Transferring Naval Seatime to Domestic Commercial Seatime

Transitioning from naval service to a civilian maritime career is a commendable path, and leveraging your naval seatime is a significant aspect of this transition. This guide from Sydney Maritime Institute aims to provide a clear and helpful overview of how to convert your naval seatime into commercial seatime recognised by Australian authorities.

Transferring your naval seatime to commercial seatime involves a few critical steps and understanding of the maritime regulations set by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

Step 1: Documentation of Naval Seatime Compile all records of your naval service, ensuring you have detailed logs of your sea service, including dates, vessel details, roles performed, and any special duties or operations that might be relevant. Records should be official and verifiable.

Step 2: Understanding AMSA Requirements AMSA sets out the requirements for converting military seatime to commercial seatime. Their guidelines detail how seatime is calculated, what qualifies, and the documentation required for the process. Visit AMSA’s official website or contact them directly to get the latest information. CONTACT AMSA

Step 3: Evaluation and Equivalency Submit your naval seatime records to AMSA for evaluation. They will determine the equivalency of your service to the commercial standards. This might involve a thorough review of the types of vessels you served on, the nature of your duties, and the level of responsibility you held.

Step 4: Gap Identification Once AMSA evaluates your naval seatime, they may identify areas where additional experience or learning is necessary to meet commercial standards. This could be in the form of specific skills, safety training, environmental regulations knowledge, or understanding of commercial maritime operations.

Step 5: Addressing the Gaps If additional experience or training is needed, you have several options. You can accumulate more seatime aboard commercial vessels, or you can undertake specific training or courses that provide the knowledge and skills required by AMSA.

Step 6: Certification After meeting the requirements and addressing any gaps, AMSA will issue a Statement of Sea Service, which is an official record of your commercial seatime equivalency. This statement is what you’ll use to pursue further licensing or certifications in the commercial maritime sector.

The journey from naval to commercial maritime service is unique for each individual, but understanding the process and knowing where to get accurate information can make it smoother. Sydney Maritime Institute is proud to support our naval servicemen and women in their aspirations to join the commercial maritime workforce.

For further guidance or to clarify any steps in the process, it's best to consult directly with AMSA. to get up to date information.

Contact Sydney Maritime Institute