Published: 8 Apr 2020
Australian Maritime Border Information Table as at 4 June 2021 from MIAL CLICK HERE
Between November 2021 and February 2022, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is anticipating a very high number of revalidation applications from seafarers with Certificates of Competency (CoC), Certificates of Proficiency (CoP) and Certificates of Safety Training (CoST) issued under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
About 4,000 certificates for masters, deck and engineer officers, integrated ratings and others will expire during this short four-month window. Most of these certificates require a combination of continued competence refresher training in sea survival and firefighting, and medical fitness certificates.
To avoid a situation where AMSA’s own internal processing systems, external medical examination clinics and registered training organisations (RTOs) are overwhelmed by last-minute applications and bookings, AMSA is encouraging early revalidation applications through a concerted campaign targeting impacted seafarers.
AMSA is encouraging medical examination clinics and RTOsto prepare for a steady increase in bookings between June and December 2021 as a direct result of this concerted campaign. Medical examinations clinics and RTOs are also encouraged to reach-out through their own databases to impacted seafarers, similarly encouraging early bookings.
The key message to impacted seafarers is: Professional qualifications take time, so does the revalidation process – book your continued competence refresher training courses and medical examination in advance.
For more information, please feel free to contact SCSApplications@amsa.gov.au
The purpose of this marine notice is to advise flag States, port States, vessel owners, operators, masters and crews that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has taken steps to allow the holders of:
to continue to perform duties even if the certificate expires during the period between 26 March 2020 and 31 January 2021.
Seafarer certificates are STCW certificates that include certificates of competency, certificates of proficiency as rating, GMDSS radio operator certificates, certificates of safety training and certificates of proficiency as marine cook.
The arrangement that applies to a specific certificate is dependent on the expiry date of that certificate:
There is no requirement for a vessel owner, operator or seafarer to make application to AMSA for the above measures to apply.
Extended validity of Norwegian medical certificates
In cases where the coronavirus makes it difficult for seafarers to renew their Norwegian medical certificate, the NMA may permit a seafarer to work with an expired medical certificate, provided that the period does not exceed 6 months and the seafarer concerned holds an expired medical certificate of recent date.
Norway has notified relevant authorities and organisations of the national decisions that have been made. Therefore, there is nothing to suggest that Norwegian shipping companies or seafarers on board Norwegian ships will experience challenges in the context of, for instance, port State controls
Norwegian Medicals Extension of Expiry click here to view
The latest information for the NORTHERN TERRITORY Chief Health Officer Direction No. 46 – Commercial Vessels – Crew Directions which came into effect on 12.01am 17 July 2020.
A guidline for seafarers can be found here: Seafarer Framework
TASMANIA Important information for seafarers.
As of Midnight 5 May 2020, the Tasmanian State Controller has issued directions that bring that states exemption for Marine crew in line with the national cabinet decision of 9th April.
There are now 3 recognised categories that will be exempted under the state emergency management act provisions:
Seafarers will need to demonstrate proof that they meet the criteria. This will include a letter from their company, which we are working to template for ease of use; also, the declaration to be completed by the Seafarer which we are told will ask them to indicate which category they fall into.
The 3rd category has been the point of contention and inconsistency. Seafarers from the same inbound location, working for the same company and possessing the same letter from their company have had different quarantine outcomes. This has been raised consistently within the MRG and through the Tasmanian Premiers, office by the branch. This outcome has been a significant shift and will free up the restrictions that Seafarers have met, coming back to Tas.
There still remains the determining factor in category 3 that the seafarer must have completed 14 days at sea prior to entry into Tasmania to avoid mandatory quarantine, however the Tas Govt are construction a mechanism to assess seafarers who wish to return and are under the 14 days, on a case by case basis.
Workers who had been put in Govt Isolation and who had served 14 days at sea prior to entry to Tasmania are eligible to apply under the new provisions and be released from the quarantine.
Quarantine and Isolation Information
Click on the links for each document
Class Exemption for Non-cruise Maritime Crew
Seafarer Exemptions to the 14 day quarantine period
Covid19 Information for the Marine Industry
International Transport Workers Federation COVID Information for seafarers