AMSA Master CoC Requirements (General, Sea Service and STCW) for Australian International Seafarers
This section includes the AMSA International Qualifications (CoC) and requirements under STCW for Master Unlimited, Master less than 24 m foreign going, Master less than 500 GT, and Master less than 3000 GT. The Master Unlimited certificate allows you to perform the duties or functions of Master, Chief mate or Watchkeeper Deck officer on ships of any gross tonnage in any operating area.
Master <3000 GT certificate holder is able to Work as a Master or Chief Mate on vessels less than 3000 gross tonnage and as Watchkeeper deck officer on vessels of any gross tonnage. Master <500 GT certificate enables you to work as a Master or Chief mate on vessels less than 3000 gross tonnage in any operating area and as Watchkeeper deck officer on vessels of any gross tonnage and in any operating area.
And finally, Master <24 m Foreign Going (FG) certificate allows you to perform the duties or functions of Master, Chief mate or Watchkeeper deck officer on ships less than 24 m in any operating area, and Watchkeeper deck officer on ships less than 500 gross tonnage in near coastal waters.
You may also read: International Maritime Organization (IMO) STCW requirements for Master
AMSA General Requirements for Master Qualifications
- To be eligible for a Master certificate of competency you must meet medical, sea service and course requirements.
- The requirements depend on whether you are getting a certificate for the first time or revalidating an existing certificate.
- The person must have passed a final assessment
AMSA Master Unlimited CoC Requirements
- Person must hold or have held a certificate of competency as Master <3000 GT, Chief Mate or Chief mate <3000 GT
Master Unlimited Sea Service Requirements
- Have completed either - At least 36 months documented qualifying seagoing service in charge of a navigation watch on vessels ≥500 GT of which at least 6 months was served on vessels ≥1500 GT while holding any of the following certificates - A certificate as Watchkeeper Deck, Chief mate <3000 GT, Master <500 GT, Chief mate, Master <3000 GT, or Mate <500 GT (with Chief mate <3000 GT near coastal endorsement); a foreign certificate AMSA considers at least equivalent to a certificate; OR
- At least 24 months documented qualifying seagoing service in charge of a navigation watch on vessels ≥500 GT, of which at least 6 months was served on vessels ≥1500 GT and 12 months was served in the capacity of Chief Mate or Master, while holding a certificate of competency as Master <500 GT, Chief mate <3000 GT, Chief mate or Mate <500 GT (with Chief mate <3000 GT near coastal endorsement); AND
- Have served at least 24 months of the qualifying seagoing service that applies, on voyages of at least 24 hours duration; AND
- Have served on vessels for at least 12 months while holding a certificate of competency as Chief mate <3000 GT, Chief mate or Master < 3000 GT; AND
Master Unlimited STCW Training and Certificate Requirements
- Have completed an approved program of study that meets the standards mentioned in STCW Code section A-II/1 and section A-II/2 and includes the following
Table: AMSA Master Unlimited certificates and training requirements.
AMSA Master <3000 GT CoC Requirements
- Person must hold or have held a certificate of competency as Chief mate or Chief mate <3000 GT; AND
Master <3000 GT Sea Service Requirements
- Have complete at least 36 months documented qualifying seagoing service in charge of a navigation watch on vessels ≥24 m while holding any of the following certificates - a certificate of competency as Watchkeeper Deck <500 GT (with Watchkeeper Deck <3000 GT near-coastal endorsement), Mate <500 GT, Watchkeeper Deck, Chief mate <3000 GT, Master <500 GT or Chief mate; a foreign certificate AMSA considers at least equivalent OR
- At least 24 months documented qualifying seagoing service in charge of a navigation watch on vessels ≥24 m, of which at least 12 months was served as Chief Mate or Master, on vessels ≥24 m while holding 1 of the following certificates: - a certificate of competency as Mate < 500 GT (with Chief mate <3000 GT near coastal endorsement), Chief mate <3000 GT, Master <5000 GT or Chief mate; a foreign certificate AMSA considers to be at least equivalent; AND
- Have served on vessels for at least 24 months on voyages of at least 24 hours duration; AND
- Have served at least 12 months of the qualifying seagoing service mentioned in paragraph (b) that applies, on vessels while holding a certificate of competency as Chief mate or Chief mate <3000 GT; AND
Master <3000 GT STCW Training and Certificate Requirements
- Have completed an approved program of study that meets the standards specified in STCW Code section A-II/1 and section A-II/2 and includes the following -
Table: AMSA Master 3000 gt certificates and training requirements.
AMSA Master <500 GT CoC Requirements
- Option 1: Person must hold or have held an unrestricted Master <35m NC certificate of competency; or a Master <24 m FG certificate of competency; or a Mate <500 GT certificate of competency; or another certificate AMSA considers at least equivalent to a certificate; and other requirements for Option 1 listed below.
Master <500 GT Option 1 Sea Service Requirements
- At least 12 months was served while holding either an unrestricted Master <35 m NC certificate of competency, Mate <500 GT or any other certificate AMSA considers at least equivalent to that certificate;
- At least 24 months was served on vessels on voyages of at least 24 hours duration
Master < 500 GT Option 2 Requirements
- Option 2: Person must have completed at least 24 months documented qualifying seagoing service in charge of a navigation watch on vessels ≥24 m of which at least 12 months was served as Chief Mate or Master; and while holding 1 of the following certificates -
- A certificate of competency as Mate <500 GT (with Chief mate <3000 GT near coastal endorsement); or any other certificate AMSA considers to be at least equivalent and other requirements for Option 2 listed below.
Master <500 GT STCW Training and Certificate Requirements
- Have completed an approved program of study that meets the standards specified in section A-II/1 and the relevant section A-II/2 of the STCW Code and includes the following -
Table: AMSA Master 500 gt certificates and training requirements
AMSA Master < 24 m Foreign Going CoC Requirements
Master <24m FG Sea Service Requirements
- Person must have completed at least 24 months documented qualifying seagoing service as an officer in charge of a navigation watch on vessels >12 m on voyages of at least 24 hours duration outside sheltered waters, while holding an unrestricted Master <24 m NC certificate of competency; or any other certificate AMSA considers at least equivalent.
Master <24m FG STCW Training and Certificate Requirements
- Have completed an approved course of Basic Safety Training (that complies with STCW Code section A-VI/1 paragraph 2); AND
- Have completed an approved program of study that meets the standards specified in section A-II/1 and the relevant section in A-II/2 of the STCW Code and includes approved modules in command navigation, shipmasters business and management, and vessel operations and administration; AND
- Have completed training in Medical Care on board ship (that complies with STCW Code section A-VI/4 paragraphs 4 to 6); AND
- Have completed Security awareness training (that complies with STCW Code section A-VI/6 paragraph 4); AND
- Hold a GMDSS radio operator certificate (that complies with STCW Code section A-IV/2)