If you hold a General Purpose Hand certificate, issued by a State or the Northern Territory, in the five years previous to your application, you will be eligible to apply for a General Purpose Hand near coastal certificate.

If you hold any of the following AMSA certificates, you will also be eligible to apply for a General Purpose Hand near coastal certificate:

• Navigational Watch Rating
• Engine Room Watch Rating
• Able Seafarer – Deck
• Able Seafarer – Engine
• Integrated Rating
• Chief Integrated Rating

What do I need to do?

To get a General Purpose Hand near coastal you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Certificate of medical fitness for a near coastal certificate

The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea.

If you are colour blind, you will be restricted to performing lookout duties during daylight hours only, unless you are working under direct supervision

Certificate of medical fitness for (a domestic) near coastal certificate form 1850

2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers

Provide a medical practitioner with the Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers and have them fill out the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850. If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead.

Provide existing certificate

As part of your application for an equivalent certificate you must submit a copy of your:

• existing General purpose hand or AMSA certificate listed above (front and back)
• valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.

Complete and submit a Certificate of competency application

To apply, complete and submit the Certificate of competency application form 426.

Read more about completing and submitting your application for a domestic certificate.