What do I need to do?

To obtain this certificate, you need to:

Revalidate a foreign GMDSS certificate

Before you begin your application to revalidate your certificate, you must first get your foreign GMDSS certificate revalidated by your issuing administration with which Australia holds an agreement. Read about country eligibility for Certificates of recognition.

Prove your citizenship

Provide formal evidence of one of the following:

• your status as an Australian citizen
• your status as a permanent resident of Australia
• current visa permitting you to work in Australia.

Provide evidence of sea service

You will need to provide evidence that you have completed one of the following:

• Obtain a letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming you have performed radio service in a seagoing ship fully fitted with GMDSS equipment for sea area A3 of at least 12 months in total within the preceding 5 years, or three months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidation.
  • Make sure the letter is written on company letterhead (see sample template letter)
  • Include ship particulars, including the name, IMO number, MMSI number, ship type(s), gross tonnage
  • Include the rank served on board
  • Include the dates served on board the ship
  • Include that the ship was fitted with a full GMDSS station for sea area A3
  • Include that the applicant operated the equipment on a regular basis.
• Complete an approved revalidation course for your certificate at an approved training organisation in the previous 12 months preceding the application for revalidation.
• Perform duties and functions that we consider at least equivalent to sea service.

If your sea service has been carried out only on FPSOs, FSOs and dynamically positioned ship type OSIMUs as a deck officer/marine technician, it will not satisfy the 12 months sea service in the preceding 5 years requirement, or 3 months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidation. If you wish to revalidate your GMDSS radio operator's certificate you will need to complete an approved GMDSS revalidation course of 3 days duration.

Specified service

The following technical positions will also be considered for revalidation:

• Radio technicians working for a company regularly involved in the use, installation and testing of the full suite of GMDSS equipment
• GMDSS lecturers in AMSA approved registered training organisations regularly conducting GMDSS courses
• Dedicated radio operators in fully GMDSS equipped installations other than ships.

You need to include proof of being employed in the service specified in the five years immediately preceding application in a responsible radio communication/technical position in a non-seagoing sector of the maritime industry. The submission is to be written on company letterhead paper from your employer organisation. The letter must clearly demonstrate to us how you have maintained your professional competence and confirm that you are capable of exercising the full capacity, function levels and limitations applying to your GMDSS radio operator’s certificate. A copy of the letter should be submitted with the application (you should keep the original).

How to apply

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419.

Lodge from within Australia

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet.

You will need to pay the fees for your application at the post office at the time of lodgement.

Lodge from overseas

You will need to fill out the Seafarer form 419, attach all required supporting documents including a colour passport-style photograph and send the paperwork to us by email to STCW.applications@amsa.gov.au. When we receive your email we will let you know how to pay the fee for your application via AMSA online portal.

We will complete an authenticity check with your issuing administration to determine the validity of the foreign certificate you have submitted with your application.