AMSA will be closed from 5 pm AEDT Tuesday 24 December 2024, re-opening on Thursday 2 January 2025. Our search and rescue will continue to operate every day (24/7) during this time. See which services are affected.

Master less than 100 metres near coastal

This is a domestic Certificate of Competency for operating in Australian waters.
With this certificate you can command a commercial vessel less than 100 metres long.

The Master less than 100 metres near coastal will allow you to:

  • act as master, chief mate or deck watchkeeper on commercial vessels up to 100 metres long operating within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
  • undertake the duties and perform the functions of a General Purpose Hand NC, Master less than 24 metres NC and Master less than 45 metres NC.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Master less than 100 metres near coastal certificate you must:

  • Be at least 16 years old on the certificate issue date.
  • Be able to speak and understand English, including written documents.
  • Hold:
    • Master less than 35 metres near coastal,
    • Master less than 45 metres near coastal,
    • Mate less than 80 metres near coastal,
    • another certificate AMSA considers equivalent.
  • Be medically fit for the duties, including eyesight
  • Gain any needed sea service
  • Complete training
  • Pass a final assessment

For more information, select what you need to apply for below.

Syllabus

Important disclaimer

These instructions are summary information only. We make decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — national law) 2022. These documents have full details of the eligibility and other requirements for certificate applications.

New certificate

What do I need to do?

To obtain this certificate you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers

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 working in daylight hours only.

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 deck officer or deck rating AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303), you can use this instead.

You must submit your completed form with your application.

You must submit your completed form as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Provide evidence of sea service

The sea service you need depends on what certificate you currently hold.

All of your sea service must be gained while working on commercial vessels at least 24 metres long.

If you hold a Master less than 45 meters near coastal you need to show that you have

  • With a completed AMSA task book:
    • 180 days of sea service
    • Including 120 days in charge of navigational watch
  • Without an AMSA task book:
    • 360 days of sea service
    • including 240 days in charge of navigational watch

If you hold a Mate less than 80 metres near coastal or another non-command certificate you need to show that you have either:

  • With a completed AMSA task book:
    • 360 days of sea service
    • including 120 days as officer of the watch
  • Without an AMSA task book:
    • 720 days of sea service
    • all as officer of the watch

If you have completed a task book you must attach a copy of the seafarer details page to your application.

You must submit a copy of your existing certificate of competency as part of your application.

You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:

  • Record of sea service form 771
  • the on board sea service record from your task book
  • 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.

If you want a task book

You can get a Master <100m Task Book from us or from some registered training organisations. To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form.

Read more about task books.

Complete a training course

The training for a Master less than 100 metres is the Diploma in Maritime Operations. Complete this course at a registered training organisation.

You will need to submit your course completion certificate with your Certificate of competency application.

Meet additional requirements

You must also hold a:

  • valid HLTAID011 Provide first aid certificate, or equivalent
  • Long range operator certificate of proficiency, or equivalent.

If you do not hold these certificates contact your registered training organisation.

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.

Pass a final assessment

You need to pass a final assessment before getting your certificate of competency. Once we have assessed your application you will be invited to AMSA Connect to book your final assessment. We will take payment of the examination fee and confirm your booking.

Refer to the syllabus document PDF514.62 KB and the examiner checklist to find out what may be included in your final assessment.

When you pass the final assessment you will be given an interim certificate of competency so that you can start working immediately.

If you do not pass the final assessment you will be able to try again. Your assessor will advise you when you can book your resit. You will have to pay the fee each time you sit for the final assessment.

 

 

Renewal of Certificate

A Master less than 100 metres NC certificate of competency is generally valid for five years. To keep working using your certificate you need to renew it every five years.

What do I need to do?

To renew this certificate you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1.Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers

The Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know that you are not colour blind.

If your existing Master less than 100 metres certificate has a daylight hours restriction, this restriction will also be on your renewed certificate.

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.

You must submit your completed form as part of your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Provide evidence of sea service

You need to show you have 120 days at sea, as officer of the watch, in the last 5 years.

You need to submit at least one of the following as proof of qualifying sea service:

  • Record of sea service form 771 
  • an approved sea service task book 
  • a letter from the vessel operator, owner, master or chief engineer detailing your sea service 
  • a declaration acceptable to AMSA. 

If you do not have the required the sea service you must provide evidence of one of the following:

  • completed an approved final assessment (you can request this option in your application)
  • at least 60 days sea service in the last six months
  • for a seasonal fisher, worked in a seasonal fishery for at least 120 days in the five years before the application
  • other approved industry experience (for example, state or territory marine safety agency assessor, fleet manager, shore-side servicing, maritime studies teacher at a registered training organisation, marine surveyor)
  • completed the Master <100m task book in the 5 years before your application.

If you want a task book

You can get a Master <100m task book from us or from some registered training organisations. To order a task book directly from us, use the AMSA chargeable publications order form to purchase your task book.

Read more about task books.

Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your:

  • existing Master less than 100 metres
  • 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.

 

Endorsements and restrictions

There are no endorsements for this certificate.

Remove a daylight hours restriction on your certificate

If you have this restriction on your certificate you may apply to have the restriction removed.

What do I need to do?

To remove this restriction, you will need to:

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1. Certificate of medical fitness for near coastal seafarers

The Certificate of medical fitness for near coastal seafarers form 1850 lets us know that you are medically fit for working at sea and includes the eyesight requirements to let us know that you are not colour blind.

If you are colour blind, we will not be able to remove your daylight hours restriction.

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 do not meet the colour vision requirements of the eyesight test, you must also get the practitioner to provide a certificate or statement stating that you do not suffer any greater abnormality in colour vision than could be tested by the Ishihara Test

If you have a current deck officer or deck rating AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303), you can use this instead.

You must submit your completed form with your application.

Provide existing certificates

You must submit a copy of your:

  • existing Master less than 100 metres
  • 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 any of the following certificates, you are eligible to apply for a Master less than 100 metres near coastal certificate:

  • Chief Mate <3000 GT with Master <500 GT unlimited and <3000 GT NC endorsement
  • Chief Mate with Master <500 GT unlimited and <3000 GT endorsement
  • Master <500 GT
  • Master <3000 GT
  • Master

What do I need to do?

Meet medical and eyesight requirements

Download the:

1.Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers

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 working in daylight hours only.

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 complete the Certificate of medical fitness for domestic seafarers form 1850.

If you have a current deck officer or deck rating AMSA medical (Certificate of medical fitness form 303) you can use this instead.

Submit your completed forms with your Certificate of competency application form 426.

Provide existing certificate

As part of your application for an equivalent certificate you must submit a copy of your:

  • existing certificate of competency
  • 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.

Last updated: 29 July 2024