Career path for ratings

If you have a ratings qualification and are serving on a regulated Australian vessel, there are a number of career pathways and training requirements open to you.

Rating qualifications

Provided the certificate is appropriate to the position on the vessel, you can hold any of the following:

• Navigational watch rating certificate (STCW Reg II/4)

• Engine room watch rating certificate (STCW Reg III/4)

• Certificate of proficiency as integrated rating (STCW Reg II/4 and Reg III/4)

• Certificate of proficiency as integrated rating (STCW Reg II/5 and Reg III/5)

• Certificate of proficiency as chief integrated rating (STCW Reg II/5 and Reg III/5)

• Certificate of proficiency as able seafarer—deck (STCW Reg II/5)

• Certificate of proficiency as able seafarer—engine (STCW Reg III/5)

Trainee ratings

To serve on a regulated Australian vessel:

1. Trainee navigational watch ratings and engine room watch ratings on the six months qualifying sea service pathway must hold an AMSA Certificate of safety training (STCW Reg VI/1) with security awareness endorsement (STCW Reg VI/6-1) and a valid Certificate of medical fitness form 303 before joining your first ship.

2. Trainee navigational watch ratings and engine room watch ratings on the two months qualifying sea service pathway must hold an AMSA Certificate of safety training (STCW Reg VI/1) with security awareness endorsement (STCW Reg VI/6-1) and must also complete approved shore based training before joining their first ship (see schedule 1).

3. Trainee integrated ratings in addition to holding an AMSA Certificate of safety training and a valid Certificate of medical fitness form 303 must also complete the 12/13 week shore based training program before joining your first ship.

Approved training program

You must complete an AMSA approved training program that meets the requirements of STCW. The approved training program is based on the Certificate III in maritime operations (integrated rating), which consists of 21 units of competency, five task and guided study books (TAGS books) and qualifying sea service.

The 21 units of competency have been divided in separate sections or courses, namely, pre-sea (Certificate of Safety training), deck rating requirements (A), engine rating requirements (B) and units of competency common to both deck and engine room ratings (C).

Schedule 1—training program—units of competency explained

Units of competency are from the revised Draft MAR30515 Certificate III in maritime operations (integrated rating), which is expected to be finalised in 2015.

Pre-sea—Certificate of safety training

Unit number	Competency	STCW reference
MARF003	Follow vessel security procedures	STCW Code table A-VI/6-1
MARF006	Observe personal safety and social responsibility	STCW Code table A-VI/1-4
MARF008	Prevent and fight fires on board a vessel	STCW Code table A-VI/1-2
MARF009	Survive at sea in the event of vessel abandonment	STCW Code table A-VI/1-1
HLTAID003	Provide first aid	STCW Code table A-VI/1-3

Schedule 2—task and guided study books explained

The approved task and guided study (TAGS) books consist of:

TAGS book 1—Shipboard induction, shipboard procedures, engine room duties, work health and safety/occupational health and safety requirements

TAGS book 2—Survival management, survival craft, firefighting and prevention

TAGS book 3—Engine room, deck machinery

TAGS book 4—Ships maintenance and marine rigging

TAGS book 5—Dry cargo, liquid cargo, offshore vessels

After four months qualifying sea service and completion of TAGS book 1, you may receive STCW Regulation II/4 – ratings assisting in keeping a navigation watch and STCW Regulation III/4 – ratings assisting in keeping in an engine room watch.

TAGS Book 1 has also been re-issued as two separate volumes. One volume is suitable for trainees who wish to obtain a Navigational watch rating certificate. The other volume is suitable for trainees who wish to obtain an Engine watch rating certificate.

Schedule 3—rating pathway flow charts

1. Integrated rating pathways
2. Able seafarer—Engine pathway, also explains pathway for Engine watch rating for holders of a certificate of competency as Engineer class 3 and Marine engine driver grade 1
3. Able seafarer—Deck pathway, also explains Navigational watch rating and certificate of competency as Master less than 80m NC, Master less than 35m NC and Mate less than 80m NC pathways.
4. Able seafarer—Engine and Navigational watch rating pathway
5. Able seafarer—Deck and Engine watch rating pathway
6. Engine watch rating to Navigational watch rating pathway.
7. Navigational watch rating to Engine watch rating pathway.

1. Integrated rating pathway

Career path diagram for integrated rating pathway

2. Able seafarer engine pathway

3. Able seafarer deck (STCW Reg II/5) pathway

Career path diagram for able seafarer deck STCW Reg II/5 pathway

4. Able seafarer engine with navigational watch rating pathway

5. Able seafarer deck with engine watch rating pathway

Career path diagram for able seafarer deck with engine watch rating pathway

6. Engine room watch rating to navigational watch rating pathway

7. Navigational watch rating with engine room watch rating pathway

Career path diagram for navigational watch rating with engine room watch rating pathway