At a glance
For initial issue of a Navigational Watch Rating, you need to:
- Hold a valid AMSA medical (303)
- Hold a valid Certificate of Safety Training (CoST)
- Complete approved training and sea service for your pathway
- Prepare your documents
- Apply to AMSA
Ready to apply? Complete Seafarer form 419 now
On this page:
- About this certificate
- Eligibility requirements
- Training and sea service
- Supporting documents
- How to apply
- Keep your certificate valid
- Add an endorsement
- Career pathways
About this certificate
A Navigational Watch Rating (NWR) is an STCW certificate of proficiency (CoP).
Many seafarers begin their career as a navigational watch rating and gain experience to move into more specialised or senior roles.
An NWR allows you to assist with duties in the deck department on vessels of any size, in any operating area.
With this certificate, you can:
- keep a lookout as part of a navigational watch
- assist the officer of the watch with routine navigational watch duties
- carry out basic deck duties and functions.
Want to work in both deck and engine departments?
An Integrated Rating certificate is a common pathway for entry-level seafarers to work in both deck and engine departments. Find out more about the Integrated Rating (II/4 and III/4)
Eligibility requirements
To be issued this certificate, you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303)
- hold a valid Certificate of Safety Training (CoST)
- complete the training and sea service requirements below.
You do not need a sea service assessment for this certificate.
Before you start
You should get your AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303) before you start training or sea service .
You must be medically fit to work at sea, including meeting colour vision requirements, for this certificate.
Training and sea service
There are 3 ways to meet the training and sea service requirements for this certificate.
Choose the option that matches your experience.
Sea service rules
Your sea service only counts after you are issued your Certificate of Safety Training (CoST).
Sea service as a General Purpose Hand (GPH) is not accepted for ratings certificates.
Special rules apply for some vessel types.
Check the rules about sea service for STCW certificates .
- (1) If you have less than 6 months sea service
What you need
1) A valid CoST
2) AMSA-approved navigational watch rating course
3) At least 2 months qualifying sea service
4) TAGs book 1 (with steering certificate)1) Confirm your pre-requisites
You must hold a valid:
2) Complete an approved training course
You must complete an approved training course for rating forming part of a navigational watch (STCW Reg II/4)
This training may be delivered as either:
- a Navigational Watch Rating skill set
- part of an Integrated Rating course.
Make sure your training provider is approved
You must complete these courses with an AMSA-approved training provider.
We do not accept training completed with other providers or overseas.3) Meet qualifying sea service requirements
You must complete:
- at least 60 days (2 months)
- on vessels 24 metres or more in length
- in the deck department
- as a deck rating or trainee deck rating
- while holding a valid CoST
You will need to provide evidence of your sea service when you apply.
Find out how to prepare your evidence .
Timing of sea service
You must complete your sea service after you finish the theory component of your training course.
Any sea time served before completing the course does not count as qualifying sea service.4) Complete TAGS books
Complete the required Task and Guided Study (TAGS) workbooks during your onboard training and sea service:
- TAGS book 1 (NWR)
AMSA does not issue TAGs books
Your AMSA-approved training provider will issue, review and assess your TAGS books and issue you a TAGs completion certificate.
Include the TAGS completion certificate with your application. Do not submit your TAGS books.5) Include your steering certificate
Your steering certificate is completed as part of TAGS book 1.
It confirms you completed:
- at least 10 hours of steering practice
- on vessels 24 metres or more in length
- including 4 hours while the vessel is underway and being actively navigated.
- (2) If you have at least 6 months qualifying sea service
You can meet the requirements for this certificate without shore-based training if you have 6 months qualifying sea service.
What you need
1) A valid CoST
3) At least 6 months qualifying sea service
4) TAGs book 1
5) AMSA Steering certificate1) Confirm your pre-requisites
You must hold a valid:
2) Meet qualifying sea service requirements
You must complete:
- at least 180 days (6 months)
- on vessels 24 metres or more in length
- in the deck department
- as a deck rating or trainee deck rating
- while holding a valid CoST
You will need to provide evidence of your sea service when you apply.
4) Complete TAGS books
Complete the required Task and Guided Study (TAGS) workbooks during your onboard training and sea service:
- TAGS book 1 (NWR)
AMSA does not issue TAGs books
Your AMSA-approved training provider will issue, review and assess your TAGS books and issue you a TAGs completion certificate.
Include the TAGS completion certificate with your application. Do not submit your TAGS books.5) Include your steering certificate
Your steering certificate is completed as part of TAGS book 1.
It confirms you completed:
- at least 10 hours of steering practice
- on vessels 24 metres or more in length
- including 4 hours while the vessel is underway and being actively navigated.
- (3) If you hold an AMSA-issued near coastal certificate (Master <45m or Master <100m)
If you hold a valid, AMSA-issued near coastal certificate for Master <45 metres, Master <100 metres, you may be eligible to apply for a Navigational Watch Rating without completing specific navigational watch training courses or sea service.
What you need
1) An eligible AMSA-issued near coastal certificate
2) A valid CoST
3) AMSA Certifcate of Medical Fitness (303)You must hold a valid, AMSA-issued near coastal certificate for:
- Master <45 metres
- Master <100 metres
You must also hold a valid:
You cannot use your near coastal certificate of medical fitness for an STCW certificate.
AMSA will assess your application to confirm you meet the STCW requirements.
Supporting documents
When you apply, you need:
- Proof of identity
- A passport-style photograph (if you live overseas)
- AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303)
- A copy of your Certificate of Safety Training (CoST)
- Copies of your course completion certificate(s) showing the relevant STCW course codes (not transcripts, attendance records or statements of attainment)
- Copies of your TAGS completion certificate (do not submit your TAGS books)
- Sea service evidence using the STCW sea service template
Do not submit additional documents unless we ask for them.
Find out more about proof of identity and providing supporting documents.
How to apply
Before you apply
Check what it costs, how long it takes and what happens after you submit your application.
Read more about how to get a new STCW certificate
When you meet the requirements:
- Gather your supporting documents
- Complete Seafarer form 419, then download and print it
- Submit your application to AMSA
Keep your certificate valid
You must revalidate this certificate every 5 years to continue working.
Find out how to revalidate your certificate.
You should apply to revalidate your STCW certificate in the 6 months before it expires
Add an endorsement
You may need additional endorsements depending on the vessel, cargo or duties you perform.
Endorsements available for this certificate include:
- Basic IGF code
- Passenger vessel
- High speed craft
- Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (PSCRB)
- Fast rescue boats
- ECDIS trained
- Tanker familiarisation (oil, chemical, gas)
Learn more about STCW endorsements.
Career pathways
This certificate is part of the STCW ratings career pathway.
Many seafarers begin their career as a navigational watch rating and gain experience to move into more specialised or senior roles.
With a Navigational Watch Rating certificate, you can:
- work toward an Integrated Rating qualification
- work toward an Able Seafarer – Deck qualification
- build sea service toward officer-level deck certificates.
Explore career pathways for ratings