You can use your sea service on a trailer hopper suction dredger as part of your qualifying sea service. Stated trailer hopper suction dredger operations involve dredging operations in ports and coastal waters in Australia and around the world.

Trailer hopper suction dredgers 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 trailer hopper suction dredger relocates from one port to another (anywhere in the world) under its own propulsion, its considered a normal trading vessel of its gross tonnage. You can use this service as part of your qualifying sea service for certificates of competency.

Given the nature of the work, radio communications on board are usually conducted by VHF radio and not global maritime distress and safety systems (GMDSS) even though both systems are usually fitted. We assume VHF is always used and may not accept trailer hopper suction dredger sea service for global maritime distress and safety systems (GMDSS) qualifications.

If you have worked on a trailer hopper suction dredger, you can use this experience as part of your qualifying sea service for the following qualifications:

Qualifying sea service for a new certificate

Watchkeeper deck 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 15 months qualifying sea service as a Deck cadet on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage as either:

• Continuous service
• Served across 24 months
• Served across 36 months.

The remaining 3 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 dredger 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 dredger when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

Front end deck cadet

We will accept a maximum of 15 months sea service as a Front end deck cadet on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage as:

• 9 months during the first seagoing phase
• 6 months during the second seagoing phase.

They must be completed within a period of 24 or 36 months.

The remaining 3 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 dredger 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 dredger when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

Integrated rating

These are the qualifying sea service requirements of Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014  for an Integrated rating certificate of proficiency.

We will accept all Trainee integrated ratings (Australian seafarer trainee) service on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage as qualifying sea service provided that:

• The trainee completes logged bridge and lookout duties of at least 2 months qualifying sea service and Engine rating duties of at least 2 months.
• The training must be done on an appropriate vessel to complete the required vocational training for the certificate. An appropriate vessel may be:
  • more than 24 metres in length
  • more than 750 kilowatts propulsion power
  • voyages 24 hours or more
  • crew holding qualifications equal to or higher than the one being applied for (for TAGS book assessment).
• Service must be as a trainee. Seafarer, Deckhand, General purpose hand, Able seafarer and Greaser will not be accepted.
• Service such as trainee and crane operator, trainee integrated rating and greaser, trainee integrated rating and welder and other mixed duties will not be accepted.

Integrated rating to Watchkeeper deck certificate of competency

We will accept all Integrated ratings and deck ratings service on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage as qualifying sea service provided that:

• 3 months of the required 6 months as an Officer of the watch understudy 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 dredger when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

Mate and Master less than 500 GT certificate of competency

We will accept all holders of state or lower grade AMSA certificates with service on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage as qualifying sea service provided that:

• the service is legal
• the seafarer holds a certificate or endorsement with the capacity to serve as a Mate or Master.

Chief mate certificate of competency

We will accept all Watchkeeper deck service on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage as qualifying sea service towards a Chief mate certificate of competency.

Master certificate of competency

You are required to have 36 months sea service to gain a Master certificate of competency. We will accept:

• a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 30 months qualifying sea service as a Chief mate on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage.
• At least 6 months must be served on an appropriate ship. See Master certificate of competency for definitions.

You are required to also have 24 months qualifying sea service that are voyages are a duration of 24 hours or more. We will accept:

• a maximum of 20 months qualifying sea service as a Chief mate on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage.
• At least 4 months must be served on an appropriate ship. This can include service on a dredger when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port. See Master certificate of competency for definitions.

Qualifying sea service to revalidate your certificate

Deck certificate of competency

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

To revalidate your Deck certificate of competency, you will need to provide evidence that you have completed sea service performing functions for your current certificate for either:

• 12 months in total during the preceding 5 years before application—we may accept this as qualifying sea service on a trailer hopper suction dredger of the required gross tonnage.
• 3 months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating—we will not accept this as qualifying sea service on a trailer hopper suction dredger.

3 months in total during the preceding 6 months prior to revalidating must be completed on a trading ship of appropriate tonnage to the certificate of competency being revalidated on voyages of greater than 24 hours. This can include service on a trailer hopper suction dredger when not on stated operations, such as when it is relocating to another port.

GMDSS radio operator’s certificate (GMDSS ROC)

If you wish to revalidate your GMDSS ROC with service on a trailer hopper suction dredger, note that sea service only on a trailer hopper suction dredger will not satisfy the 12 months sea service in the preceding 5 years required to revalidate a GMDSS ROC under Marine Order 27 (Safety of navigation and radio equipment) 2016 . You will also need to complete an AMSA approved GMDSS revalidation course (4 days).

Important disclaimer

This information is summary information only. We makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014 , Marine Order 71 (Masters 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.