Marine engineer (class 6) certificate - Maritime New Zealand

1. OverviewMarine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) certificate of competencyThis guideline is for new applicants for the Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) certificate ofcompetency. It does not cover recognition of an equivalent certificate obtained outside NewZealand.The information in this guideline covers training, sea service and other requirements for thecertificate, how to apply and pay for your certificate, and where to find more information.Your MEC 6 certificate is valid for five years.For more details about the requirements for recognition and renewal (revalidation) ofcertificates, refer to the Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) website:maritimenz.govt.nz/seafarersWith the MEC 6 certificate, you can perform an engineer’s functions and duties on:fishing, passenger and non-passenger ships of up to 3000 kilowatts main propulsion power withsystems or warranty conditions (or both), within enclosed water limitspassenger ships of up to 750 kilowatts main propulsion power with less than four systems, withininshore limitsnon-passenger ships of less than 24 metres and of any propulsion power that have engine andsystem maintenance carried out ashore or under warranty, within coastal limitsfishing ships of less than 24 metres and of any propulsion power that have less than four systems,within offshore and coastal limits.You can also perform the functions and duties of a second engineer on fishing ships of total propulsionpower up to 750 kilowatts, in the unlimited area.Refer to the Advisory Circular for Part 20: Operating Limits for more information about operational limits forvessels.From MEC 6, with additional sea service, training and assessment, you can progress to MEC 5, MEC 4and higher-level certificates.Disclaimer:These guidelines provide information and explanations about the requirements set out in themaritime rules, but are not a substitute for the rules themselves, which are the law. Theseguidelines refer to provisions in Maritime Rules Part 32, Seafarer Certification. The Director ofMaritime New Zealand (MNZ) will grant a certificate only when satisfied that all requirements havebeen met. In this guideline, any references to ‘we’ or Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) relating to adecision impacting on the issue or renewal of any seafarer certificate are references to theDirector or a person acting under the Director’s delegated authority.maritimenz.govt.nz/rulesMarine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 2 of 18

2. Requirements (continued)2.2 Sea serviceSea service requirementsYou must complete at least 200 hours of sea service on a motor ship of any kind, including a pleasurecraft, and a training record book while on board. (It may take you more than 200 hours to complete theactivities in the training record book.)Your training record book must be an approved version and include:the “summary of seagoing service” section completed and signed off by the skipperthe skipper’s name, qualifications and contact details.(You can download a copy of the training record book from MNZ’s website.)You are responsible for recording your sea service in your training record book and having it signed off.The sea service and training record book must have been completed within five years of you applying foryour certificate.If any of your sea service is on a pleasure craft, demonstration of competency may be required by thetraining provider.Calculating sea serviceUp to eight hours in any 24-hour period may be counted towards your 200 hours of sea service. Thismeans that if you were able to record the maximum of eight hours each day, you would need a minimumof 25 days’ sea service (calculated as 8 hours x 25 days = 200 hours).On-board training record bookWhile on board carrying out your sea service, you must complete an evidence-based approved trainingrecord book. (The MNZ-approved on-board training record book is available on MNZ’s website.) It maytake you more than 200 hours to complete all of the activities in the training record book.Your on-board training record book needs to:be the original version, not a copyhave all relevant records completedhave all relevant project work completed and signed off by the chief engineer or supervisingofficerhave the sea service signed off by the skipper.The training record book is designed to help you obtain practical skills and competencies for the MEC 6certificate of competency in a workplace environment. This training will complement the shore-basedtraining that you must undertake before you take the MNZ-approved final examination.All of the competencies required for MEC 6 can be gained through a combination of the training recordbook activities and attending an approved training course. The activities can be completed while servingaboard a commercial vessel, warship or pleasure craft.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 4 of 18

The book should be completed before starting a block training course, and may be completed before orduring a modular training course such as a unit standard undertaken over a period of time. Informationabout approved training providers for MEC 6 courses is available on the MNZ website.The completed training record book and accompanying evidence will be made available to trainingproviders and the approved MNZ examiner for the final examination (which you must pass before MNZ canissue your MEC 6 certificate of competency). After successfully completing the final examination, you mustsend the completed training record book to MNZ, along with your application, so that MNZ can verify yoursea service before issuing the certificate.Keep your training record book in a safe place. We also recommend that you make a copy of thecompleted sections and associated evidence, and also store these in a safe place– but separately fromyour training record book.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competencyPage 5 of 18

2. Requirements (continued)2.3 Training and experienceTrainingYou must complete an approved training course. This training must meet the competencies required forthe MEC 6 certificate.Contact an approved training provider for information about the course.You can find out more about training providers and the competency framework for this certificate onMNZ’s website:maritimenz.govt.nz/seafarersFinal examinationYou must pass a final examination (currently an oral examination) by an MNZ-approved examiner. This isusually arranged by your training provider.You need to give your completed training record book to the examiner before you undertake the finalexam. Your results will be sent to MNZ.Refer to the MNZ website for more information: maritimenz.govt.nz/seafarersAncillary certificateYou must provide a copy of the first aid ancillary certificate gained as part of your MEC 6 training. Thecertificates must:still be current (not expired) when we issue your MEC 6 certificatebe from a training provider approved to deliver the course or accredited to assess against therelevant standard under the Education Act, or from a course approved by MNZ.If you already have a certificate that demonstrates the required proficiency, you may use it – as long as youmeet the requirements set out above and the documents you provide show details of the assessmentstandards achieved. For more information, refer to the guidelines for ancillary certificates on MNZ’swebsite: maritimenz.govt.nz/seafarersNote: Although it is not a requirement in the maritime rules, MNZ strongly recommends that you keep yourfirst aid certificate current. New Zealand first aid certificates generally have a limited duration set by theissuing organisation (usually two years) and generally require refresher training to remain valid.Document you must provideFirst aid certificate (Unit Standards 6400, 6401, 6402 or Unit Standards 6400, 26551, 26522 orequivalent revised standards acceptable to the Director, as published on the MNZ website)Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 6 of 18

