary standard for working at sea.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.

2. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate

The Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate form 559 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.

3. Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers

Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers.

Get a qualified medical practitioner to complete the:

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this in place of the Eyesight test certificate and the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.

Submit your completed forms as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Provide evidence of sea service

You need to show you have experience working on commercial vessels greater than or equal to 12 metres long, while holding a Master less than 24 metres near coastal or Mate up to 80 metres near coastal. You must have completed either:

180 days, including 120 days in charge of a navigational watch, with a completed approved task book
360 days, including 240 days in charge of a navigational watch, without a task book.

You must complete at least half of the qualifying sea service required for the certificate in the five years before the application.

If you have completed a task book you must attach a copy of the seafarer details page to your application.

If at least half of your sea service is not to seaward of sheltered waters, your certificate will be restricted to sheltered waters.

You must submit a copy of your existing certificate of competency as part of your application.

You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:

Record of sea service form 771
an approved sea service log book
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.

If you want a task book

You can get a Master <35m task book from us or from some registered training organisations. To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form.

Certificate revalidation

A Master less than 35 metres near coastal certificate of competency expires five years after it is issued or revalidated. To keep working using your certificate you need to revalidate it every five years.

What do I need to do?

To revalidate your certificate you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Eyesight test certificate

The Eyesight test certificate form 542 lets us know that your eyesight meets the necessary standard for working at sea.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.

2. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate

The Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate form 559 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.

3. Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers

Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers.

Get a qualified medical practitioner to complete the:

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this in place of the Eyesight test certificate and the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.

Submit your completed forms as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Provide evidence of sea service

You need to show you have 120 days at sea, as officer of the watch, in the last 5 years.

You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:

Record of sea service form 771
an approved sea service task book
a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service
a declaration acceptable to AMSA.

If you do not have the required sea service you must provide evidence of one of the following:

completed an approved final assessment
at least 60 days sea service in the last 6 months
for a seasonal fisher, you must have worked in a seasonal fishery for at least 120 days in the 5 years before the application
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 the Master <35m task book since obtaining your Master less than 35 metres near coastal.

If you want a task book

You can get a Master <35m task book from us or from some registered training organisations. To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form.

Endorsements and restrictions

You may apply for the following endorsement on your certificate:

Command a domestic commercial vessel less than 45 metres long in the exclusive economic zone

What do I need to do?

To obtain this endorsement you will need to:

1. Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Eyesight test certificate

The Eyesight test certificate form 542 lets us know that your eyesight meets the necessary standard for working at sea.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.

2. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate

The Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate form 559 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.

3. Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers

Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers.

Get a qualified medical practitioner to complete the:

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this in place of the Eyesight test certificate and the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.

Submit your completed forms as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

2. Provide evidence of sea service

You must show you have 120 days sea service as the person in charge of a navigational watch on commercial vessels greater than or equal to 24 metres long while holding your Master less than 35 metres near coastal.

You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:

Record of sea service form 771
an approved sea service log book
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.

Related information

If you would like to find out more about endorsements, refer to the National Regulator Endorsements Approval 2014 (PDF 255.78 KB).

Remove a daylight hours restriction on your certificate

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. Eyesight test certificate

The Eyesight test certificate form 542 lets us know that your eyesight meets the necessary standard for working at sea.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.

2. Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers

Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers.

Get a qualified medical practitioner to complete the Eyesight test certificate form 542.

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 in place of the Eyesight test certificate and the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.

Submit your completed forms as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

2. Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your:

existing certificate of competency
valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.

3. Complete and submit a certificate of competency application

You can complete a Certificate of competency application form 426 online or download a pdf version and then complete it.

You need to complete all sections of the form. You must:

respond yes or no to all questions and statements in the application form
complete all boxes (if the information requested is unknown or not applicable insert N/A)
download a pdf version of the form to generate your barcode
print the form
attach copies of all required documents
sign the declaration
submit your application and pay a fee at an AMSA-contracted Australia post outlet
provide proof of identity when you lodge your application.

Remove a sheltered waters restriction on your certificate

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. Eyesight test certificate

The Eyesight test certificate form 542 lets us know that your eyesight meets the necessary standard for working at sea.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.

2. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate

The Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate form 559 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.

3. Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers

Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers.

Get a qualified medical practitioner to complete the:

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this in place of the Eyesight test certificate and the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.

Submit your completed forms as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

2. Provide evidence of sea service

You need to show you have experience working to seaward of sheltered waters on commercial vessels greater than or equal to 12 metres long. You must have completed either:

90 days, including 60 days in charge of a navigational watch, with a completed approved task book
180 days, including 120 days in charge of a navigational watch, without a task book.

You must complete at least half of the qualifying sea service required for the certificate in the five years before the application.

If you have completed a task book you must attach a copy of the seafarer details page to your application.

You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:

Record of sea service form 771
an approved sea service log book
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.

If you want a task book

You can get a Master <35m task book from us or from some registered training organisations. To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form.

Equivalent certificate

If you hold any of the following certificates, we will give you a Master less than 35 metres near coastal certificate.

Master class 4
Skipper grade 2
Master class IV (trading)
Master class IV (fishing)

If your Master class 4 certificate is restricted to smooth waters, your Master less than 35 metres certificate of competency will be restricted to sheltered waters.

If your existing certificate is subject to any other restriction, your Master less than 35 metres certificate of competency will be subject to the same restriction.

If your existing certificate has an endorsement, your Master less than 35 metres certificate of competency will have the same endorsement.

What do I need to do?

To get a Master less than 35 metres near coastal you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Eyesight test certificate

The Eyesight test certificate form 542 lets us know that your eyesight meets the necessary standard for working at sea.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to working in daylight hours only.

2. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate

The Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate form 559 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.

3. Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers

Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers.

Get a qualified medical practitioner to complete the:

If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this in place of the Eyesight test certificate and the Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate.

Submit your completed forms as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Provide existing certificate

As part of your application for an equivalent certificate you must submit a copy of your:

existing certificate of competency
valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent

Complete and submit a certificate of competency application

You can complete a Certificate of competency application form 426 online or download a pdf version and then complete it.

You need to complete all sections of the form. You must:

respond yes or no to all questions and statements in the application form
complete all boxes (if the information requested is unknown or not applicable insert N/A)
download a pdf version of the form to generate your barcode
print the form
attach copies of all required documents
sign the declaration
submit your application and pay a fee at an AMSA-contracted Australia post outlet
provide proof of identity when you lodge your application.

Last updated:

Friday 9 September 2022