To obtain a certificate of competency for an international (STCW) certificate, you must have approved seagoing service.

Sea service should be assessed in accordance with Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification 2014, Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2023, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers), Marine Order 73 (Ratings) and Marine Order 74 (Masters and deck officers—yachts).

How to calculate sea service

Your sea service is calculated by counting up all your individual working days. 

For example, if you have served 27 days on a voyage and 30 days on another, your combined sea service is 57 days This can be converted to months and days by dividing by 30 which is considered to be one month. We will therefore consider 57 days to be one month and 27 days of sea service.

Recording your training  

You can record your onboard training in the following ways: 

• Training record book for STCW engineer watchkeeper. 
• Documented training programs for STCW deck watchkeeper that includes a training record book (STCW watchkeeper deck 18 and 24 month pathways only). 
• Task and guided study books (TAGS books) for STCW rating.

Calculating sea service for specific qualifications

International deck certificate

If you perform master or deck officer duties or functions for:

• At least 8 hours in a 24 hour period:

calculate sea service as a whole day (and no more than a whole day).

If you perform master or deck officer duties or functions for:

• Less than 8 hours in a 24 hour period:

calculate sea service for the actual hours served plus 25 per cent of that time.

This applies whether you live on board or not.

Qualifying sea service is calculated in Schedule 3.2 and 3.3 of Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2023.

Qualifying sea service must be confirmed by a letter issued by the company. Letters issued on board a vessel by a master will not be accepted

Read more about specific requirements for deck certificates.

Training programs for international deck watchkeeper 

Complete one of following training programs that includes a training record book: 

1. An AMSA approved pre sea course and an AMSA approved monitored onboard training program for trainee deck officers.  
   • Include at least 18 months documented qualifying seagoing service on vessels ≥500 gross tonnage.
   • Perform onboard for at least 12 months on voyages of at least 24 hours duration.
2. A pre-sea course and an AMSA approved and monitored onboard training program for trainee deck officers.
   • Include at least 24 months documented qualifying seagoing service on vessels ≥500 gross tonnage.
   • Perform onboard for at least 12 months on voyages of at least 24 hours duration.
3. An AMSA approved and monitored onboard training program for Integrated ratings.
   • Include at least 24 months documented qualifying seagoing service on vessels ≥500 gross tonnage while holding a certificate of proficiency as integrated rating.
   • Perform onboard for at least 12 months on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. 

In all three options, perform at least 6 of the 12 months on voyages of at least 24 hours duration as either of the following: 

• Understudy of the officer in charge of a navigation watch on a vessel.
• Watchkeeping service equivalent to the service in sub subparagraph (A), as an officer in charge of a navigation watch on a vessel. 

Engineer watchkeeper certificate 

Qualifying sea service will count when you are doing duties or functions on a vessel and if the machinery is available or in use for:

• At least 8 hours in a 24 hour period and you are on duty or on call for that period: calculate sea service as a whole day (and no more than a whole day).
• Less than 8 hours in a 24 hour period and you are on duty or on call for that period: calculate sea service as the actual hours served plus 25 per cent of that time.

This applies whether you live on board or not.

Qualifying sea service is calculated in Schedule 3.2 and 3.3 of Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014.

Qualifying sea service must be confirmed by a letter issued by the company. Letters issued on board a vessel by a master or chief engineer will not be accepted.

How to complete your training record book

This is a mandatory requirement. 

For an international engineer watchkeeper certificate of competency you must complete a training record book and all of the following tasks on board vessels ≥750 kW propulsion power:

• Perform your duties or functions in an engine room.
• Perform your duties under the supervision of a person holding one of the following certificates of competency:
  • engineer watchkeeper 
  • engineer class 2 
  • engineer class 1
• Have the training record book signed by the chief engineer on each vessel. 
• Submit your training book for assessment by an engineer examiner or AMSA approved training organisation. (Note: If the training record book is assessed by an AMSA approved training organisation, you will need a letter from this organisation confirming you have completed all sections of the training record book.)
• Submit the assessed training book to the engineer examiner who will review it at the time of the oral examination.
• Have the training record book signed off by the engineer examiner. 

