Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal)

People who are successful in this field are:

• Excited to command a vessel with coastal maritime
• Resilient enough to face the challenges of life on the sea

Assessments give you the opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned so far and to identify what knowledge or skills need further development. In this course you will undertake:

• Knowledge assessments: multiple-choice questions, short answer questions as an assignment, a closed book exam.
• Practical assessments: observations against predetermined practical activities, oral questions either on a vessel or on a simulated work environment

The Certificate I level course is an entry level qualification to begin commanding vessels. You need to be working in the industry and have verifiable sea time to enrol.

The Certificate II Coxswain 1 You will be working in the industry and want to pursue a career path in operations and commanding a vessel. You need complete task books and provide evidence of your previous sea experience.

Certificate III Master 24 You will be working in the industry and looking to furthering your career in operations and commanding a vessel up to 24m. This course involves task books and you will need to provide evidence of your previous sea time.

This course is highly practical with most of your learning, and all of your practical assessments, occurring in a range of authentic simulated workplace environments. Some simulated environments are offsite like the Olympic size swimming pool and the firefighting facility.

You will gain hands-on experience commanding a vessel up to 12 metres as well as:

• Survival skills at an Olympic size swimming pool you will learn life jacket techniques, jumping from a height and while swimming, helping others in distress, procedures to follow when an order to abandon vessel is given
• Handling strategies - to guide a survival craft through rough weather and sea conditions
• Fire prevention and minimisation procedures
• Fighting a fire on board a vessel - at a firefighting facility learn to operate fire extinguishers, breathing apparatus, and how to control a crowd
• Seamanship skills identifying and applying the specific knot needed for the task, practicing different types of knots and hitches to effectively tether a boat

No real-world projects are included in this course, however, you will learn in real world and simulated environments.

TAFE NSW offers you a range of study environments to enhance your learning in this course, including:

• TAFE NSW campus classrooms
• Olympic sized swimming pool for survival practical and firefighting facilities for situations relating to emergency procedures
• A floating boat (minimum of 5metres) used to practice the skills needed to work as a ships master on a vessel
• Firefighting facility

As the Maritime industry is moving towards the development and deployment of autonomous ships and vessels, there is a need for new skills, competencies and ongoing learning for the workforce to operate the new automated technologies.

To take advantage of the new systems and technologies such as digitalised on-board systems and new communication systems (e-navigation), workers need to upgrade their digital, data analytics and cyber security skills.

The marine workforce is ageing, Australia is experiencing a maritime skills shortage and amongst other specialised roles, the role of a skilled tug master is in high demand at ports.