AMSA Ratings: Navigational Watch Rating to Able Seafarer

The Special Recreational Vessels Act 2019, which gave foreign-flagged superyachts a charter licence, sunset on 30 June 2025; the Federal Register shows it repealed from 1 July 2025, with no replacement Act found. Superyacht Australia's page (Nov 2025) still describes an A$400 temporary licence. Before the first paying guest, get written confirmation of the legal basis from the Department of Infrastructure or an endorsed agent, and the customs position from ABF.

For initial issue of an STCW or MO 74 yacht certificate, AMSA requires its own Certificate of Medical Fitness (form 303), examined in Australia by an AMSA-approved practitioner. ENG1, OEUK/OGUK and the domestic 1850 are not accepted. Book the 303 during Australian leave, not the week the college block starts.

AMSA's "Is it a DCV?" guidance excludes foreign vessels from the national system, so crew of a foreign-flagged yacht in Australia follow the flag's rules. An Australian-flagged commercial yacht is a domestic commercial vessel if it stays inside the EEZ, or a regulated Australian vessel if it operates or intends to operate beyond it, and crew need AMSA certificates accordingly.

To serve on an Australian-flagged vessel with a foreign STCW CoC you need an AMSA certificate of recognition (form 419, $190, about 28 business days); officers also face a sea service assessment and oral. The UK is on AMSA's list of recognised countries, but the CoR page does not say whether yacht-limited CoCs such as MCA Master (Yachts) are recognised. Ask AMSA before assuming a Y-ticket converts.

Vessels of 70 m or more need a licensed coastal pilot in the Inner Route, Great North East Channel, Torres Strait, Hydrographers Passage and the Whitsundays; Marine Order 54 (Coastal pilotage) 2026 commenced on 1 September 2026. REEFVTS reporting is mandatory from 50 m under Marine Order 63 (GBRMPA words it as "greater than 50 m"). A 60 m yacht needs no pilot but reports throughout.

Marine Order 74 asks for a GMDSS radio operator certificate to issue the Chief Mate (Yachts) but a General Radio Operators Certificate to revalidate it, and specifies the GOC for Master <3000 GT (Yachts) where AMSA's guidance notice says only "GMDSS Radio Operators Certificate". Holding a GOC meets every version.

AMSA's web pages accept an IYT Small Powerboat & RIB Master for Coxswain Grade 3 and IYT Master of Yachts certificates for Sailing Master, but Schedule 3 of Marine Order 505 names only RYA certificates. The legal basis may be an equivalence decision; ask AMSA to confirm in writing before relying on an IYT route.

MSN 1862 accepts STCW basic training from any IMO White List country, but its footnote lists PSCRB acceptance only from EU Member States, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. Australia is not named, and whether the MCA accepts AMSA NWR certificates for EDH entry is also unconfirmed. Check with the MCA before heading to the Med on AMSA certificates alone.

Whether tenders operated from foreign-flagged superyachts in Australian waters fall under the domestic National Law and Marine Order 505 crewing was not settled by any source read. Ask the vessel's agent and AMSA before tender drivers carry guests in Australia.

AMSA crewing guidance: up to 750 kW propulsion power the master and engineer roles may be combined if the master holds an engine certificate; above 750 kW they cannot. Confirm the exact wording and conditions in Marine Order 504 (2024) Schedule 1.

AMSA publishes a syllabus for the yacht orals (Appendices 11 and 12) but no yacht-specific examiner checklist, and the pages read give no oral duration. Merchant checklists rate topics A (safety-critical), B and C; assume safety-critical topics must be answered in full.