New Yacht Licenses to be Introduced in Australia

Four new certificates of competency for seafarers working on commercial motor yachts will be introduced in Australia from early 2016.

After extensive consultation between AMSA the commercial yachting Industry, Yachting Australia, the Australian Maritime College and the Transport Logistics Industry Skills Council these new qualifications will see Australian motor yacht worker’s skills recognised with an official AMSA certificate of competency.

The four new qualifications include:

• Watchkeeper Deck <3000GT Yachts with deck rating endorsement

• Chief Mate <3000GT Yachts with deck rating endorsement

• Master <500GT Yachts with Able Seafarer endorsement

• Master <3000GT Yacht with Able Seafarer endorsement

These qualifications will give seafarers a career path that will allow them to upgrade their qualifications to larger vessels by undertaking further study.

AMSA is currently drafting Marine Order 74 (Master and deck officer yachts) to give effect to these new qualifications and anticipates that the order will be complete in the first quarter of 2016.

Similar qualifications have existed in the United Kingdom for some time and Marine Order 74 will allow AMSA to recognise equivalent certificates issued by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

AMSA Deputy CEO, Gary Prosser, announced the new qualifications on Tuesday at the Australian Superyacht & Marine Export Industry Conference on the Gold Coast.

“These new certificates will give formal recognition to these highly skilled seafarers and a pathway to further their careers in the maritime industry,” Mr Prosser said.

“AMSA would like to thank the commercial yachting industry for its support in developing this important expansion of qualifications for workers.”