Compilation number 1

Compilation date: 10 June 2016

This compilation was prepared on 16 June 2016 taking into account amendments up to Marine Order 75 (Seafarer certification amendment) 2016.

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting, Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Division 1     Preliminary...................................................................................................... 3

1        Name of Order.................................................................................................... 3

2        Purpose.............................................................................................................. 3

3        Power................................................................................................................. 3

4        Definitions.......................................................................................................... 4

5        Application.......................................................................................................... 5

6        Certification taken to be qualification to perform duties......................................... 5

7        Grades of certificate — permitted duties or functions............................................ 6

Division 2     Requirements.................................................................................................. 6

8        General requirements........................................................................................... 6

9        Qualifying seagoing service — general requirements............................................. 6

10      Revalidation requirements.................................................................................... 6

Division 3     Transitional arrangements................................................................................ 7

12      Expiry of previously issued certificates................................................................ 7

13      Current certificates of proficiency as ratings holders............................................. 7

Schedule 1     Grades of certificate — permitted duties or functions..................................... 8

Schedule 2     Eligibility requirements for certificates.......................................................... 9

Schedule 3     Qualifying seagoing service — general requirements................................... 13

Schedule 4     Requirements for revalidation of certificates................................................ 14

Schedule 5     Transitional arrangements for certificates.................................................... 16

Division 1     Preliminary

1          Name of Order

                 This Order is Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014.

2          Purpose

        (1)     This Order:

(a)   specifies standards of competence to be attained and other conditions to be satisfied by a person to be a qualified rating under the Navigation Act; and

(b)   gives effect to the STCW Convention.

Note    The 2011 edition of the STCW Convention and the STCW Code (including the amendments to the annex of the Convention known as the 2010 Manila Amendments) can be purchased from the International Maritime Organization. A December 2015 Supplement is also available. See the IMO website at http://www.imo.org/publications. The STCW Convention (ATS series number [1984] ATS 7) and STCW Code (ATS series number [1997] ATS 33) including any amendments in force are in the Australian Treaties Series accessible from the Australian Treaties Library on the AustLII website at http://www.austlii.edu.au.

        (2)     This Order is to be read with Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014.

3          Power

        (1)     The following provisions of the Navigation Act provide for this Order to be made:

(a)   section 28 which provides that regulations may provide for seafarer certificates and give effect to the STCW Convention;

(b)   subsection 29(1) which provides that regulations may prescribe different classes of seafarer certificates and require an individual to hold a seafarer certificate of a particular kind to undertake particular duties, or perform particular functions, as a seafarer;

(c)   subsection 29(2) which provides that the regulations may prescribe, for seafarer certificates, proficiencies, competencies and standards, qualifications, experience, minimum age, character, health, nationality, citizenship or residence;

(d)   subsection 29(3) which provides that the regulations may provide for:

             (i)  how the attainment of proficiencies, competencies and standards is to be evidenced (including the gaining of sea service and other experience); and

            (ii)  the instruction, training and examination of seafarers (including the conduct of exams etc); and

           (iii)  the recognition of certificates and other documents granted or issued to or for masters, officers and seafarers under the national law, the law of a State, a Territory or a foreign country; and

           (iv)  conditions to which seafarer certificates are subject;

(e)   subsection 314(1) which provides that regulations may provide for the following matters for certificates: the persons who may apply, the forms for applying, the way of applying, the information to be included in applications and the documents to accompany applications;

(f)    subsection 314(3) which provides that the regulations may provide, for certificates, criteria to be satisfied for their issue, variation or revocation, the time limits for the determination of applications, information to be included in certificates, the person in whose name a certificate is to be issued, conditions to which certificates are subject and conditions that may be imposed on certificates by issuing bodies, the time certificates, variation of certificates and revocations of certificates come into force, the time certificates cease to be in force and ways of replacing certificates;

(g)   subsection 314(4) which provides that criteria and conditions may relate to compliance with specified standards;

(h)   subsection 314(5) which provides that regulations may provide for the renewal, suspension, transfer and surrender of certificates, and reports and declarations of issuing bodies, inspectors or other persons;

(i)    subsection 342(1) which provides for the making of Marine Orders for any matter for which provision must or may be made by the regulations.

