Mate less than 80 metres near coastal

This domestic qualification lets you be second in command of a vessel less than 80 metres long.

Mate less than 80 metres near coastal is a domestic certificate of competency issued under Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2013.

What will this certificate allow me to do?

The Mate less than 80 metres near coastal will allow you to be second in command of a commercial vessel up to 80 metres long operating within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for a Mate less than 80 metres near coastal certificate you must be:

at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date
meet medical, sea service and course requirements.

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 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 certificate

Revalidation

Endorsements and restrictions

Equivalent certificate

Change your name on your certificate of competency

Replace your lost, stolen or damaged certificate of competency

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 in any deck capacity on commercial vessels greater than or equal to 12 metres long. You must have completed either:

300 days with a completed Master up to 35 metres near coastal task book
600 days, 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 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

For this certificate you should use a Master <35m 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 Mate less than 80 metres near coastal certificate of competency expires five years after it is issued or renewed. To keep working using your certificate you need to revalidate it every five years.

What do I need to do?

To revalidate 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 120 days at sea, as officer of the watch, in the last five 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 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 do not have the required the sea service you need to show you have 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, worked in a seasonal fishery for at least 120 days in the 5 years before the application
other approved industry experience (for example, 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 Mate less than 80 metres near coastal.'

If you want a task book

To revalidate this certificate you can use a Master <35m 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

Remove a daylight hours 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. 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.

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

You must submit your completed form as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Within the Certificate of competency application there is a declaration of medical fitness that you must complete. This lets us know that you are medically fit to work at sea.

2. Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your:

existing certificate of competency
valid HLTAID003 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 and 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

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:

150 days working in any deck capacity, with a completed approved task book.
300 days working in any deck capacity, 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

For this certificate you should use a Master <35m 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 Mate less than 80 metres near coastal certificate:

Mate class 4
Mate Class IV (fishing)
Mate class IV (trading))

If your existing certificate has an endorsement or restriction, your Mate less than 80 metres certificate of competency will have the same endorsement or restrction.

What do I need to do?

To get a Mate less than 80 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 HLTAID003 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 and 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 20 July 2018