AMSA Coxswain Grade 1, 2 & 3 and General Purpose Hand Requirements for Domestic Seafarers on a Commercial Vessel
The National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety was introduced in Australia in 2013 under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (National Law). The National Law applies to the domestic commercial vessel fleet operating in Australian waters across all States and Territories. Under the National Law, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the National Regulator.
You must get a Certificate of Competency or revalidate your existing qualification to work in Australian domestic waters.
- General Requirements
- General Purpose Hand NC
- Coxwain Grade 3 NC (New 2023)
- Coxswain Grade 2 NC
- Coxswain Grade 1 NC
If you want to work on a commercial vessel in Australian waters, you must hold an appropriate certificate of competency issued under the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety.
General Requirements - AMSA Coxswain & GPH CoC
- Age: Must be at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date
- Medical: If you're applying for a high complexity certificate of competency, you are required to submit a Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal qualification form 559.
- Eyesight: If you're applying for a new certificate of competency, you'll need to submit a completed Eyesight test certificate form 542. There are two components of the eyesight test - vision (near and distance) and colour vision.
- Sea Service: Record of sea service form 771, OR an approved sea service log book, OR the on board sea service record from your task book,OR a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service.
- Course Requirements: You need to get training from an AMSA approved training organization.
Domestic Dual Certificates
General Purpose Hand Near Coastal Requirements
- Certification: The holder of this certificate can - Assist a master, engineer or an appropriately-certified crew member to whom supervision has been delegated, in any tasks that may be required on board, while working under general supervision; Work on deck or in the engine room of a vessel <100 m and <3000 GT, with propulsion power <3000 kW in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
- This means that a person assisting with deck work or engine work under direct supervision rather than general supervision is not required to hold a GPH certificate
- The applicant must have completed a General Purpose Hand course at Certificate 1 level and valid HLTAID011 first aid certificate, or equivalent.
GPH NC Sea Service Requirements
- 5 days QSS on a commercial vessel; and Completed a Certificate 1 - General Purpose Hand course from a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) as per MAR - Maritime Training Package
Coxswain Grade 3 Near Coastal Requirements
- Certification: This certificate will allow you to work as -
- Command and operate engines of a vessel <12 m long that is not carrying more than 6 persons including crew and master (unless a tender) and within 1nm from shore or a parent vessel.
- If carrying passengers - only in daylight hours.
- With propulsion power under 100 kW for an inboard engine and under 250 kW for an outboard engine
- If the vessel is a tender that has a parent vessel, and the tender is capable of communicating with the parent vessel then the tender may operate within 1nm of the parent vessel and in line of sight of the parent vessel. This may be increased to 3nm for a person who satisfies the eligibility requirements.
- For non-tender vessels a Coxswain Grade 3 NC COC may operate within:
- a marina; a mooring area in sight and communication of a marina; inland waters; smooth waters; waters within 1nm of shore;
- waters - of an aquaculture lease approved by a State or Territory; OR approved by a State or Territory for daily transit to and from an aquaculture lease; OR within 1nm of a State or Territory approved aquaculture lease;
- waters within 250 m of a structure fixed to the shore.
- Command and operate engines of a vessel <12 m long:
- that is used only for towing people; and with propulsion power for an inboard or outboard engine of < 500 kW; AND in waters approved as a water ski area by a State or Territory authority; AND in daylight hours only, AND only within Australia’s EEZ.
Coxswain Grade 3 NC Requirements
- To obtain a Coxswain Grade 3 CoC you will need to have completed ONE of the following eligibility requirements:
- Australian Sailing Powerboat Handling course;
- RYA level 2 Powerboat course;
- Completion before 1 January 2023 of training and final practical assessment in accordance with Exemption 38 Marine Safety (Low complexity duties);
- Each of - a licence, issued by a State or Territory, to operate a recreational vessel; at least 1 day qualifying sea service on a commercial vessel; a declaration on the approved form.
- Each of the following courses from the MAR Maritime Training Package, or a course developed as part of the MAR Maritime Training Package to cover the same skills - MARI003 Comply with regulations to ensure safe operation of a vessel up to 12 metres; MARK007 Handle a vessel up to 12 metres; MARN008 Apply seamanship skills aboard a vessel up to 12 metres.
- valid HLTAID011 first aid certificate, or equivalent.
Coxswain Grade 2 Near Coastal Requirements
- Certification: Command and operate the engines of a vessel less than 12 metres long with unlimited outboard engine propulsion, or inboard engines less than 100 kilowatts.
- In sheltered waters or within 5 nautical miles from the shore or an aquaculture lease.
- As a tender or auxiliary vessel operating within 3 nautical miles of a parent vessel within the exclusive economic zone.
- Undertake the duties and perform the functions of a Coxswain Grade 3 NC.
- The applicant must have completed a Coxswain Grade 2 course at Certificate 1 level; and a valid HLTAID011 first aid certificate, or equivalent.
Coxswain Grade 2 NC Sea Service Requirements
- You need to show you have experience working at sea on board commercial or recreational vessels. You must have completed either - 10 days with a completed AMSA task book OR 50 days without an AMSA task book.
- After meeting all the other requirements for the certificate - pass a final assessment
Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal Requirements
- Certification: The Coxswain grade 1 near coastal will allow you to command, and operate the engines of, a vessel less than 12 metres long with unlimited outboard engine propulsion, or inboard engines less than 500 kilowatts -
- In inshore waters or designated waters (under state or territory waterway management legislation).
- As a tender or auxiliary vessel within 3 nautical miles of a parent vessel within the exclusive economic zone.
- You can also undertake the duties and perform the functions of a General Purpose Hand NC, Coxswain Grade 3 NC and Coxswain Grade 2 NC.
- The applicant must have completed a Coxswain Grade 1 course at Certificate 2 level; a valid HLTAID011 first aid certificate, or equivalent; and Short range operator certificate of proficiency, or equivalent.
Coxswain Grade 1 NC Sea Service Requirements
- You need to show you have experience working at sea in a deck, or a deck and engineering capacity, on vessels at least five metres long. You must have completed either - 30 days on commercial vessels with a completed AMSA task book 150 days on commercial or recreational vessels without an AMSA task book.
- After meeting all the other requirements for the certificate - pass a final assessment