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Restricted limits vessels & vessels <24m in coastal/offshore limits
Revalidation will be required every five years for restricted limits qualifications and for Coastal/Offshore qualifications for vessels less than 24m convention length.
Current qualifications |
Future qualifications |
Local Launch Operator, Inshore Launch Master |
Skipper Restricted Limits |
New Zealand Offshore Watchkeeper with ILM endorsement |
Skipper Coastal/Offshore <24 metres |
None |
Master Yacht <24 metres (Coastal/Offshore) |
Marine Engineer Class 4 |
Marine Engineer Class 4 |
Marine Engineer Class 5 |
Marine Engineer Class 5 |
Marine Engineer Class 6 |
Marine Engineer Class 6 |
You must provide evidence of at least six months’ approved sea service within the previous five years, or 1.5 months in the three-month period immediately before revalidating.
If you can’t meet these sea service requirements in restricted or coastal/offshore limits, or if your qualification has expired, you must pass a practical competency assessment. Depending on this assessment, further training may be needed.
Or, you can undertake a one-day course and assessment in relevant rules concerning safety management systems, the safety of life at sea, and the protection of the marine environment.
Amended rules will enable the Director to accept experience in certain non-seagoing positions as equivalent to seagoing service when revalidating non-STCW certificates, if the position has been held for at least 2.5 years within the previous five years.
The listed occupations may be considered as equivalent:
Before revalidation, evidence must be provided of the currency of first aid training, and of medical fitness including vision, hearing and speech standards. A Certificate of Medical Fitness on the current MNZ form for Local Launch Operator (LLO) will be an acceptable standard. The medical examination does not have to be carried out by an MNZ approved medical practitioner.
Alternative medical standards for other non-maritime qualifications may be accepted as equivalent. Guidance on acceptable equivalent standards will be provided in the Advisory Circular to the qualifications rules and on the MNZ website when the rule is amended in 2013.
The QOL review proposes to align fishing qualifications for unlimited vessels and vessels ≥24m convention length in the Coastal and Offshore limits, with the requirements of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (STCW-F).
Revalidation will be required every five years for certificates as skippers, officers and engineering officers aboard commercial fishing vessels of 24 metres convention length and more in coastal and offshore limits (STCW-F – limited waters) and the unlimited area (STCW-F – unlimited waters).
Current qualifications |
Future qualifications |
New Zealand Offshore Watchkeeper |
Mate fishing vessel 24-45 metres – limited waters |
New Zealand Offshore Master |
Skipper fishing vessel 24-45 metres – limited waters |
Mate Deep Sea Fishing Vessel |
Mate Fishing vessel ≥24 metres – unlimited waters |
Master Deep Sea Fishing Vessel |
Skipper fishing vessel ≥24 metres – unlimited waters |
You must provide evidence of having completed either:
If you haven’t gained enough seagoing service during the five-year period, it may be possible to pass an approved test, or successfully complete an approved course appropriate for skippers and officers serving aboard fishing vessels – especially for re-entrants to seagoing service on fishing vessels.
STCW-F allows MNZ to accept fishing vessel operational duties ashore, relating to the duties appropriate to the grade of certificate held, if they are considered to be at least equivalent to seagoing service as skipper or officer aboard fishing vessels.
The Director may revalidate an STCW-F certificate if a holder has completed at least 2.5 years’ non-seagoing experience in the previous five years in an equivalent fishing vessel operational position ashore.
Such positions could include:
Evidence must be provided of medical fitness, including eyesight and hearing.
There is no requirement for the basic safety training required by STCW-F to be revalidated.
The following information applies to all certificates that require revalidation.
Local Launch Operator (LLO) certificates are currently required to be revalidated every five years. When holders of an LLO are required to transition to a Skipper Restricted Limits qualification, this five-yearly revalidation cycle will be unaffected.
The requirement to revalidate qualifications for restricted limits, coastal/offshore <24m, and for fishing certificates ≥24m will take place five years after the issue of that certificate under amended qualification rules and transition provisions. As these rules are not expected to come into force until 2013, these qualifications will not require revalidation until at least 2018.
A reminder of the due date for revalidation will be sent to all certificate holders.
There is an administrative cost for revalidation, set by the Shipping (Charges) Regulation 2000, of $236.13. This cost may change in the future.
If further information or clarification is required please contact the QOL Manila Implementation team at qol@maritimenz.govt.nz
