New training products endorsed for skippers tickets
Training Ministers in each state/territory have endorsed training products that are aligned with the revised AMSA Marine Order 505 (MO505), which sets out the regulatory and licensing requirements to enable seafarers to achieve the standards of competence (tickets).
The endorsed framework and guidelines provide national consistency, improved qualification pathways and better safety outcomes for Australian seafarers and domestic commercial vessel operators. This allows assessors, trainers, Registered training Organisations and enterprises to make the changes required to their training products, implementation advice and links to other information.
The revised Marine Order 505 (Certificates of Competency – National Law), came into force from 1 January 2023 and introduced five new certificates of competency:
- Coxswain Grade 3 Near Coastal
- Master <45m Near Coastal (replaces Master <35m, which will be phased out)
- Master <100m Near Coastal (replaces Master <80m, which will be phased out)
- Sailing Master Coastal
- Sailing Master Offshore.
It also phased out three old certificates of competency, which are no longer issued:
- Master <35m Near Coastal (replaced by the new Master <45m Near Coastal)
- Master <80m Near Coastal (replaced by the new Master <100m Near Coastal)
- Mate <80m Near Coastal (replaced by the existing Master <24m Near Coastal)
The revised training products include the following updates:
- New Skill Set: Supports the new Coxswain Grade 3 licensing category, facilitating occupational mobility for existing maritime workers.
- New Unit of Competency: Command and manage a voyage on a vessel up to 45 metres (Near coastal).
- Merged Certificates: The Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Master Inland Waters) has been combined with the Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Master up to 24 metres Near Coastal).
- Updated Qualifications, Skill Sets, and Units of Competency: to reflect MO505 licensing and regulatory requirements for Near Coastal job roles.