Commercial Maritime Training

These courses are designed for people who wish to work commercially at sea. These are the pathways to obtaining Certificates of Competency from the Australia Maritime Safety Authority.

COXSWAIN COURSES

Through our partnership with Maritime Training School (RTO #91487, Sydney), we are accredited to deliver the following coxswain courses:

Coxswain Grade 1 - command a vessel up to 12m, 15 nm offshore with paying passengers.

Coxswain Grade 2 - command a vessel up to 12m, 5 nm offshore.

Coxswain Grade 3 / Exemption 38 - command a vessel up to 12m with restrictions.

LEARNING OPTIONS:

• Our live aboard course immerses you in real work at sea as an active crew member.

• Complete the theory online at your own pace (learning portal, student guides and the Australian Boating Manual).

• You’ll have a dedicated trainer to support you and mark your theory.

• After theory, join us for five days liveaboard on our 20 m training ketch to put it into practice.

SEA SERVICE REQUIREMENTS COXSWAIN GRADE 1:

• While working on a deck or deck and engineering capacity, the applicant must have at least: 

• 30 days’ qualifying sea service on commercial vessels ≥5 m long, and a completed approved task book; or 

• 150 days’ qualifying sea service on vessels ≥5 m long which all may be accrued on recreational vessels, without a task book. 

• For more information and eligibility requirements, visit Maritime Training School.

COURSE OUTCOMES - COXSWAIN GRADE 1 :

The holder of this Coxswain Grade 1 certificate can:

Command and operate a vessel <12 m long in inshore waters, carrying passengers and with propulsion power; 

for an inboard engine – < 500 kW; or 

for an outboard engine – unlimited; and 

Under the same propulsion power limits, command and operate vessel <12m long as a tender or auxiliary vessel 

within 3 nm of a parent vessel in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ);

within waters designated for a specific purpose by a state or territory authority which permits holders of this certificate to operate (subject to any conditions that it may impose). 

TASK BOOKS:

• Use of a task book significantly reduces the amount of Sea time required.

• Task books are normally completed whilst working at Sea.

• However, we can assist you with the Task Book completion during any of our training trips, once you have completed your Initial training course with Adventure Sailing. Ie Join us for a further 5 days and work exclusively through the task book. You will also earn another 5 days commercial sea time.

SEA SERVICE REQUIREMENTS COXSWAIN GRADE 2:

The applicant must have at least: 

• 10 days qualifying sea service on commercial or recreational vessels, and a completed approved task book; 

OR

• 50 days qualifying sea service on commercial or recreational vessels. Note: applicants completing task books must have them signed off by a qualified supervisor; this includes any tasks completed on a recreational vessel. 

For more information and eligibility requirements, visit Maritime Training School.

COURSE OUTCOMES - COXSWAIN GRADE 2 :

The holder of this Coxswain Grade 2 certificate can:

Command and operate engines of a vessel <12 m long that is not carrying passengers: 

in sheltered waters or within 5 nm from point of departure, shore base or aquaculture lease; and

with propulsion power:

for an inboard engine – <100 kW unless endorsed to <500 kW inboard propulsion; or

for an outboard engine – unlimited

Command and operate the engines of a vessel that is not carrying passengers:

as a tender or auxiliary vessel within 3 nm of a parent vessel in the EEZ; and

with propulsion power:

for an inboard engine – <100 kW unless endorsed to <500 kW inboard propulsion; or

for an outboard engine – unlimited.

INCLUDED IN COURSE:

·       Online Coxswain theory course.

·       Dedicated trainer support.

·       Five days liveaboard training at sea (food and accommodation included).

·       VHF radio licence.

·       AMPA (mandated practical assessment).

·       Five days commercial sea time.

MORE INFORMATION:

o   Coxswain Grade 1

o   Coxswain Grade 2

o   Coxswain Grade 3

MORE INFO:

A five-day liveaboard Coxswain course onboard SV Starsand (20 m commercial sailing ship).

Designed for practical, onboard commercial training.

Assessment is mostly via on-the-job observation and oral questioning. You’ll stand watches and take part in navigation, maintenance, anchoring and meal prep at sea.

No classroom slog—if you want to work at sea, let’s learn at sea. Hands on, minds on.

Day 1 covers survival craft, sea survival and firefighting, with an onboard overnight.

Days 2–5 focus on small and large craft skills, including power vessel handling, while at sea.

Graduate with MAR20321 Certificate II in Maritime Operations (course completion).

We complete your AMPA (mandated practical assessment) during the course.

You’ll also sit the Short Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency (VHF radio licence).

On completion, you’ll receive a letter and Form 771 for five days commercial sea time.

To apply to AMSA for your Coxswain Certificate of Competency, you’ll also need a medical certificate and the required sea time.

Experienced trainers ensure you finish as a competent, practical mariner.

Places are capped at 10 students.

MASTER 24M N.C.

The holder of a Master 24m can command a vessel up to 24m, up to 200nm offshore.

Our liveaboard course allow you to be fully immersed into working at sea. You will be an active member of the crew learning all the knowledge and skill to ensure you become a competent Mariner.