For those who have completed an engineer class 3 near coastal task book

We will accept an engineer class 3 near coastal task book for either: 

• Those completing the engineer experience training program.
• Those completing the trainee engineer program.

If you have not completed an engineer class 3 near coastal task book, you must get your training record book signed off before sending it to us. 

Do this in one of the following ways:

• If there is a higher ranking engineer on board, have them sign off the training record book. They must hold at least a certificate as marine engine driver grade 1 and above.
• If an engineer class 3 is the highest ranking engineer or sole engineer on board, we will permit the master or superintendent of the vessel to sign off on the training record book. No sea service penalties will apply.

Read more about specific requirements for engineering certificates.

How to apply for an international sea service assessment—masters, deck officers and engineers officers only 

Once you have met the sea service requirements for your certificate, you will need to lodge an application for a sea service assessment. 

Do this with seafarer's form 419.

If you are applying for a master, deck officer or engineer officer certificate, you will need to complete an oral examination, as instructed in your AMSA assessment letter. 

Integrated or chief integrated rating certificate

If you are doing rating or trainee duties or functions for:

• At least 8 hours in a 24 hour period, the qualifying sea service is calculated as a whole day (and no more than a whole day).
• Less than 8 hours in a 24 hour period, the qualifying sea service is calculated for the actual hours served plus 25 per cent of that time.

This applies whether you live on board or not. 

Qualifying Sea Service (QSS) is calculated in Schedule 3.2 and 3.3 of Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. 

Qualifying sea service must be confirmed by a letter issued by the company.  Letters issued on board a vessel by a master will not be accepted. 

An appropriate vessel is one that is greater than 24 metres in length or greater than 750 kilowatts propulsion power. 

Navigational watch ratings, engine room watch ratings and integrated rating 

Integrated rating 

You must complete an AMSA approved training program for ratings. 

The approved training program is based on the Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Integrated Rating). This has 21 units of competency, five task and guided study books (TAGS books) and qualifying sea service (QSS). 

The 21 units of competency are divided in separate sections:

• pre-sea (certificate of safety training)
• deck rating requirements (section A)
• engine rating requirements (section B)
• units of competency common to both deck and engine room ratings (section C)

The training goes for approximately 12 or 13 weeks. This is off-the-job training at one of the approved training providers. 

Task and guided study books (TAGS books) for international rating

The approved task and guided study (TAGS) books consist of: 

• TAGS book 1—Shipboard induction, shipboard procedures, engine room duties, work health and safety/occupational health and safety requirements. 
• TAGS book 2—Survival management, survival craft, firefighting and prevention. 
• TAGS book 3—Engine room, deck machinery. 
• TAGS book 4—Ships maintenance and marine rigging.
• TAGS book 5—Dry cargo, liquid cargo, offshore vessels.

After finishing at least four months qualifying sea service and completion of TAGS book 1, you may apply at a nominated AMSA regional office to have your TAGS book 1 endorsed. This will show that you meet the requirements of keeping a navigation watch and assisting in keeping in an engine room watch. 

Navigational watch ratings and engine room watch ratings 

TAGS book 1 is also available as two separate volumes, one for navigational watch ratings (NWR) and the other for engine room watch ratings (EWR).  

These are suitable for trainees who wish to obtain a navigational watch rating certificate or engine watch rating certificate. 

Ratings pathways 

Six months QSS pathway

Navigational watch ratings and engine room watch ratings doing the six months qualifying sea service pathway must do the followings:

1. Receive an AMSA certificate of safety training with a security awareness endorsement.
2. Receive a valid certificate of medical fitness before joining your vessel.
3. Complete a task and guided study book 1 for either navigational or engine room while on board the vessel and before the issue of the certificate of proficiency.
4. A navigational watch rating also needs a steering certificate. You can get this while serving on a vessel. 
5. To move on to the integrated rating, both navigational and engine room watch must complete:
   • All 21 units of the Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Integrated Rating) course.
   • TAGS books 2 to 5.
   • Six months qualifying sea service. 

