Revalidation of certificates

• Introduction
• Requirements
• Does everybody have to revalidate now?
• Who is eligible to revalidate?
• How to revalidate
• What to do if you don't have the sea time to revalidate

This notice is intended to inform all interested parties in the marine industry regarding the aspects of revalidation, and in particular all holders of the following Certificates of Competency:

When the Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code was adopted by WA in 1983, we thereby accepted the national standards relating to Certificates of Competency.

These standards require that all Trading Certificates of Competency be revalidated every five years. Each of these certificates subsequently issued by this Department has been endorsed with an expiry date.

In 1988 we issued advice to certificate holders that, until further notice from this Department, the expiry date may be ignored. The purpose of this temporary postponement of revalidation was to allow sufficient time for all other Australian States to have adopted the same code for at least five years.

All other States now have revalidation, and Western Australia needs to conform in order for our certificates to continue to be recognised Nationally and Internationally.

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Requirements

Please note the following requirements:

• You do not have to revalidate a Fishing certificate. However, if you have a combined Fishing - Trading Master Class 3, 4 or 5, you will have to revalidate the trading part.
   
• During the process of revalidating the trading part of a combined Certificate you can request to be issued with a new fishing certificate, because fishing certificates are soon to have a new name (again a requirement of the USL code) and they will no longer be able to share the same certificate with trading qualifications.
   
• Engineering endorsements will be separated from Master Class 5, and will be revalidated as Marine Engine Driver Grade 3.
   
• Engineering Certificates for use on Trading vessels, are also subject to revalidation.
   
• All certificates are now being issued in a new passport style format, complete with a current photograph.
   
• Although Fishing Certificates are not required to be revalidated they are required to be replaced with the new style of Certificate by the year 2000.

Does everybody have to revalidate now?

Yes. Revalidation was phased in by groups according to date of expiry. The first group of certificates to be revalidated, were those with expiry dates on or before 31 December 1989. Persons holding those certificates had until 31 December 1997 to revalidate. Notices have been issued for the remainder, indicating that if your certificate was issued after 31 December 1989, and more than 5 years have elapsed, then you must revalidate NOW. Owners and Masters should be aware of the possible liability and litigation in employing persons who are uncertified.

Who is eligible to revalidate?

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Revalidation is essentially about masters showing that they have been using their skills, and that their eyesight and health is still acceptable.
   
• If you can show valid evidence of one year sea time in the past five years, and can produce satisfactory eye test and medical examination documentation, you are eligible to apply for revalidation.
   
• If you do not have the sea time, please ask yourself if you actually want or need a valid certificate. There is little point in revalidating only to have your certificate run towards another expiry whilst it remains on the shelf. If you do need your certificate to be valid, a procedure is available, and it will stay available, so you will be able to postpone revalidation until it is required.

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How to revalidate

You can attend personally at a regional Department office, or our Fremantle office, or phone/fax for the necessary paper work to be sent to you in order to commence the process.If you attend personally, you will need to bring:

• your original Certificate of Competency;
   
• valid evidence of at least one year's sea time in the past five years which should be recorded in a Departmental record of service book. We will accept owner's or master's statements of employment provided these are on company letterhead or in the form of a statutory declaration;
   
• two recent passport photographs for each certificate;
   
• your driver's licence (we need the number);
   
• a completed eye test form (for any trading Master or Mate certificate, and Engineer Class 3);
   
• a completed medical examination form for Master Class 3, Master Class 4, Mate Class 4, and Engineer Class 3. A current AMSA medical certificate is an acceptable alternative; and
   
• sufficient cash or cheque to cover fees for trading or engineering revalidation, and for each fishing certificate or engineering endorsement reissue.

What to do if you do not have the sea time to revalidate

You will have to satisfy all the other requirements listed above and, in addition, carry out one of the following two options:

1. An oral examination (see details); or
    
2. Apply for the revalidation of your certificate at a lower watchkeeping level. (For example, Mate Class 4 instead of Master Class 4, then carry out 3 months continuous service in a watchkeeping capacity, after which you may apply to upgrade your certificate to the original level).

Oral examinations will be available in Fremantle on request. In Geraldton and other regional Department offices in coastal towns, oral examinations will be available on a limited number of dates, or when staff are available. You should ring one of these offices to check on available dates. The more advance notice you can give us, the greater the chances of arranging an oral examination at a convenient date.

The oral examination for revalidation will concentrate on determining your level of awareness regarding various changes which have taken place in recent years.

It will cover: