Fact Sheet ENGINEER STCW 47

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Electro-technical Officer
The following provides a summary of the requirements for an Electro-technical Officer Certificate of Competency.
This certificate is issued under Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014 and Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers)
2014, made under the Navigation Act 2012, which replaces Marine Order 3 (Seagoing qualifications) 2004.

What will I be able to do with this certificate?
You will be able to perform the duties of:
• Electro-technical Officer on ships powered by main
propulsion machinery of any propulsion power in any
operating area.
How do I get this certificate?
To obtain an Electro-technical Officer Certificate of
Competency there are two options available:
OPTION 1 – for those that were serving as
electricians performing Electro-technical Officer
(ETO) duties prior to 1 April 2014
• Have completed at least 12 months documented sea
service as an electrician performing electro-technical
officer duties on ships with total installed electrical
generation capacity of at least 750 kW
• Hold an Australian electrical trade certificate or
equivalent
• Complete the following approved STCW short courses:
– Basic Safety Training course, which includes
Security Awareness Training,
– Advanced Fire Fighting,
– Medical First Aid.
• Hold the following valid certificates:
– Certificate in Proficiency in Survival Craft and
Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats,
– AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness.
For purpose of issuing an ETO CoC, AMSA will accept
an overseas electrical trade as an Australian electrical
trade if the holder of the overseas electrical trade
successfully completes a skill assessment through
Optional Skills Assessment Service (OSAS) to gain an
occupational licence for:
• Electrician (General) or
• Electrician (Special Class).
Successful applicants will be issued with an Offshore
Technical Skills Record (OTSR). The OTSR is sufficient
evidence to apply for a provisional electrical licence with
Australian state and territory licensing authorities.
Details of OSAS can be found via the link on the Trades
Recognition Australia (TRA) website:
www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/Programs/OSAS/
Pages/default.aspx TRA has approved a number of
RTOs to conduct skills assessment services in a range of
occupations and locations around the world
OPTION 2 – for those entering the industry from
1 April 2014
• Have completed at least 6 months sea service on ships
with total installed electrical generation capacity of at
least 750 kW as part of an approved training program
• Have completed an AMSA approved course of study
that includes a program of workshop skills training from
an AMSA approved seafarer training organisation for
an Electro-technical Officer
(Note: The approved seafarer training organisations
offer a process through which recognised prior
learning (RPL) of applicants holding an electrical trade
certificate or equivalent may wish to consider).
• Complete the following approved STCW short courses:
– Basic Safety Training course, which includes
Security Awareness Training
– Advanced Fire Fighting
– Medical First Aid
• Completed the approved Training Record Book
• Hold the following valid certificates:
– Certificate in Proficiency in Survival Craft and
Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue Boats
– AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness
– Pass an AMSA oral examination.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - April

August2016
2016 AMSA
AMSA
1610
1610
(4/16)
(8/16) Page
Page11ofof22
Disclaimer: This fact sheet provides summary information only. AMSA makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine
Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014
and Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. Please refer to these Marine Orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for
certificate applications.
Fact Sheet - Electro-technical Officer

How do I keep this certificate? Where can I go from here?

To revalidate your certificate you must: With an approved program of study you could gain an:

• Have completed one of the following: • Engineer Watchkeeper Certificate of Competency.

– at least 12 months sea service in the 5 years before Please note:

applying to revalidate, or
• All certificates and training must comply
– at least 3 months in the 6 months before applying to with STCW,
revalidate, or • All training courses and training programs
– a revalidation course appropriate for Electro- must be approved by AMSA, and
technical Officer within 12 months before applying to • All sea service must be documented in an
revalidate, or approved training record book, and verified
by Engineer Officer/s holding a certificate
– an oral exam and approved short courses appropriate
of competency issued in accordance with
for Electro-technical Officer within 12 months before
STCW Reg III/1, III/2 or III/6.
applying to revalidate, or
– performed duties and functions and approved courses
For contact details of AMSA approved seafarer training
that AMSA considers equivalent.
organisations please visit the AMSA website:
• Demonstrate continued competence by completing www.amsa.gov.au/forms-and-publications/fact-sheets/
the following courses: amsa1590.pdf
– Survival Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast
Rescue Boats,
­- Advanced Fire Fighting, and
– Security Awareness (please note, this training needs
only be completed once in a seafarers career and
does not need to be repeated).

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia - August 2016 AMSA 1610 (8/16) Page 2 of 2
Disclaimer: This fact sheet provides summary information only. AMSA makes decisions about seafarer certificates under Marine
Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014, Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014, Marine Order 72 (Engineer officers) 2014
and Marine Order 73 (Ratings) 2014. Please refer to these Marine Orders for full details of eligibility and other requirements for
certificate applications.