New certificate

What do I need to do?

To get this certificate, you need to:

Complete training courses

Certificate of Safety Training (full course) (STCW Reg VI/1) includes:

• Personal safety and social responsibilities (STCW Reg VI/1 Code A–VI/1 Table A–VI/1–4)
• Personal survival techniques (STCW Reg VI/1 Code A–VI/1 Table A–VI/1–1)
• Fire prevention and fire fighting (Basic) (STCW Reg VI/1 Code A–VI/1 Table A–VI/1–2)
• Elementary first aid (STCW Reg VI/1 Code A–VI/1 Table A–VI/1–3) 
• Security awareness Training (STCW Code Section A-VI/6 para. 4)

These courses must be completed with an approved training organisation.

All of the certificates and training you complete must be AMSA approved and include evidence that they comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).

Any seafarers who have completed STCW short courses through previously AMSA approved training organisations will need to contact AMSAConnect@amsa.gov.au to check the validity of these courses

How to apply

You will need to lodge a formal application using the Seafarer form 419 to be assessed towards the requirements for a COST.

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. The fee will include the cost of the colour passport photograph.

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.

Revalidate certificate

What do I need to do?

To revalidate your certificate, you need to:

Provide evidence of sea service

Complete sea service performing functions for your current certificate for one of the following:

• At least 12 months in total during the preceding 5 years before application
• 3 months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating.

For revalidation of a certificate of safety training only AMSA will accept service on facilities operating in a marine environment. Examples include oil rigs, barges, non-propelled accommodation barges, accommodation barges berthed in a port. The applicant must provide evidence that they attended regular drills and emergency exercises.

Complete training courses

All certificates and training must comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and be with an organisation we have approved.

If you are revalidating your certificate and you are an overseas permanent resident, the Personal survival techniques and Fire prevention and fire fighting STCW short courses may be completed in a country we have an agreement with.

With required sea service

If you already have the required sea service, you will need to:

• Obtain a letter(s) from your employer(s) confirming:
  • sea service
  • your participation in the mandatory abandon ship and fire drills required by SOLAS
  • your participation in scheduled drills required by the on board safety management system (see sample template).
• Complete Security Awareness Training—this training only needs to be completed once and does not need to be repeated.
• Keep the original of this letter and send us a copy with your application.
• Complete continued competence training for the STCW short courses in Basic fire fighting and Personal survival techniques in the previous 5 years.

These continued competence training courses are valid for up to 5 years.

It is a requirement of the STCW Code that seafarers, every five years, provide evidence of having maintained the required standards of competence in fire fighting and sea survival at the appropriate level, as well as fast rescue boats. Currently AMSA considers this requirement as one of the criteria for issue or revalidation of an Australian seafarer certificate issued under the Navigation Act, as specified in the Marine Order 70 series. In the case of revalidation, this is considered every five years. An Australian seafarer certificate will not lapse or expire if, during the five year period of the certificate’s validity, STCW training has not been maintained by the seafarer. 

However, AMSA nonetheless strongly recommends seafarers maintain the currency of their STCW Code training over the life of their Australian seafarer certificate, as this is often enforced by foreign Administrations and companies operating foreign flagged vessels.This simply means that seafarers need to be conscious of the period that has elapsed since they last completed STCW Code training requirements and ensure they renew their training five years from this date, even if the five year period does not coincide with the renewal date of their Australian seafarer certificate. 

Without required sea service

If you do not have the required sea service, you will need to:

• Complete the full STCW short course in fire prevention and fire fighting (basic fire fighting).
• Complete the full STCW short course in personal survival techniques.
• Complete security awareness training—this training only needs to be completed once and does not need to be repeated.

Read more about approved training organisations and revalidating your current certificate.

How to apply

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

Lodging 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. The fee will include the cost of the colour passport photograph.

Lodging 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.

Replace a lost or damaged international certificate

Get an endorsement for your international certificate

If you hold a Certificate of safety training (COST) you should apply to us to revalidate your certificate before it expires, if it has not been suspended or revoked. Whether your certificate is valid, or has expired, the revalidation requirements are the same.

You must complete a sea service and course component to revalidate your certificate. Read more about these in the revalidate tab above.

Continued competence courses

Australia is a party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). Under this convention, we comply with the standards required in STCW A-1/11. These standards require all seafarers to demonstrate continued professional competence in safety of life at sea and security. Completion of these courses is commonly known as a demonstration of continued competence.

Medical courses

Under the standards in the STCW, there is no requirement for revalidation of first aid, medical first aid, and medical care certificates. However, as required by the Maritime Labour Convention, you should undergo refresher courses every 5 years to allow you to maintain and increase your knowledge and skills to keep up-to-date with new developments. Refer to Maritime Labour Convention 2006 Regulation 4.1, Guideline B4.1 Medical care on board ship.

Revalidating from overseas

If you hold a Certificate of safety training and live overseas you can still revalidate your certificate. You must meet the sea service requirement and we will accept refresher training conducted with an administration we have an agreement with. Read Country eligibility for Certificates of recognition.

You will need to meet a number of requirements before we can accept refresher courses you have completed overseas:

• Be a resident overseas—permanently living in a country other than Australia.
• Make sure you are doing the course in a country which has an agreement with Australia.
• Contact that country’s flag state administration to obtain information regarding the location of an approved course provider.
• On completion of the course, obtain a course completion certificate.
• We may require you to obtain a letter from the overseas course provider that states the course is approved by the administration of that country and you have attended the course.

We recognise these courses from countries with which we hold an agreement, if the applicant meets the above requirements: