Commercial
courses

This qualification is suitable for people who work or want to work as a Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal in the maritime industry and command a commercial marine vessel:

• up to 12 metres in length
• with propulsion power that is unlimited for an outboard engine or up to 500 kW for an inboard engine
• and carry passengers on this vessel

and operate this vessel:

• inshore
• or as a tender or auxiliary vessel within 3 nautical miles (nm) of a parent vessel within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

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.

All courses are intense, of short duration and include a sea service requirement

• $3290
• 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 10 days*
  *our Perth location is an additional 2 days duration
• 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.

Participants may attend a full course or choose a "flexible delivery option" and attend days/weeks of the course over time and within a 2 year enrolment period.

Depending on the course chosen, some days must be concurrent to ensure the participant meets the learning outcomes. The flexible 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 while working in a deck capacity or working both in a deck capacity and an engineering capacity:
  • 150 days qualifying sea service on vessels ≥5m long which may all be accrued on recreational vessels, without a task book;
    OR
  • 30 days qualifying sea service on commercial vessels ≥5m long, AND a completed approved task book

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

The Coxswain Grade 1 certificate is made up of 13 units of competency:

MAR20321 Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal)

• 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
• MARC037
  Operate inboard and outboard motors
• MARI003
  Comply with regulations to ensure safe operation of a vessel up to 12 metres
• MARJ006
  Follow environmental work practices
• MARK007
  Handle a vessel up to 12 metres
• MARN008
  Apply seamanship skills aboard a vessel up to 12 metres
• MARB027
  Perform basic servicing and maintenance of main propulsion unit and auxiliary systems
• MARC038
  Operate main propulsion unit and auxiliary systems
• MARH013
  Plan and navigate a passage for a vessel up to 12 metres
• HLTAID011
  Provide first aid (not included in course timetable - students to provide evidence)

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.