8Eligibility requirements

8 Eligibility requirements

(1)  A person is eligible to hold a pilot's licence if –

(a) he or she –

(i) holds a valid certificate of competency as an Australian Master Unlimited issued by AMSA; or

(ii) holds a valid certificate, equivalent to the one specified in subparagraph (i) , issued by an approved organisation that is party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers 1995; or

(iii) has other approved experience and qualifications; and

(b) he or she –

(i) has served for at least 12 months as a Master or Second in Command on an appropriately sized vessel within the last five years; or

(ii) holds a pilot's licence issued by an approved organisation that is party to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers 1995 and, for at least 12 months immediately before lodging the application, have been actively engaged in piloting; and

(c) he or she can demonstrate an ability to speak English to a standard that would allow the applicant to safely discharge the duties and responsibilities of a pilot; and

(d) he or she holds a valid certificate of medical and mental fitness issued in accordance with the Medical Health and Fitness Order.

(2)  For the purposes of subregulation (1)(b)(i) , the size of an appropriately sized vessel is to be determined by MAST on a case-by-case basis.