See STCW regulations VI/1, VI/6-1, II/4 and III/4

Two months QSS pathway

Navigational watch ratings and engine room watch ratings on the two months qualifying sea service pathway must do the following:

1. Receive an AMSA certificate of safety training with security awareness endorsement.
2. Receive a valid certificate of medical fitness.
3. Complete shore-based training before joining your first ship.  
4. Complete TAGS book 1 for either navigational or engine room rating while on board the vessel.
5. To move on to the integrated rating, both navigational and engine room watch must complete:
   • All 21 units of the Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Integrated Rating).
   • TAGS books 2 to 5.
   • Six months qualifying sea service. 

See STCW regulations VI/1, VI/6-1, II/4 and III/4

Nine months QSS pathway

Integrated ratings (IR) on the nine months qualifying sea service pathway must do the following:

1. Receive an AMSA certificate of safety training with security awareness endorsement.
2. Receive a valid certificate of medical fitness.
3. Complete the 10/12 week shore-based training program before joining your first ship. 
4. Complete at least nine months on-the-job qualifying sea service and during this time, complete TAGS 1 to 5.
5. Receive a course completion certificate or letter from the college confirming they have completed TAGS books 1 to 5.
6. An integrated rating also needs a steering certificate. You can get this while serving on a vessel. 

See STCW Regulations 11/4, 111/4, 11/5 and 111/5.

Move to an integrated rating as able seafarer

To move to an integrated rating as able seafarer certificate of proficiency, complete an extra seven months qualifying sea service. There is no additional training requirement to obtain this certificate.

Chief integrated rating

Before you can be issued a certificate as chief integrated rating, you must:

• Hold a certificate of proficiency as an integrated rating.
• Have completed at least 24 months sea service as an integrated rating (since obtaining an integrated rating certificate).
• Complete an advanced firefighting course.
• Complete an AMSA approved chief integrated rating course. 

Qualifying sea service must be confirmed by a letter issued by the company.  Letters issued on board a vessel by a master will not be accepted. 

Integrated rating—bridging requirements

Able seaman, engine room ratings (greasers) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) equivalents can undertake bridging training to apply for an integrated rating certificate of proficiency.

We will accept certificates of rating as able seaman, deck rating, engine room rating, (including greaser, oiler or similar).

 See Marine order 70 for details about equivalence arrangements.

Find out about recognised prior learning arrangements at the Australian Maritime College, South Metropolitan College of TAFE and Hunter TAFE.

Once you have finished the bridging course you must provide evidence from the college and shipping company. You must also complete an application form, medical fitness form, and payment of fees. 

Your evidence may be one of the following: 

• Documentation stating that you have completed the requirements for a Certificate III in marine operations (integrated rating). This consists of off-the-job academic training and on-the-job TAGS training. This can be from one of the following:
  • Australian Maritime College
  • South Metropolitan Tafe Fremantle
  • Hunter TAFE (Newcastle)
• A copy of a letter from the shipping company that gives details of qualifying sea service since you completed the college component. For able seaman certificate, this must include at least two months documented sea service relevant to an engine room rating. For engine room rating, it must include at least two months documented sea service relevant to an able seaman.

Transitional arrangements for deck officers and ratings certificates 

Transitional arrangements for deck officers and ratings certificates can be found in schedule 5, Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2023, and schedule 5, Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. 

Vessels not suitable as an appropriate vessel for ratings

We will NOT accept service on jack up drill rigs and non-propelled barges engaged in port construction for the following:

• Certificate of proficiency as integrated rating
• Able seafarer—deck
• Able Seafarer—engine 
• Navigational watch rating 
• Engine watch rating

We may accept up to a maximum of four months qualifying sea service on semi-submersible drill rigs and floating cranes. 

This decision is made on a case-by-case basis by the manager of Seafarer Certification Service. The decision will take into consideration the following factors:

• The size of the vessel.
• Whether it operates with a normal shipboard management structure. 
• Whether it is fitted with lifeboats and other SOLAS survival equipment.
• Whether crew take part in emergency drills and training that meets the requirements of the relevant regulations in SOLAS Chapter III. 

Important disclaimer

This information is summary information only. We makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Master and deck officers) 2023, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014, Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014 and Marine Order 74 (Masters and deck officers – yachts) 2015. Please refer to these marine orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.