        (2)     Subsection 339(1) of the Navigation Act also provides a general regulation making power for matters required or permitted to be prescribed by the Navigation Act, or that are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

Note   The Navigation Act includes a number of offences relating to seafarer certificates — see Chapter 2, Part 2, Division 3 of the Act. Offences include falsely representing that a person holds a kind of certificate (section 34), performing duties or functions without the appropriate seafarer certificate (section 35) and breaching a condition of a seafarer certificate (section 37).

4          Definitions

        (1)     In this Order:

able seafarer — deck rating duties or functions means the tasks, duties and responsibilities of an able seafarer — deck that are specified as competencies in STCW Code Table A‑II/5, column 1.

able seafarer — engine rating duties or functions means the tasks, duties and responsibilities of an able seafarer — engine that are specified as competencies in STCW Code Table A‑III/5, column 1.

appropriate vessel means a vessel AMSA considers appropriate for the vocational training required for the certificate.

chief integrated rating duties or functions means senior duties comprising able seafarer — deck rating duties or functions and able seafarer — engine rating duties or functions.

engine room watch rating duties or functions means the tasks, duties and responsibilities of a rating forming part of an engineering watch that are specified as competencies in STCW Code Table A-II/4, column 1.

integrated rating duties or functions means duties comprising able seafarer — deck rating duties or functions and able seafarer — engine rating duties or functions.

length, for a vessel, means the overall length of the vessel.

navigational watch rating duties or functions means the tasks, duties and responsibilities of a rating forming part of a navigational watch that are specified as competencies in STCW Code Table A-II/4, column 1.

steering certificate means a certificate issued:

(a)   by a master to a person who has satisfactorily completed, in the opinion of the master, 10 hours steering a vessel at least 24 metres long, which must include at least 4 hours steering while the vessel is being conned; or

(b)   by an approved seafarer training organisation to a person who has satisfactorily completed an approved training course covering:

             (i)  instruction in steering principles and procedures; and

            (ii)  2 hours practical training in steering a vessel at least 24 metres long while the vessel is being conned, plus 8 hours on a steering simulator.

        (2)     Terms defined in Marine Order 70 (Seafarer qualifications) 2014 and used in this Order have the meaning given by that Order.

Note 1   For information on obtaining copies of IMO documents mentioned in this Order see AMSA’s website at http://www.amsa.gov.au or email international.relations@amsa.gov.au.

Note 2   Some terms used in this Order are defined in Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013 including:

·         AMSA Act

·         IMO

·         Navigation Act

·         NSCV

·         SOLAS

·         STCW Code.

Note 3   Other terms used in this Order have the same meaning that they have in the Navigation Act, including:

·         AMSA

·         Government vessel

·         master

·         officer

·         owner

·         regulated Australian vessel

·         seafarer

·         seafarer certificate

·         STCW Convention.

Note 4   For delegation of AMSA’s powers under this Order — see the AMSA website at http://www.amsa.gov.au.

5          Application

                 This Order applies to the following persons:

(a)   a person performing or intending to perform, duties or functions as a rating on a regulated Australian vessel;

(b)   a person who holds a seafarer certificate as a rating.

6          Certification taken to be qualification to perform duties

                 For section 35 of the Navigation Act, a person is qualified to perform the duties or functions of a rating for a regulated Australian vessel if:

(a)   the person holds a seafarer certificate that this Order requires the person to hold to perform those duties or functions; and

(b)   the certificate permits the person to perform duties or functions mentioned in Schedule 1 for the grade of certificate.

Note    A seafarer certificate issued under the Navigation Act, including a certificate of recognition, may include endorsements permitting the certificate holder to perform stated duties or functions.

