NSW GENERAL PURPOSE HAND (GPH) QUALIFICATIONS
If you wish to work aboard commercial vessels registered in NSW, you will need - at minimum - the NSW General Purpose Hand qualifications.
The General Purpose Hand (GPH) qualifications are required by NSW Maritime and local legislation. Without these qualifications, you may not legally work onboard NSW registered commercial vessels and you cannot be covered by insurance.
How do I obtain the GPH qualifications so I can work on NSW registered commercial vessels?
You must complete training provided by an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which is equal or equivalent to a Certificate I in Transport and Distribution (Coastal Maritime Operations). Superyacht Crew Academy is a certified RTO.
On obtaining these qualifications, you must present evidence of your course completion, plus a NSW Maritime Application Form which includes an Australian maritime medical certificate, to the NSW Maritime office at Rozelle, Sydney.
NSW Maritime will then issue you a General Purpose Hand Certificate of Competency and a Record of Service (ROS) log book. Once you have this you can begin working on NSW registered commercial vessels and the hours you log will be credited towards your future qualifications.
What kinds of vessels require the General Purpose Hand qualifications for their crew members?
- Australian registered Superyachts
- Commercial fishing
- Charter fishing
- Tug vessel
- Ferry services
- Passenger charter
- Yacht charter
- Commercially registered private vessels
- And more …
Dual Qualifications - International and NSW GPH
If you complete the Superyacht Crew Academy STCW95 basic safety course and the IYT Megayacht Deck Crew course Superyacht Crew Academy can issue you with a recognised Statement of Attainment which can be taken to NSW Maritime to receive a General Purpose Hand Certificate of Competency.
Why do this course with Superyacht Crew Academy?
With the rare opportunity to complete a combination of shore-based theory and on-water training, Superyacht Crew Academy provides a comprehensive teaching syllabus taught in a professional and fun manner allowing you to gain essential practical knowledge and skills for your work on commercial vessels..
What other benefits are there from doing this with Superyacht Crew Academy?
By completing the course with Superyacht Crew Academy you are obtaining two certifications with a single course program.
Both the STCW95 and the IYT Megayacht Deck Crew course are recognised by both NSW Maritime and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of the UK. The MCA are the governing body for the majority of the Superyachts worldwide. This means if you wish to work on foreign flagged superyachts in the Mediterranean, Caribbean or anywhere in the world, you qualifications would be recognised.
Because the modules you will complete during the course are VETAB and NSW Maritime recognised, you can use them as advanced standings in higher qualification courses such as those required to complete for the Coxswain, Master 5 or Master 4.
Also, there is no expiry date on the qualifications. If you work internationally for several years and then wish to return to Australia and continue in the maritime industry, your qualifications completed at Superyacht Crew Academy will still be valid.”
