Yachtmaster Certificate

Recognition as coxswain

If you have a Yachtmaster Certificate (Ocean or Offshore), with an STCW commercial endorsement, issued by the Royal Yachting Association or Yachting Australia, you may apply to Maritime to have your Yachtmaster Certificate recognised as the equivalent of a coxswain Certificate. This allows you to act as the master and/or engineer on a commercial vessel up to 12 metres in length, with a propulsion power below 250kW and operating up to 15 nautical miles from the coast.

What you need to do:

• Complete a Maritime Application for Marine Certification form;
  • Provide proof of your identity;
  • Supply two colour passport photos with your name written on the back of the photos;
  • Provide your original Yachtmaster Certificate with an STCW commercial endorsement (the certificate must be current, that is not have expired);
  • Provide an acceptable marine radio operator qualification, that is:
    • a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP)
    • a Marine Radio Operator’s VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP)
    • a Restricted Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency in Radiotelephony (RROCP)
    • a GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate, and
• Pay the recognition fee.

You may lodge an application at any Maritime office or mail an application to Marine Certification, Maritime, Locked Bag 5100, Camperdown NSW 1450. A Certificate of Competency Coxswain in recognition of a Yachtmaster Certificate will be sent to you by registered mail. The Certificate will be issued for five years or until the expiry date of the STCW endorsement, whichever occurs first.

If you have a Yachtmaster Certificate (Ocean or Offshore) issued by the Royal Yachting Association or Yachting Australia that does not have an STCW commercial endorsement, in addition to the above requirements you must:

• Complete an approved coxswain training course;
• Provide a current senior first aid certificate;
• Meet specific medical and eyesight standards; and
• Pass a final assessment by a Maritime examiner.

Applicants who have already undertaken relevant training or have relevant work experience may apply for recognition of prior learning by an approved training provider.

A Certificate of Competency Coxswain in recognition of a Yachtmaster Certificate will be sent to you by registered mail. The Certificate will be issued for five years or until the expiry date of the Yachtmaster Certificate, whichever occurs first.

Recognition as Master Class 5-Yachtmaster with STCW endorsement
If you have a Yachtmaster Certificate (Ocean or Offshore), with an STCW commercial endorsement, issued by the Royal Yachting Association or Yachting Australia, you may apply to Maritime to have your Yachtmaster Certificate recognised as the equivalent of a Master Class 5 Restricted to Sail. This allows you to act as the master on a commercial sailing vessel up to 24 metres in length and operate up to 100 nautical miles from the coast.

What you need to do:

• Complete a Maritime Application for Marine Certification form;
  • Provide proof of your identity;
  • Supply two colour passport photos with your name written on the back of the photos;
  • Provide your original Yachtmaster Certificate with an STCW commercial endorsement (the certificate must be current, that is not have expired);
  • Provide an acceptable marine radio operator qualification, that is:
    • a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP)
    • a Restricted Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency in Radiotelephony (RROCP)
    • a GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate;
  • Complete the following training units from Certificate lll in Transport & Distribution (Coastal Maritime Operations):
    • Apply domestic regulations and industry practices when operating a small coastal vessel (TDMMF3207C)
    • Observe safety and emergency procedures on a coastal vessel (TDMMF5407A)
    • Carry out refuelling and fuel transfer operations (TDMMR5407B)
    • Apply weather information when navigating a small vessel within the limits of responsibility of Master 5 (TDMMH1307B)
    • Operate fuel, fresh and sea water, bilge and fire pumping systems installed in a vessel (TDMMR307B), and
  • Pay the recognition fee.

Applicants who have already undertaken relevant training or have relevant work experience may apply for recognition of prior learning by an approved training provider.

You may lodge an application at any Maritime office or mail an application to Marine Certification, Maritime, Locked Bag 5100, Camperdown NSW 1450.  A Certificate of Competency Master Class 5 Restricted to Sail in recognition of a Yachtmaster Certificate will be sent to you by registered mail. The Certificate will be issued for five years or until the expiry date of the STCW endorsement on the Yachtmaster Certificate, whichever occurs first.

Recognition as Master Class 5-Yachtmaster without STCW endorsement

If you have a Yachtmaster Certificate (Ocean or Offshore), without an STCW commercial endorsement, you may apply to Maritime to have your Yachtmaster Certificate recognised as the equivalent of a Master Class 5 Restricted to Sail. This allows you to act as the master on a commercial sailing vessel up to 24 metres in length and operate up to 100 nautical miles from the coast.

What you need to do:

• Complete a Maritime Application for Marine Certification form;
  • Provide proof of your identity;
  • Supply two colour passport photos;
  • Provide a current first aid certificate;
  • Meet specific medical and eyesight standards;
  • Provide your original Yachtmaster Certificate (the certificate must be current, that is not have expired);
  • Provide an acceptable marine radio operator qualification, that is:
    • a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP)
    • a Restricted Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency in Radiotelephony (RROCP)
    • a GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate;
  • Complete the following training units from Certificate lll in Transport & Distribution (Coastal Maritime Operations):
    • Apply domestic regulations and industry practices when operating a small coastal vessel (TDMMF3207C)
    • Observe safety and emergency procedures on a coastal vessel (3 out of 5 criteria) (TDMMF5407A)
    • Carry out refuelling and fuel transfer operations (TDMMR5407B)
    • Apply weather information when navigating a small vessel within the limits of responsibility of Master 5 (TDMMH1307B)
    • Operate fuel, fresh and sea water, bilge and fire pumping systems installed in a vessel (TDMMR307B)
    • Contribute to effective communications and teamwork on a coastal vessel (TDMME1107A)
    • Survive at sea in the event of vessel abandonment (TDMMF1107B)
    • Fight and extinguish fires on board a coastal vessel (TDMMF5507A), and
  • Pay the recognition fee.

Applicants who have already undertaken relevant training or have relevant work experience may apply for recognition of prior learning by an approved training provider.

You may lodge an application at any Maritime office or mail an application to Marine Certification, Maritime, Locked Bag 5100, Camperdown NSW 1450. A Certificate of Competency Master Class 5 Restricted to Sail in recognition of a Yachtmaster Certificate will be sent to you by registered mail. The Certificate will be issued for five years or until the expiry date of the Yachtmaster Certificate, whichever occurs first.

To lift the sail restriction

Holders of Certificates of Competency Master Class 5 Restricted to Sail must complete the following training units from Certificate lll in Transport & Distribution (Coastal Maritime Operations) in order for the restriction to be removed:

• Slip vessel and maintain hull (TDMMB707B),
• Monitor condition and seaworthiness of a small vessel up to 24 metres (TDMMB4507A),
• Operate deck machinery installed on a small vessel of less than 750kW propulsion power (TDMMR1807B), and
• Perform seamanship, rigging and lifting operations onboard a small domestic vessel (TDMMR5507B).

Applicants will also need to pass a final assessment by a Maritime examiner.

Revalidation of Certificate of Competency in recognition of a Yachtmaster Certificate:

You will need to revalidate your NSW Certificate of Competency before the expiry date.

Additional links

How do I revalidate a Certificate of Competency