47Recognition of certificates issued by a foreign country

47 Recognition of certificates issued by a foreign country

47.1 Certificate of recognition – eligibility criteria

  A person is eligible to be issued with a certificate of recognition if the person:

(a) holds a current certificate of medical fitness; and

(b) holds a certificate issued by a marine administration in a country other than Australia that:

 (i) has been approved as having training and certification standards in accordance with the STCW Convention; and

 (ii) for a certificate for deck or engineer officer duties — has an agreement with Australia about the recognition of the other country’s certificates; and

(c) produces evidence to the satisfaction of the Manager, Ship Operations and Qualification that:

 (i) the certificate mentioned in paragraph (b) was issued in accordance with the STCW Convention and is equivalent in grade to the grade of certificate of recognition applied for; and

 (ii) the person has completed practical training and short courses equivalent to that required for the issue of an equivalent certificate of competency; and

 (iii) the person has completed qualifying sea service equivalent to that required for the issue of an equivalent certificate of competency; and

(d) for a certificate for deck or engineer officer duties — has passed an oral examination appropriate for the grade of certificate conducted by an examiner, including knowledge of Australian maritime legislation; and

(e) for a certificate for deck officer duties — holds a valid GMDSS General Operators Certificate; and

(f) is an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of Australia or produces evidence that he or she is to be employed in a regulated Australian vessel.

Note   An application for a certificate of recognition will be accepted as a skills assessment from a prospective migrant before arrival in Australia if evidence of approval for migration is produced. However, a certificate will not be issued until the applicant takes up residence in Australia.

47.2 Restricted certificate of recognition – eligibility criteria

  A person is eligible to be issued with a certificate of recognition restricted to duties, and for a period, determined by the Manager, Ship Operations and Qualifications if:

(a) the person is required to perform duties on a regulated Australian vessel in particular circumstances or for a particular time; and

(b) the person is not eligible under subsection 47.1 for the issue of a certificate of recognition; and

(c) the Manager, Ship Operations and Qualification is satisfied that the person holds qualifications that are adequate for the performance of those duties in the particular circumstances or for the particular time.