7          Grades of certificate — permitted duties or functions

                 For paragraph 35(1)(a) of the Navigation Act, a person must hold a seafarer certificate of a grade mentioned in Schedule 1 to perform the permitted duties or functions mentioned in Schedule 1 for the grade of certificate.

Note   A certificate of recognition is a kind of seafarer certificate — see subsection 7(2) of Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014.

Division 2     Requirements

8          General requirements

        (1)     For paragraph 31(1)(b) of the Navigation Act, the criteria for the issue by AMSA to a person of a seafarer certificate as a rating are as follows:

(a)   the person is familiar enough with the English language that the person can fully understand directions and documents relating to the performance of the duties permitted under the certificate;

(b)   the person satisfies the eligibility requirements for the certificate that are mentioned in Schedule 2.

        (2)     For paragraph 31(1)(b) of the Navigation Act, the criterion for the issue by AMSA to a person of a seafarer certificate as a rating under the transitional arrangements in Division 3 is that the person satisfies the eligibility requirements for the certificate under Schedule 5.

9          Qualifying seagoing service — general requirements

   (1)     A qualifying seagoing service eligibility requirement mentioned in Schedule 2 for a certificate must comply with Schedule 3.

   (2)     A qualifying seagoing service revalidation requirement mentioned in Schedule 4 for a certificate must comply with Schedule 3.

Note   See also Subdivision 3.1 of Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014 for the general rules for the calculation of qualifying seagoing service.

10        Revalidation requirements

        (1)     AMSA may revalidate a seafarer certificate as a rating so that it expires before 1 January 2017 if satisfied that:

(a)   the certificate is not suspended, cancelled or revoked; and

(b)   the person has maintained the STCW Code required standard of competence in security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1).

        (2)     AMSA may revalidate a seafarer certificate as a rating, or a certificate of recognition of that kind of certificate, so that it expires after 31 December 2016 if satisfied that:

(a)   the certificate is not suspended, cancelled or revoked; and

(b)   the applicant satisfies the revalidation requirements mentioned in Schedule 4.

Division 3     Transitional arrangements

12        Expiry of previously issued certificates

                 Each of the following certificates issued under Marine Order 3 (Seagoing qualifications) 2004 or any previous issue of that Order that is in force on 31 March 2014, and any endorsement of it, expires on 1 January 2017:

(a)   a certificate of proficiency as Chief Integrated Rating;

(b)   a certificate of proficiency as Integrated Rating;

(c)   a certificate of rating as Deck Rating;

(d)   a certificate of rating as Able Seaman;

(e)   a certificate of rating as Engine Room Rating;

(f)    a certificate of safety training.

13        Current certificates of proficiency as ratings holders

        (1)     A person holding a certificate of proficiency as rating or a certificate of rating that was issued under Marine Order 3 (Seagoing qualifications) 2004 is taken to hold a seafarer certificate that is a certificate of proficiency as rating.

Note 1   seafarer certificate means a certificate issued under s 31 of the Navigation Act — see s 10 of the Navigation Act.

Note 2   Ratings certificates issued under Marine Order 3 (Seagoing qualifications) 2004 expire on 1 January 2017 — see s 12.

        (2)     A person holding an AMSA certificate that is mentioned in an item in Schedule 5 may be issued with a certificate of the grade next mentioned in the item if the person satisfies the eligibility requirements mentioned in the item.

        (3)     However, AMSA may require a person holding an AMSA certificate issued under Marine Order 3 (Seagoing qualifications) 2004 or any previous issue of that Order to undertake further training appropriate for the grade of certificate to be issued before issuing the new certificate.

Schedule 1    Grades of certificate — permitted duties or functions

(section 7)

Schedule 2    Eligibility requirements for certificates

(paragraph 8(1)(b))

Schedule 3    Qualifying seagoing service — general requirements

(section 9)

3.1         Service must have been performed as a deck rating or deck trainee rating on vessels ≥24 m or performed as an engine room rating or trainee engine room rating, or in an equivalent capacity regularly engaged in engine-room watchkeeping, which may include service on call in periodically unattended machinery spaces on vessels with a propulsion power of ≥750 kW.

