Coxswain Courses
With Maritime and Safety Training, getting your Coxswain certificate has never been easier. Our training courses give you the opportunity to command and operate a vessel safely up to 12 metres in length in Australian inshore waters(i.e. up to 15 nautical miles from shore), operate inboard and outboard motors and comply with all health and safety regulations.
Other course units of competency include fire-fighting procedures, basic survival skills in case of vessel abandonment, and basic servicing and maintenance of main propulsion unit and auxiliary systems. Propulsion power will vary depending on which Coxswain Licence you achieve
Coxswain Grade 1, 2, and 3
Coxswain Grade 1
MAR20321 Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal)
If you need to operate up to 15 nautical miles from shore (a limit known as inshore waters) using unlimited size outboards or 500kW/670hp inboard engines. You may also want to carry more passengers and/or carry passengers at night. In this case you will need a coxswain grade 1. Interestingly, the coxswain grade 1 will allow you also work as GPH, and even drive a recreational boat and personal watercraft without a state boat licence.
The pathway to coxswain grade 1 includes completing a training course which will contain the grade 2 units, plus some additional units specific to grade 1 such as coastal navigation, first aid, and motor servicing including inboard engines. You will also need to complete sea-service (there are pathways which allow either recreational and/or commercial sea-service).
The coxswain certificate is very limited when compared to the next certificate – Master <24m near coastal – however it includes both ‘steering’ and marine engine driver (engine management) skills.
Being our most popular Coxswain course, Coxswain grade 1 is run frequently over three weeks.
Coxswain Grade 2
MAR10418 Certificate I in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 2 Near Coastal)
You may need to operate 5 nautical miles from shore or fishing lease or as a tender of a parent vessel, using unlimited size outboards or up to 100/134hp kW (inboard), along with all the other allowances of a coxswain grade 3, a grade 2 should be enough. Examples of typical uses for a coxswain grade 2 include terminal operator within a harbour or port and tender operator for a dive operation offshore.
The pathway to coxswain grade 2 includes completing a training course at an RTO and completing sea-service on vessels over 5m (there are pathways which allow either recreational and/or commercial sea-service). Your course will include basic vessel operation using outboard motors, as well as fire and survival training.
Coxswain Grade 2 can be conducted over two weeks, however is only run on request for six persons or more.
Coxswain Grade 3
Put simply, coxswain grade 3 is the most limited of the commercial skipper certificates, but also the easiest to achieve. It has limitations on vessel length (12 metres), engine size (250kW outboard, 100kW inboard), as well as distance from shore (including 1 nautical mile from shore). It is little more than a recreational boat licence with the advantage of being able to operate a commercial vessel. Examples of typical uses for a coxswain grade 3 include oyster farmers and marina operators. Passengers (maximum 6) can only be carried in daylight hours.
There are several pathways to your coxswain grade 3 certificate of competency. Our path is a one-day course as long as you hold a recreational boat licence. We will train you in some additional skills, and conduct an AMSA Coxswain Grade 3 observation.
Coxswain Grade 3 is run on request, and there is no minimum number of students.
Course Dates
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Once you have completed your chosen course you will be issued either with a MAR10418 - Certificate I in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 2 Near Coastal), or a MAR20321 - Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal). The Coxswain Grade 3 does not include an ASQA formal training qualification, however you will receive a Coxswain Grade 3 certificate of competency on application to AMSA.
All of our courses are available to residents of all Australian states; NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, NT, SA, WA and TAS. To register your interest in this course, please use the online form. If you would like further information about this, or any of the M.A.S.T. courses, please call on 1300 302 123.
