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Learn GPH deckhand skills

MAR10220 Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand)

Train as a Deckhand and undertake a wide range of maritime work at sea and around the waterfront in communications, seamanship, logistics, tourism and hospitality; help re-build a marina or discover your potential with an environmental group. With further training and experience you could become a ships master.

  • A General Purpose Hand (GPH) must be least 16 years of age and must successfully complete basic shipboard safety and sea survival training to work as a professional crew member.
  • You will assist the Master, Engineer and/or owner as a general hand in the working of a commercial vessel.

This qualification is one component of the eligibility criteria to achieve the General Purpose Hand Certificate of Competency which allows you to work in any state or territory in Australia.

Student Course Information

Who is this Certificate for?

This qualification is suitable for people working in entry level positions in the maritime industry as a General Purpose Hand to:

  • assist with deck work on a vessel <100 m long and <3000 GT in the EEZ under general supervision of the master of the vessel or an appropriately certificated crew member to whom the master delegates the supervision
  • assist with engine work on a vessel with propulsion power <3000 kW in the EEZ under general supervision of the chief engineer of the vessel or another appropriately certificated crew member to whom the chief engineer delegates the supervision

Why choose us?

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.

Course Fees and Duration

All courses are intense and of short duration

  • $1250
  • Course duration is 5 days
  • 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.

How to Apply

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.

What to Bring

Identification

Australian Drivers Licence, current passport or birth certificate, Unique Student Identifier (USI)

 
RPL (if applying):

Academic transcripts of previous qualifications, CV, letters from employers

 
Electronic Device:

Electronic device capable of doing assessments online e.g. phone, tablet or laptop

 
Clothing:

Work or casual clothes for both theory and practical days

 
Footwear:

Deck shoes, joggers, sandshoes or work boots (no thongs)

 
Fight Fire day:
  • No synthetic outer clothing, socks or underwear
  • Long sleeve 'cotton' work shirt
  • Long 'cotton' pants or jeans
  • Hair is to be tied back, if applicable
 
Sea Survival day:
  • In-water sea survival clothing to include a t-shirt or shirt plus pants
  • Spare set of clothes to wear after sea survival in water practical
  • Lunch, a bottle of water, large towel, warm jacket, and strong large plastic bag for wet clothes
 

Certification

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.

Certificate of Competency (CoC) Application

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

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.

Required Evidence - Sea Service

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

  • 5 days sea service on commercial vessels

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

Course Structure

The GPH certificate is made up of 8 units of competency:

MAR10220 Certificate I in Maritime Operations (General Purpose Hand Near Coastal)
  • MARB053
    Assist with routine maintenance on a commercial vessel
  • MARF027
    *Apply basic survival skills in the event of vessel abandonment
  • MARG012
    Work as part of a crew on a commercial vessel
  • 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
  • MARN016
    Apply general purpose hand skills aboard a commercial vessel
  • HLTAID011
    Provide First Aid (not included in course timetable - students to provide evidence)

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

* Please note: for these units you will be required to undertake a few physical activities such as:

  • swimming in a group for a minimum of 50 metres
  • swimming in a lifejacket for a minimum of 50 metres
  • towing with a life jacket for a minimum of 25 metres
  • remaining afloat without a lifejacket for at least 5 minutes.
  • boarding a life raft unassisted while wearing a lifejacket and assisting others to board
  • jumping safely from a height into the water while wearing a lifejacket

Please contact us prior to your course if you feel you may be physically unable to complete these tasks and we will be able to discuss your options.

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

  • 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.

Terms and Conditions

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.

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Just wanted to thank you and your staff at Sea School. I have over 20 years experience in the teaching profession and work closely with Macquarie Uni & UTS and I can certainly say that your methods of teaching coxswain ticket were spot on.

Craig Mitchell, Managing Director, Sydney Harbour Bookings

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