Calculate sea service on floating or mobile vessels

You can use your sea service on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU as part of your qualifying sea service. Stated FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU operations involve work on location in offshore exploration, mining, or construction activities in Australia and around the world. While on location FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU are usually connected, dynamically positioned or anchored to a riser.

FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU normally operate 24 hours a day—any departure from this must be declared to us so we can determine if it will count towards your qualifying sea service.

When a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU relocates from one port to another (anywhere in the world) under its own propulsion, it is considered a normal trading vessel of its gross tonnage if the facility is a ship type with an operating engine room. You can also use this as part of your qualifying sea service for certificates of competency and global maritime distress and safety systems (GMDSS) qualifications.

If you have worked on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU, you can use this experience as part of your qualifying sea service for the following qualifications:

Qualifying sea service for a new certificate

Deck watchkeeper certificate of competency

These are the qualifying sea service requirements of Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 for a Watchkeeper deck certificate of competency.

Deck cadet

We will accept a maximum of 3 months qualifying sea service as a Deck cadet on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU of the required gross tonnage as either:

Continuous service
Served across 24 months
Served across 36 months.

The remaining 15 months must be served on trading vessels of the required gross tonnage, on voyages of 24 hours or more in duration. This can include service on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

3 months of the required 6 months as an Officer of the watch understudy must be served on trading vessels of 500 GT or greater, on voyages of 24 hours or more in duration. This can include service on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

Front end deck cadet

We will accept a maximum of 3 months sea service as a Front-end deck cadet on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU of the required gross tonnage as 3 months during the first seagoing phase.

Integrated rating

We will accept:

A maximum of 3 months service as a rating on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs during the stated operations.
6 months of the required officer of the watch understudy service must be served on trading vessels of 500 GT or greater, on voyages of 24 hours or more in duration. This can include service on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

Integrated rating certificate of competency

Trainee integrated ratings

We will accept up to one quarter of the sea service served as a trainee on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs of the required gross tonnage during stated operations as qualifying sea service.

Documented service on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs when not in stated operation, such as cyclone avoidance or voyaging to another location, can be used for any amount of qualifying sea service.

Chief mate certificate of competency: We will accept a maximum of 4 months as qualifying sea service towards a Chief mate certificate of competency. The remaining 8 months of the required 12 months on voyages of 24 hours or more duration, service on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs will not be allowed to count.

Master certificate of competency

We will accept the following sea service on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs during the stated operations as qualifying sea service:

If you hold a Deck watchkeeping certificate, a maximum of 8 months of your total 36 months sea service will accrue at full rate.
If you hold a Chief mate certificate of competency, a maximum of 4 months of your total 12 months will accrue at full rate.
Any service on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs during the 24 months on voyages of 24 hours or more duration will not count towards your sea service.

You cannot serve the whole of your sea service requirement on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs during the stated operations. To qualify for the necessary sea service for your certificate, you will need to serve the remainder of your sea service requirement on another vessel of appropriate gross tonnage.

Qualifying sea service to revalidate your certificate

Deck certificates of competency

These are the qualifying sea service requirements of Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 for Deck certificate of competency revalidation.

For a Deck certificate of competency, we will accept:

A maximum of 6 months on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU of the required gross tonnage in total during the preceding 5 years before application.
At least 6 months on normal trading ships of the required gross tonnage. This can include service on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

We will not accept 3 months in total sea service on FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating. Your sea service must be completed on a trading ship of appropriate tonnage to the certificate being revalidated, on voyages of 24 hours or more in duration. This can include service on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

Deck certificates of competency with GMDSS radio operators certificate

These are the qualifying sea service requirements of Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 for Deck certificate of competency revalidation.

For a Deck certificate of competency, we will accept 12 months in total on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU of the required gross tonnage during the preceding 5 years before application as a Master or Deck officer. This will satisfy Part A of your requirements.

You will need to follow the instructions to revalidate your GMDSS radio operators certificate, and revalidate your Deck certificate of competency.

You would also need to:

Complete the Part B revalidation course which includes navigation, passage planning, bridge simulator work within 12 months of application for revalidation at an approved training organisation.
Hold a valid Australian GMDSS radio operator's certificate or GMDSS certificate of recognition.
Meet medical fitness standards.
Complete continued competence courses in Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats and Advanced firefighting.
Hold a Security awareness training endorsement.

We will not accept 3 months in total sea service on FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating. You must complete this on a trading ship of appropriate tonnage to the certificate being revalidated, on voyages of 24 hours or more in duration. This can include service on a FPSO, FSO and D/P OSIMU when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

Revalidation of GMDSS radio operator’s certificate (GMDSS ROC) during state operations: Sea service on FPSOs, FSOs and D/P OSIMUs will not satisfy the 12 months sea service in the preceding 5 years which is required to revalidate a GMDSS. If you want to revalidate your GMDSS certificate, you will need to complete an AMSA approved GMDSS revalidation 4 day course.

Important disclaimer

This information is summary information only. We make 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.