Maritime New Zealand's current online services.
These guidelines are for those who already hold an ILO Able Seaman (AB) certificate.
New applicants for Able Seafarer (Deck) (AB (Deck)) should go to the Help for new applicants.
Help for new applicants for the Able Seafarer (Deck) Certificate of Proficiency [PDF: 63Kb, 8 pages]
The current Able Seaman certificate is to be replaced by the Able Seafarer (Deck) certificate of proficiency, because of changes brought about by the Manila amendments to the STCW Convention.
Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) will continue to issue, recognise and endorse ILO AB certificates until May 2012, when the amended rules come into effect. From May 2012, training providers will be able to offer courses for the new AB (Deck) certificate, and MNZ will be able to issue these certificates.
The Able Seaman (AB) certificate is currently issued under Maritime Rule 32.7, which introduced the International Labour Convention (ILO) C74 – Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946 into New Zealand law.
The Manila amendments to STCW include an AB (Deck) certificate of proficiency that replaces the ILO AB certificate, which will be issued under new Maritime Rule Part 32.7A, bringing AB qualifications under IMO and STCW.
MNZ has worked with industry to develop syllabuses for both Deck Watch Rating (DWR) and the AB (Deck) certificate. These are based on syllabuses for the current certificates, and incorporate new competencies recommended and required by the Manila amendments.
If you already hold an ILO AB certificate, you will be deemed to have met these requirements. Your ILO AB certificate is valid until 31 December 2016 but must transition to an AB (Deck) certificate before that date.
Holders of ILO AB certificates will be issued AB (Deck) certificates progressively between May 2012 and 31 December 2016, once MNZ has received evidence that seafarers:
If your seagoing service does not meet these requirements you must pass an oral examination as AB (Deck).
Administrative costs will be charged for issuing a replacement AB (Deck) certificate: see the current schedule of fees and charges.
What if I hold the current AB certificate?
What if my current AB certificate was issued overseas?
Do the ancillary certificates expire?
I obtained my ancillary certificates overseas – is this OK?
What happens if I’m using my AB certificate aboard a foreign-flagged ship?
My AB certificate will be issued before 01 April 2012. How will I be affected?
Can I get my AB certificate now – before 01 April 2012?
I have an AB certificate issued pre-1999 and I want to work in Australia – how does this affect me?
I currently have an Integrated Rating certificate – what happens to my certificate?
I currently have an integrated certificate – how do I get the AB (Deck) certificate?
You will be able to continue to use your current ILO AB certificate until 31 December 2016. You can transition to an AB (Deck) certificate before then if you can provide evidence that you:
You must hold an AB (Deck) certificate before 31 December 2016.
If you hold an AB certificate issued overseas, you must approach the administration of the country that issued the certificate to get an AB (Deck) certificate. You must then apply to MNZ to have this certificate recognised to work aboard New Zealand-registered ships, or meet the requirements for issue of a New Zealand AB (Deck) certificate.
You must obtain an AB (Deck) certificate before 31 December 2016, as you will no longer be able to use your current AB certificate after this.
Help for new applicants for the Able Seafarer (Deck) Certificate of Proficiency [PDF: 63Kb, 8 pages]
Ancillary certificates for ILO AB do not currently expire. However, Maritime New Zealand will require that your ancillary certificates are less than 5 years old when your AB (Deck) certificate is issued.
In the future, however, holders of certificates of proficiency for Basic Training, Survival Craft and Rescue Boats, and fast rescue boats (if applicable) will be required by STCW to ‘provide evidence of having maintained the required standards of competence every five years’. This can be done through a combination of onboard and shore-based training. Records should be kept of onboard training. MNZ will develop a template for recording on-board training.
If ancillary certificates are provided in support of an application for a New Zealand qualification, MNZ can only accept certificates issued by training providers approved by MNZ, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), or the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the UK.
If it is a New Zealand AB certificate see What if I hold a current AB certificate?
If the certificate was issued by another country, and has been recognised in New Zealand, see What if my current AB certificate was issued overseas?
MNZ cannot issue AB certificates after May 2012.
If you:
…you will need to complete the course and examination for an AB (Deck) certificate.
If you do not have the required seagoing service above you will be treated as a new applicant for AB (Deck) and must first obtain a deck watch rating (DWR).
You can continue to use your ILO AB certificate until 31 December 2016 but you must obtain an AB (Deck) certificate before this date.
You will be able to transition to an AB (Deck) certificate if you can provide evidence that you have:
Your ILO AB certificate is still valid. To transition to AB (Deck), however, you must provide evidence that you:
As you have not completed any seagoing service within the 5 years before May 2012, you must pass the exam for an AB (Deck) certificate. You do not have to complete a training course, although this may be advisable.
You can gain an AB certificate before May 2012, but it must be replaced by an AB (Deck) certificate before 31 December 2016.
You will transition to an AB (Deck) certificate before that date if you can provide evidence that you:
You must apply to AMSA for recognition of any New Zealand AB certificate dated before 1999. AMSA will require this certificate to meet STCW-95 standards and, if recognised, it should be possible to continue to use this certificate in Australia until 31 December 2016. After that date you must hold a New Zealand AB (Deck) certificate and apply for recognition of that certificate by AMSA.
Your UK AB certificate should have been recognised by MNZ before you started working aboard NZ-registered ships.
That certificate must be replaced by an AB (Deck) certificate before 31 December 2016. You must approach the UK MCGA to get an AB (Deck) certificate. You must then apply to MNZ to have this certificate recognised to enable you to work aboard New Zealand-registered ships, or meet the requirements for issue of a New Zealand AB (Deck) certificate.
If you have a minimum of 12 months’ seagoing service in a relevant capacity in the deck department, plus a minimum of 12 months’ seagoing service in a relevant capacity in the engine department within the five years before May 2012 – and can provide evidence of this to MNZ – your IR certificate will transition to an AB (Deck) and an Able Seafarer (Engine) (AB (Engine)) certificate.
You must also provide evidence that you have completed STCW basic training, and hold a certificate of proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats (other than fast rescue boats).You must obtain an STCW rating certificate or certificates (AB (Deck) or AB (Engine)) before 31 December 2016.
See above.
You will transition to an STCW AB Deck certificate if you can provide evidence that you:
You must obtain an Able Seafarer Deck certificate before December 31 2016.
You must:
