Commercial
courses

This qualification is suitable for people who work in the maritime industry operating as :

• Act as Chief Mate on a vessel <45m long in the EEZ
• Act as deck watchkeeper on a vessel <100m long and <3000 GT in the EEZ
• Act as chief mate on a vessel <100m and <3000 GT in inshore waters

Our mission is to provide exceptional maritime training that creates real employment outcomes for our students.

• We train on the water
  Our campuses are conveniently located close to waterways so you can walk out of the classroom and onto a vessel for practical, on-board training.
• You can study full-time or part-time
  You have the choice to study your course all in one go or do it in blocks of time so it’s convenient for whenever you can get the time off work. Talk to us and we’ll make a plan that works for you.
• Pay as you go with flexible payment plans
  You can pay your course fees in full or by instalments over the term of your course duration.
• We have a Job Register
  When you graduate you’ll be automatically added to our Job Register and emailed when positions become vacant in the industry, providing you opportunities for part-time and full-time work.
• Trainers are experienced seafarers
  Our professional maritime trainers and assessors are qualified and experienced seafarers aboard a variety of commercial vessels. Our students are guaranteed a high level of education that combines traditional classroom teaching with practical, on-board training.
• Under new management since 2013
  Since taking over Sea School, we’ve had over 400 graduates successfully complete our courses. We are an AMSA compliant, quality-driven RTO that offers you the best training and career pathways.

• $4290
• Long Range Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (LROCP) carries an additional charge of the application fee of $295
• Note our courses do not include HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) - this must be completed externally at your own expense
• Final assessment & CoC lodgement is an additional fee
• Course duration is 4 weeks (20 days) full-time face to face PLUS a self-directed study component and sea service
• The course runs from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm each day

For government funding and incentives, please refer to the New South Wales government funding page or the Queensland government funding page.

Fee Payment

A deposit of $500 is to be paid on enrolment to hold your place on the course. Course fees are due to be paid in full on course commencement. You will be invoiced upon enrolment.

You can pay by credit card, cash or by electronic funds transfer. Instalment payment plans are available upon application.

A flexible approach to delivery is offered to students depending on their work/life experience and individual needs. Students may attend the course on consecutive days over 4 weeks or, there is an option to attend in 2 or more blocks over a period of time.

The block delivery option must be discussed and approved by the Director prior to course commencement.

Please complete our online commercial course enrolment form. After receiving your enrolment, we will then email you a booking confirmation with a request to pay a deposit to ensure your place on the course.

Please review the Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) skill requirements for our courses. We will issue you with a LLN test that must be completed prior to course commencement. This test will reveal if you require any extra support through your training and a training plan will be drawn up for you. Please feel free to contact us if you feel you may need extra support.

If you need to cancel your course due to an emergency or work, be assured your course enrolment can be transferred to another date, course or person within a 12 month period or, you can apply for a refund in extenuating circumstances.

• The definitive reference book for the Maritime industry and professional crew is the Australian Boating Manual by Dick Gandy. This is the course text and your course fees include access to it for the course duration. New course texts are available for purchase.
• A self-directed study regime during the course is required.

To receive the full qualification you must demonstrate competency in all units and meet all course requirements including qualification of the required sea service and evidence of completed HLTAID011.

If you don’t achieve competency in some of the units, Sea School’s Competency Not Achieved Assessment Policy allows you to return to attend specified classes to re-sit training and/or assessments at no cost within a 12 month period. Should you not complete the whole course then you will receive a statement of attainment for the units you’ve completed.

Final Assessment

If you have elected to do the AMSA Mandated Practical Assessment (AMPA) with Sea School, we'll incorporate it into our course structure so when you’ve completed your course, you’ve completed your final assessment.

Please read the AMSA requirements for the Certificate of competency for this course.

Certificate of Competency (CoC) Application

You will need to submit an Application for a Certificate of Competency (industry licence) to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. This can be completed at any Registered Australia Post Retail Outlet. Please check you’ve met the requirements and complete a 426 application form.

This course requires you to provide the following evidence prior to certification:

• Sea service:*
  • 120 days of qualifying sea service working in a deck capacity onboard commercial vessels ≥7.5m long, AND completed an approved task book;
    OR
  • 360 days of qualifying sea service working in a deck capacity or working both in a deck capacity and engineering capacity, of which:
    
    • All must be accrued on vessels ≥7.5m long; AND
      
    • At least half must be accrued on commercial vessels
• A transcript showing evidence of completion of the Shipboard Safety Skill Set (ESS) which is usually embedded in other maritime qualifications such as GPH, Coxswain and/or Marine Engine Driver.

*Please note that you are expected to gain this sea service independently.

The M<24 qualification is made up of 15 units of competency. Ten of the units are delivered in this course, 4 units (marked *) are a course requirement and are the MARSS00008 Shipboard Safety Skill Set (ESS) see below. 'Provide first aid' is not included in the course timetable and students need to provide evidence of attainment prior to certification.

MAR30921 Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Master up to 24 metres Near Coastal)

• BSBFLM303
  Contribute to effective workplace relationships
• MARB029
  Perform routine maintenance on a vessel up to 24 metres
• MARB030
  Slip or dock a vessel and maintain hull on a vessel up to 80 metres
• MARH015
  Manage and maintain a navigational watch on board vessels up to 80 metres
• MARH016
  Plan and navigate a passage for a vessel up to 80 metres
• MARH017
  Use wheelhouse equipment for safe navigation
• MARI004
  Observe regulations to ensure safe operation of a vessel up to 80 metres
• MARJ007
  Monitor environmental management on a vessel
• MARK008
  Manoeuvre a vessel up to 24 metres within near coastal waters
• MARN009
  Perform seamanship operations on board a vessel up to 24 metres
• *MARF027
  Apply basic survival skills in the event of vessel abandonment
• *MARF028
  Follow procedures to minimise and fight fires on board a vessel
• *MARF029
  Meet work health and safety requirements
• *MARF030
  Survive at sea using survival craft
• *HLTAID011
  Provide first aid

*Course entry requirements are the 4 ESS units (MARSS00008 Shipboard Safety Skill Set) and HTLAID003 Provide First Aid. These units do not need to be completed prior to enrolling, however evidence of their completion is to be provided prior to certification. If you hold a GPH or Coxswain certificate, you will have already completed the ESS units.

All of our assessments are conducted through online software in class.

• Credit Transfers (CT) are granted if you have successfully completed a course that contains the same units as the Sea School course you've enrolled in. You may apply for a CT by providing evidence in the form of a transcript and if CT is granted, you may be exempted from some or all of the coursework.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is based on your work history, sea time and previous studies. You may apply for RPL if you can provide sufficient evidence with a minimum currency of 5 years. An assessor will make a judgement on the evidence provided and if RPL is granted, you may be exempted from some or all of the coursework. A competency conversation interview may be required as part of your portfolio of evidence.

Signing your enrolment form acknowledges your understanding of your rights, obligations and acceptance of Sea School’s terms and conditions. Sea School course costs, timetable, course content, policies and procedures are subject to change without notice. You are required to read the detailed terms and conditions information on our website.