Safe crewing (manning) for regulated Australian vessels

All regulated Australian vessels must have a minimum safe crewing determination (MSCD). Find out how to prepare your crewing arrangement, check qualifications, and submit your application or renewal.

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What is minimum safe crewing?*

Minimum safe crewing is the number and competency of crew your vessel needs to operate safely, protect the marine environment and property, and support crew welfare including managing the risk of fatigue.

A minimum safe crewing document sets out the:

  • minimum number of crew required to operate your vessel
  • the arrangement of the crew
  • certificates and qualifications each crew member must hold
  • any special requirements or conditions.

Who needs an MSCD

All regulated Australian vessels (RAV) must have a crewing determination.

This requirement comes from:

AMSA issues crewing determinations for RAVs under the Navigation Act 2012.

When making a determination, AMSA must consider any requirements set out in regulation, including marine orders.

If your vessel is under 3000 GT, you may be eligible for a separate minimum safe crewing document for near coastal and international unlimited operations.

How to apply or renew your MSCD

Follow these steps to prepare your proposed crewing arrangement and submit your application.

This process applies to new and renewal applications (renew every 5 years, usually with your certificate of operation).

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 (1) Conduct a crewing evaluation

When you apply for an MSCD, you must include a proposed crewing arrangement.

This sets out the minimum number of crew your vessel needs and the duties and qualifications for each role.

Develop your proposed arrangement by conducting a crewing evaluation based on your vessel's operations.

As part of your evaluation: 

  • consider A.1047(27) Principles of minimum safe manning
  • consult your crew or seafarer representatives, if appropriate
  • make sure crew have adequate rest to manage fatigue appropriately
  • provide enough crew to meet watchkeeping standards under Marine Order 28 (Operations standards and procedures) 2015
  • provide enough crew to respond to emergencies
  • if carrying passengers, ensure enough crew to muster and assist passengers
  • provide enough crew for safe mooring and cargo operations and to monitor safety and security in port
  • ensure the vessel is kept seaworthy with adequate crew or other arrangements
  • provide trained staff to prepare food safely and hygienically.

AMSA will assess your crewing arrangement against the IMO’s Principles of minimum safe manning. You may be asked to provide evidence that you have addressed these factors.

(2) Check your crew qualifications

In your proposed crewing arrangement, list each graded position and specify the qualifications for that grade.

All crew must:

Your vessel’s MSCD sets out the positions and certification required to operate the vessel safely. For each position, the person serving in that capacity must hold the certificate that permits them to perform the duties and functions for that position as listed in Schedule 1 of the relevant marine order. 

This applies to both STCW and near coastal certificates.

International (STCW) certificates

A seafarer may only serve in that grade if they hold the appropriate STCW certificate.

For STCW certificates, the duties and functions a certificate permits are listed in Schedule 1 of the relevant marine order.

This includes:

Domestic (near coastal) certificates

We may allow some duties to be performed by seafarers with near coastal certificates of competency if the vessel:

  • has gross tonnage less than 3000 GT
  • operates on Australian near-coastal voyages.

Only certain duties can be performed with a near coastal certificate. These duties are listed in Marine Order 505.

If near coastal certificates are used, seafarers on certain vessels must also hold a Certificate of Safety Training (COST) under Marine Order 70.   

Important: Domestic certificates may not meet STCW short course requirements for international service. Make sure your crew qualifications meet the conditions set out in your MSCD.

Read the factsheet on using Australian domestic seafarer qualifications on regulated Australian vessels.

(3) Prepare your documents

Mandatory documents

You must provide copies of these documents:

  • Certificate of Registration (for registered vessels)
  • completed application for registration form (for new vessels only)
  • shipboard working arrangement
  • details of proposed crewing arrangements to maintain a safe bridge watch at sea (if applicable)*
  • details of the proposed engineer crewing arrangement (if applicable)*.

Other supporting documents

You may also need to provide:

  • Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
  • Minimum Safe Crewing (Manning) Document previously issued by AMSA (if applicable)
  • Class annotation of unattended machinery space (UMS)
  • Document of Compliance (DOC) and Safety Management Certificate (SMC)
(4) Apply for an MSCD

To apply, you need to:

When we receive your application we will email you the outcome and an invoice for the application fee.

Pay the fee using the instructions provided in the email. Find out more in Appendix 4: Schedule of fee-based charges.

Allow up to 28 days for assessment.

If your application is incomplete, missing information or documents it will not be assessed, and we will contact you.

You will have one calendar month to address the issues and resubmit the application. After this, your application will be closed.

(5) Comply with your MSCD

You must:

  • operate your vessel in accordance with your MSCD
  • ensure crew meet the specified qualifications
  • keep your MSCD on board where it is:
  • easily accessible by crew
  • available for inspection by AMSA or port authorities
  • in a readable format (physical or digital)
  • post a notice of shipboard working arrangements where crew can easily access it.

Apply now

  • Conduct a crewing evaluation
  • Prepare your documents
  • Complete AMSA form 93
  • Email your application to us

Go to form 93

Get help

For questions about crewing or help with your application, email RAVCrewing@amsa.gov.au

Find out more

*Derivations of the word 'crewing' are used by AMSA interchangeably with derivations of the word 'manning', as in IMO, ILO, Australian legislative, and other relevant documents.

Last updated: 25 September 2025

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