Eligibility
To be eligible for a General Purpose Hand near coastal certificate (GPH CoC) you must:
- be at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date
- be able to speak and understand English, including written documents
- be medically fit for the duties, including eyesight
- complete training
- gain any needed sea service.
When is a General Purpose Hand certificate required?
This certificate is required when an otherwise uncertified crew member is not under the direct supervision of a suitably qualified crew member and:
- doing deck work on a vessel <100m long and <3000GT within the EEZ under general supervision of the master or an appropriately certified crew member as delegated by the master
- doing engine work on a vessel with propulsion power <3000kW within the EEZ under general supervision of the chief engineer or another appropriately certified crew member as delegated by the chief engineer.
When is a General Purpose Hand certificate of competency not required?
Crew who are not undertaking deck or engine room tasks, or are directly supervised when undertaking such tasks, do not need to hold a General Purpose Hand certificate of competency.
Crew who already hold a certificate like the Coxswain Grade 1, and deck certificates such as the Master <24, Master (Inland Waters), Master <45m and Master <100m do not need to hold a General Purpose Hand certificate of competency.
General supervision
General supervision is when the person being supervised:
- receives instruction and direction on tasks
- receives recurrent personal contact from the supervisor
- is not frequently attended by the supervisor.
Direct supervision
Direct supervision is when the person being supervised:
- is frequently within sight and hearing of the supervisor.
To learn more about the differences between general supervision and direct supervision including examples, see Supervisory definitions.
Types of work a General Purpose Hand can undertake
Anyone can undertake the tasks of a General Purpose Hand provided they are directly supervised by an appropriately certified seafarer.
If a seafarer is not directly supervised and holds no other seafarer certificate of competency, then the General Purpose Hand certificate of competency means that the seafarer can undertake the following tasks whilst under general supervision.
Deck work
This means operation or lookout tasks for any of the following:
- navigation
- mooring
- anchoring
- cargo.
Engine work
This means tasks related to main or auxiliary machinery used for any of the following:
- propulsion
- mooring
- anchoring
- cargo.
Note: If you don't perform these deck or engine tasks on a domestic commercial vessel (including fishing vessels) you may not need a GPH CoC.
Important disclaimer
These instructions are summary information only. We make decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2022. This document has full details of the eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.
What do you need to apply for?
New certificate
- 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.
2. Standards for the medical assessment of domestic seafarers
Provide the medical practitioner with the Guidelines for the medical assessment of near coastal seafarers and have them complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form.
If you have a current AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead.
You must submit your completed form as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426
- Complete a training course
Complete a General Purpose Hand near coastal course at a registered training organisation.
You will need to submit your course completion certificate with your Certificate of competency application.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You need to show you have experience working at sea on board commercial vessels. You must have completed:
- 5 days of qualifying sea service on commercial vessels of any size
There is no task book for a General Purpose Hand.
You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:
- Record of sea service form 771
- a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service
- an approved sea service log book
Read more about qualifying sea service.
- Meet additional requirements
You must also hold a:
- valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent.
- Pass a practical assessment at a registered training organisation
A candidate may complete an AMPA for the General Purpose Hand (GPH) certificate of competency although this is not a requirement for certification.
Completing the GPH AMPA may however have practical benefits, as a candidate is only required to complete the AMPA for a particular unit of competency once. Therefore, a candidate who has completed the GPH AMPA is not required to complete the AMPA for those units of competency again for another certificate of competency.
- 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.
Renewal of Certificate
A General purpose hand near coastal certificate of competency is generally valid for 5 years. To keep working using your certificate you need to renew it every five years.
What do I need to do?
To renew your certificate you will need to:
- Meet medical and eyesight requirements
You must complete a declaration of medical fitness on the Certificate of competency application form 426. This lets us know that you are medically fit, and that your eyesight meets the necessary standard, to work at sea.
If your existing General Purpose Hand certificate has a daylight hours restriction, this restriction will also be on your renewed certificate.
- Provide evidence of sea service
You do not need sea service to renew a General purpose hand near coastal certificate of competency.
- Provide existing certificate
You must submit a copy of your:
- existing General Purpose Hand
- 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.
Equivalent certificate
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.