3.2         Qualifying seagoing service is calculated as follows:

(a)   if the person is undertaking rating or trainee rating duties or functions for at least 8 hours in a 24 hour period, the sea service is taken to be served as a whole day;

(b)   if the person is undertaking rating or trainee rating duties or functions for less than 8 hours in a 24 hour period, the sea service is taken to be for the actual hours served plus 25% of that time.

3.3       For clause 3.2, seagoing service calculated to be at least 8 hours in any 24 hour period is taken to be served as a whole day and no more than a whole day.

Schedule 4    Requirements for revalidation of certificates

(paragraph 10(2)(b))

            Option 1

     (1)     The person must have documented qualifying seagoing service of:

(a)   12 months in the 5 years before the application for revalidation; or

(b)   3 months in the 6 months before the application for revalidation.

     (2)     For revalidation of a certificate of proficiency as rating other than as Chief Integrated Rating, the person must:

(a)   have maintained the STCW Code required standard of competence in:

             (i)  fire prevention and fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/1‑2); and

            (ii)  proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/2‑1); and

           (iii)  security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1); and

 (b)  hold a certificate of medical fitness.

     (3)     For revalidation of a certificate of proficiency as Chief Integrated Rating, the person must:

(a)   have maintained the STCW Code required standard of competence in:

             (i)  advanced fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/3); and

            (ii)  proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/2‑1); and

           (iii)  security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1); and

 (b)  hold a certificate of medical fitness.

     (4)     For revalidation of a certificate of safety training, the person must have maintained the STCW Code required standard of competence in:

(a)   personal survival techniques (as specified in STCW Code Table  A‑VI/1‑1); and

(b)   fire prevention and fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table  A‑VI/1‑2); and

(c)   security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1).

     (5)     For revalidation of a Navigational Watch Rating certificate or an Engine Room Watch Rating certificate, the person must:

              (a)        have maintained the STCW Code required standard of competence in:

   (i)  personal survival techniques (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/1-1); and

            (ii)  fire prevention and fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table 

                    A- VI/1-2); and

            (ii)  security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1); and

(b)   hold a certificate of medical fitness.

            Option 2

     (1)     This Option applies if the person does not have the documented qualifying seagoing service mentioned in subclause (1) in Option 1.

     (2)     For revalidation of a certificate of proficiency as rating other than as Chief Integrated Rating, the person must:

(a)   have completed approved courses in the following:

             (i)  fire prevention and fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/1‑2);

            (ii)  proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/2‑1);

           (iii)  security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1); and

(b)   hold a certificate of medical fitness.

     (3)     For revalidation of a certificate of proficiency as Chief Integrated Rating, the person must:

(a)   have completed approved courses in the following:

             (i)  advanced fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/3);

            (ii)  proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/2‑1);

           (iii)  security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1); and

(b)   hold a certificate of medical fitness.

     (4)     For revalidation of a certificate of safety training, the person must have completed approved courses in the following:

(a)   personal survival techniques (as specified in STCW Code Table  A‑VI/1‑1);

(b)   fire prevention and fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table A‑VI/1‑2); and

(c)   security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1).

     (5)     For revalidation of a Navigational Watch Rating certificate or an Engine Room Watch Rating certificate, the person must:

(a)   have completed approved courses in the following:

             (i)  personal survival techniques (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/1-1); and

            (ii)  fire prevention and fire fighting (as specified in STCW Code Table 

                   A- VI/1-2); and

           (iii)  security awareness (as specified in STCW Code Table A-VI/6-1); and

(b)   hold a certificate of medical fitness.

     (6)     For this Option, approved courses must be completed within the 5 years before the date of applying for revalidation of the certificate.

Schedule 5    Transitional arrangements for certificates

(subsections 8(2) and 13(2))

Notes to Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014

Note 1

Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014 (in force under subsection 342(1) of the Navigation Act 2012) as shown in this compilation comprises Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014 amended as indicated in the following tables.

Table of Orders

Table of amendments