Theory is done at home in your own time via our learning portal. We provide you with an online learning course, student guides and a copy of the Australian boating manual textbook.

You also receive a dedicated trainer who will work with you throughout the course, marking and correcting your theory answers.

Coxswain Grade 1 certificate holders maybe eligible for credit transfers on some units thus reducing cost and time required.

Master 24 Course outcomes.

A Master less than 24 metres can work as:

Master on commercial vessels up to 24 metres long within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

Chief mate or deck watchkeeper on vessels up to 45 metres long within the EEZ

Chief mate or deck watchkeeper on vessels up to 100 metres long in inshore waters.

This certificate also lets you to work as:

a General Purpose Hand

Master (Inland waters)

Master <24 Eligibility

How do I get this certificate?

To obtain a Master <24 m NC CoC you will need to have completed one of the following options for qualifying sea service (QSS):

• At least 120 days QSS on commercial vessels ≥7.5 m long working in a deck  capacity, with an AMSA task book,

• At least 360 days QSS on a vessel ≥7.5 m long of which at least half must be on   commercial vessels, working in a deck or both a deck and engineering capacity, without an AMSA task book.

What must I do to be eligible for a Master <24m NC CoC?

• Be at least 16 years when the certificate is issued.

• Be able to speak and understand English, including written documents.

This Master 24m course takes place onboard SV Starsand, a 20m commercial sailing ship.

This vessel is ideally suited to the task of onboard commercial training.

This course has been designed to be as hands on as possible, assessment is mostly done through “on the job” observations and oral questioning. You will be part of the working crew of the vessel, standing watches, navigating, maintaining, and monitoring machinery, anchoring and cooking at sea.

This course is real, not in a classroom and no endless assignments. If you want to work at sea, lets learn at sea. Hands on, minds on.

The course starts with survival craft and survival at sea techniques and firefighting. You will stay onboard the ship night one. The remaining days are spent at sea.

Day 2 to 5 includes small and large craft skills where you will learn to become competent in handling power-driven vessels. These remaining days are spent at sea.

You will graduate with the MAR30924 Certificate 3 in Maritime Operations course completion certificate.

We will also complete you AMPA (mandated practical assessment) during the course.You will also be sitting the Long - Range Operators Certificate of Proficiency MF/HF Radio Licence.

At the completion of the course, you will receive a letter and a form 771 for 5 days commercial sea time.

All you need to add to be ready to apply to AMSA for your “Master 24m Certificate of Competency” is a medical certificate and your Sea time.

Our trainers are all highly qualified and experienced and will make sure you step off the vessel as a competent and practical mariner.

Places are capped at 10 students per course.

Captain Paul Willison

Master less than 45m

MED 2

Australian Sailing Senior Instructor Powerboating and Keel boat sailing.

International Yacht Training. Yacht Master Instructor/ Examiner.

Recreational Skippers ticket trainer / assessor / Auditor.

Radio Licence Invigilator.

AMSA approved trainer / assessor. We can conduct AMPA practical assessments.

Qualified Trainer / assessor

Qualified Teacher.

Captain Paul has spent his lifetime at sea on vessels including square rigged sailing vessels, tugboats, rig tenders, charter boats, sailing yachts, fishing boats and small powerboats.

As well as this Paul is a qualified and experienced teacher who has the ability of making difficult concepts easy to understand.

Captain Paul has been teaching and training maritime education for over 35 years.

Rest assured you are being taught by one of Western Australia’s most experienced Marine Educator.

Captain Matt Jones:

Matt’s qualifications include:

·      Commercial Coxswain certificate

·      Powerboating and Sailing Instructor.

·      Certificates in training and assessment. 

·      Approved Recreational Skippers ticket assessor

·      Master <24

·      Australian Maritime Safety Authority Assessor

·      International Yacht Training Instructor

·      Radio License Assessor  

Captain Matt discovered surfing at an early age in Wales. 
This led to a lifetime of travel and adventure around the world. 

Discovering the West coast of Australia, Matt swallowed the anchor and settled to raise his family. 
A keen sailor, surfer, fisherman and diver, Matt is never far from the sea. 

Think Matt Jones think waterman. 

Matt and Paul are the owners and force behind Adventure Sailing!

Depending on the qualification desired several prerequisites exist in relation to qualifications and sea time. Please check Maritime Training School info.

or email paul@adventuresailing.com.au for further information.

• Hat

• Water bottle

• Shoes that can get wet

• Sun/rain/wind protective clothing

• Sleeping bag

• Swim gear and towel

• Computer for the online theory (internet access available onboard)

$5640 (plus booking fee)

You can secure your spot with a deposit

23rd - 31st Mar 2026 (Busselton-Abrolhos-Geraldton)

24th - 31st May 2026 (Abrolhos Islands)

24th -31st Aug 2026 (Abrolhos Islands)

17th - 24th Nov 2026 (Geraldton-Abrolhos-Busselton)

To chat about the course, contact:

Paul 0458 772 581  paul@adventuresailing.com.au

Matt 0428 372 931matt@adventuresailing.com.au