- Chief mate
- Master less than 3000 GT
- Master
We may recognise RAN qualifying sea service and qualifications towards a STCW Chief Mate, Master less than 3000 GT or Master certificate of competency. You will not qualify for one of these certificates, if you are a Maritime Warfare Officer not involved in navigational duties.
If you are a RAN Rating you are not eligible for direct entry into the STCW Chief mates/Shipmasters course. You must first get a STCW Watchkeeper deck certificate of competency.
The current academic requirement for these certificates of competency is the AMSA approved advanced diploma STCW Chief mate/Shipmasters course.
Find an approved training organisation.
Qualifying sea service
To qualify for a STCW certificate of competency, you must meet the qualifying sea service requirements in Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023. You must provide evidence to support the RAN sea service you are asking us to recognise. This includes PMKeyS printouts and documentation to support your sea service assessment. We reserve the right to request further evidence of qualifying sea service. We may also discount all or part of the sea service if it is of little or no relevance to the certificate you are applying for.
If you believe you have enough qualifying sea service for a STCW certificate of competency you can have it assessed by AMSA. To apply for a qualifying sea service assessment, you should complete Seafarer form 419 and lodge it at a participating Australia Post retail outlet.
At the time of lodgement, you will have to pay a fee for the qualifying sea service assessment.
Sea service required for future STCW certificates will accrue from the date of issue of your first STCW certificate of competency. This means we will not accept the sea service gained serving in the RAN and before the issue of your first STCW certificate, for your next and later STCW certificates. However, we will accept qualifying sea service on RAN vessels after the issue of your first STCW certificate of competency, if you remain serving within the RAN.
Chief mate requirements
To get a certificate, you must meet all the requirements contained in Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023.
We will accept documented seagoing service as meeting the qualifying sea service requirements if it is:
- At least 12 months on RAN vessels of greater or equal to 500 GT.
- Voyages of at least 24 hours.
- As a RAN Maritime Warfare Officer.
- Holding a RAN Bridge warfare and RAN Navigation watchkeeping certificate.
- Your service must be RAN navigational duties. Such as officer in charge of the navigational watch, navigator, hydrographer, executive officer or commanding officer.
If you meet the qualifying sea service for a Chief mate contact an AMSA approved training provider to get more information regarding the course. You will also need to complete the STCW Watchkeeper Deck Bridging course. Find an approved training organisation.
The approved STCW Watchkeeper Deck Bridging course consists of the following subjects:
- stability
- vessel construction including vessel survey documentation
- cargo operations including tanker familiarisation for oil & chemical and liquefied gas tankers.
You must also complete the following STCW short courses at an AMSA approved training provider:
- Basic safety training course. Refer to Certificate of safety training for Royal Australian Navy personnel.
- Advanced firefighting.
- Medical care on board ship.
- Certificate in proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats.
- To serve on a vessel equipped with an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS). Complete a generic ECDIS course.
- GMDSS Radio Operator certificate.
You will also need to pass an AMSA oral assessment, hold a valid GMDSS Radio Operator certificate and a valid certificate of medical fitness.
When you have met the requirements for Chief Mate contained in Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023, apply using Seafarer form 419. Lodge at an Australia Post outlet.
At the time of lodgement, you will have to pay a fee for the issue of your certificate of competency.
Master and Master less than 3000 GT requirements
To get a certificate, you must meet all the requirements contained in Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023.
We accept documented seagoing service of up to 30 months as a RAN Maritime Warfare Officer subject to vessel size. Holding a RAN Bridge warfare and RAN Navigation watchkeeping certificate. Serving as an executive or commanding officer:
- For a Master less than 3000 GT certificate the RAN vessels must be equal to or greater than 24 metres in length.
- For a Master certificate the RAN vessels must be equal to or greater than 500 GT. With at least 6 months of the 30 months served on vessels equal to or greater than 1500 GT.
If you wish to get a Master less than 3000 GT or Master certificate of competency you must complete at least 6 months qualifying sea service on commercial vessel(s), of the required size, on voyages of at least 24 hours duration.
Your combined RAN and commercial sea service must total at least 36 months. At least 30 months on RAN vessels and at least 6 months served on commercial vessels. At least 24 months of your 36 months qualifying sea service must be on voyages of at least 24 hours duration.
If you meet the qualifying sea service for a Master less than 3000 GT or Master contact an AMSA approved training provider to get more information on the course. You will also need to complete the STCW Watchkeeper Deck Bridging course. Find an approved training organisation.
The approved STCW Watchkeeper Deck Bridging course consists of the following subjects:
- stability
- vessel construction including vessel survey documentation
- cargo operations including tanker familiarisation for oil & chemical and liquefied gas tankers.
You must also complete the following STCW short courses at an AMSA approved training provider:
- Basic safety training course. Refer to Certificate of safety training for Royal Australian Navy personnel.
- Advanced firefighting.
- Medical care on board ship.
- Certificate in proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats.
- To serve on a vessel equipped with an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS). Complete a generic ECDIS course.
- GMDSS Radio Operator certificate.
You will also need to pass an AMSA oral assessment, hold a valid GMDSS Radio Operator certificate and a valid certificate of medical fitness.
When you have met the requirements for Master less than 3000 GT or Master in Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 apply using Seafarer form 419. Lodge at an Australia Post outlet.
At the time of lodgement you will have to pay a fee for the issue of your certificate of competency.
Checklist for RAN applicants for:
Chief mate
Master <3000 GT
Master certificates of competency
Read more in Schedule 2, Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023, Eligibility requirements for certificates.
Chief mate – academic and qualifying sea service requirements
| Required documented qualified sea service Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 | RAN equivalent | Complies |
|---|---|---|
AMSA approved course from an AMSA approved seafarer training organisation for a Master (STCW Code sections A-II/1 and A-II/2). Find an approved course. |
| Yes/No |
Holds or has held a Certificate of competency as:
|
| Yes/No |
| At least 12 months documented qualifying sea service in charge of a navigation watch on vessels greater than or equal to 500 GT. While holding the above certificate of competency. | Qualifying sea service required for Watchkeeper deck of at least 18 months. At least 12 months documented qualifying sea service in charge of a navigation watch on RAN vessels greater than or equal to 500 GT. While holding the RAN Bridge warfare certificate and a RAN Navigation watchkeeping certificate. Your service will be in RAN navigational duties:
We will accept service on RAN submarines up to 3 months (i.e. 25%). | Yes/No |
| At least 12 months qualifying sea service served on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. | At least 12 months qualifying sea service served on RAN vessels on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. | Yes/No |
Master less than 3000 GT – academic and qualifying sea service requirements
| Required documented qualified sea service. Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 | RAN equivalent | Complies |
|---|---|---|
AMSA approved course from an AMSA approved seafarer training organisation for a Master (STCW Code sections A-II/1 and A-II/2). Find an approved course. |
| Yes/No |
| Holds or has held a Chief mate or Chief mate less than 3000 GT certificate of competency |
| Yes/No |
At least 36 months documented qualifying sea service. In charge of navigation watch on vessels greater than or equal to 24 metres. While holding a certificate of competency as:
| Qualifying sea service of at least 18 months required for Watchkeeper deck. 30 months documented qualifying sea service as a RAN Maritime Warfare Officer since holding the RAN Bridge warfare certificate and a RAN Navigation watchkeeping certificates. Serving as an executive or commanding officer on RAN vessels greater than or equal to 24 metres. At least 6 months qualifying sea service on a commercial vessel. Greater than or equal to 24 metres on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. We will accept service on RAN submarines up to 9 months (i.e. 25%). | Yes/No |
| At least 24 months of the 36 months qualifying sea service on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. | At least 24 months of the 36 months qualifying sea service served on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. | Yes/No |
| At least 12 months of the 36 months qualifying sea service while holding a certificate of competency as Chief Mate or Chief Mate less than 3000 GT. | At least 12 months qualifying sea service as RAN Maritime Warfare Officer. Serving as an executive or commanding officer. |
Master – academic and qualifying sea service requirements
| Required documented qualified sea service. Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 | RAN equivalent | Complies |
|---|---|---|
AMSA approved course from an AMSA approved seafarer training organisation for a Master. (STCW Code sections A-II/1 and A-II/2). Find an approved course. |
| Yes/No |
Holds or has held a Certificate of competency as:
|
| Yes/No |
At least 36 months documented qualifying sea service in charge of a navigation watch. On vessels greater than or equal to 500 GT. Of which at least 6 months was on vessels greater or equal 1500 GT. While holding a:
| Qualifying sea service of at least 18 months required for Watchkeeper deck. At least 30 months documented qualifying sea service as a RAN Maritime Warfare Officer since holding the RAN Bridge warfare certificate and a RAN Navigation watchkeeping certificates.. Serving as an executive or commanding officer on RAN vessels greater than or equal to 500 GT. With at least 6 months of the 30 months served on RAN vessels equal to or greater than 1500 GT. At least 6 months qualifying sea service on a commercial vessel. Of the required size, on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. We will accept service on RAN submarines up to 9 months (i.e. 25%). | Yes/No |
| At least 24 months of the 36 months qualifying sea service served on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. | At least 24 months of the 36 months qualifying sea service served on voyages of at least 24 hours duration. | Yes/No |
At least 12 of the 36 months qualifying sea service while holding a:
| At least 12 months qualifying sea service as RAN Maritime Warfare Officer. Serving as an executive or commanding officer. |
| Required STCW short courses as per Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2023 | RAN equivalent | Complies |
|---|---|---|
AMSA approved course of basic safety training (STCW Code section A-VI/1 paragraph 2). Find an approved course. | Refer to Certificate of safety training for Royal Australian Navy personnel | Yes/No |
Certificate in Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (STCW Code section A-VI/2 paragraphs 1 to 4). Find an approved course. | A RAN applicant to complete the full AMSA approved course in Certificate in proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats. | Yes/No |
Advanced firefighting (STCW Code section A-VI/3). Find an approved course. | A RAN applicant who has an Advanced Combat Survivability course completed in the previous 5 years. Contact an AMSA approved registered training organisation and seek recognition of prior learning. If the course completion was more than 5 years ago the applicant will need to complete the full AMSA approved Advanced firefighting course. | Yes/No |
Medical care on board ships (STCW Code section A-VI/4 paragraphs 4 to 6). Find an approved course. | A RAN applicant to complete the full AMSA approved course in Medical care on board ships. | Yes/No |
| Security awareness training (STCW Code section A-VI/6 paragraph 4). | A RAN applicant is exempt. RAN security training is equal to Security awareness training. | Yes/No |
Electronic Chart Display an Information System (ECDIS). Generic training to serve on an ECDIS equipped vessel. STCW Code Table A-II/I (for navigation at the operational level). Table A-II/2 column 1 (for navigation at the management level). Find an approved course. | ECDIS generic training required to serve on an ECDIS equipped vessel. | Yes/No |
| Pass an AMSA oral examination at the required level. | Pass an AMSA oral examination at the required level. | Yes/No |
| Hold a current GMDS Radio Operator certificate | Hold a current GMDS Radio Operator certificate | Yes/No |
| Hold a current AMSA Certificate of medical fitness. | Hold a current AMSA certificate of medical fitness. | Yes/No |