2. Requirements (continued)2.4 Fit and proper personWe need to confirm that you are of good character. To help us do this, there are severalforms we need from you, which are outlined below.RequirementDocument(s) you must provideBe of good character A character reference describing what you are likeas a person. It must:ooobe signed and datedrefer to the last 12 monthsnot be from a family memberA completed fit and proper person form, which youmust have signed and dated no more than threemonths before we receive your applicationA completed consent to disclosure of informationform so that the New Zealand Police can checkyour record. You must have signed and dated thisform no more than three months before we receiveyour applicationA police clearance report for any country orcountries outside New Zealand that you have livedin for 12 months or longer in the past five years(covering the entire period you lived in that countryor countries)Refer to 5. Forms for all of the forms that you will need to complete your application.Links related to this requirement→ Apply for or renew a passport [Internal Affairs website]→ Get your driver’s licence [NZ Transport Agency website]→ Apply for your birth certificate [Internal Affairs website]Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competencyPage 7 of 18

2. Requirements (continued)2.5 Medical examination and eyesight testYou need to prove that your medical fitness and eyesight meet the required standard.RequirementBe medically fitDocument(s) you must provideA certificate of medical fitness for seafarers that is valid at the time we issueyour MEC 6 certificateThis is a special medical certificate, which you must get from a registeredmedical practitioner.You may use an existing medical certificate if it will be valid (usually less thantwo years old) when your MEC 6 certificate is issued.Your medical practitioner will send us a copy or we will accept a certifiedcopy.Have good eyesightEye test results showing you have met the required standards for visual acuity(including a letter eyesight test). Your letter eyesight test results, assessed aspart of the seafarer’s certificate of medical fitness, must be less than 12 monthsold at the time we issue your certificate. If there is any doubt about you passing the eyesight test, your medicalpractitioner will refer you to a registered optometrist.For more information about the medical and eyesight requirements for this certificate, refer to theguidelines on MNZ’s website:maritimenz.govt.nz/seafarersMarine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 8 of 18

2. Requirements (continued)2.6 Age and identityWe need to confirm your age and identity. To help us do this, there are several documentswe need from you, which are outlined below.RequirementProve your identity and be 18 or olderDocument(s) you must provide Your completed seafarer certificate applicationform (remember to sign where indicated)Either your passport (make sure it has notexpired) or your driver’s licence and birthcertificateFour passport-sized photographs (or ask thephotographer to provide an electronic copy,which you can then forward to MNZ if you areemailing us your application)Refer to 5. Forms for all of the forms that you will need to complete your application.Links for these requirements→ Apply for or renew a passport [Internal Affairs website]→ Get your driver’s licence [NZ Transport Agency website]→ Apply for your birth certificate [Internal Affairs website]Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competencyPage 9 of 18

3. When and how to applyApply when you have completed all of the certificate requirements. Once we have receivedall of the information we need from you, it may take us up to 20 working days to processyour application, so send it in as soon as possible (and at least one month before you needyour certificate).Make sure you include all of the documents we have asked for. Refer to 3.4 Checklist to make sure youhave everything you need for your application. (If you have made a mistake or left out something we haveasked for, your application is likely to be delayed.)3.1 Certified copiesWe need certified copies of your supporting documents, not the original versions. The only exception isyour completed training record book – we need the original of this.A certified copy is a photocopy that has been certified as being a true and accurate copy. Certified copiesmust clearly show the certifier’s name and title beneath their signature. Any additional pages must showthe initials of the person certifying the document.Your documents can be certified by:a justice of the peacea notary publica barrister or solicitor of the High Court of New Zealandyour training provider.You can get contact details for your local certifiers from the Citizens Advice Bureau or Yellow Pages.We do not need to see any of the documents you have already sent to us for other applications – justmake a note about these documents in your application. However, if any of these documents has expiredor will expire before we issue your certificate, we need to see a certified copy of the new or reneweddocument.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 10 of 18

3. When and how to apply (continued)3.2 Fees and payment optionsThe fee for this certificate is NZ$676, which includes goods and services tax (GST).You need to include payment by cheque or indicate your other chosen payment method on your seafarercertificate application form.You can pay:online using a credit card or debit card, orby internet banking or bank deposit, orby cheque (which you include with your application).Note: If you are not paying by cheque, we will give you the payment reference details when we receiveyour application. We do not want you to send us your credit card details.Refer to the MNZ website for more information about how to pay your fees:maritimenz.govt.nz/howtopayAs well as the application fee, you will have other fees and expenses to pay. For example, you may need topay for your eyesight tests and medical examination, your training and ancillary courses, and to makecopies of your documents and have them certified.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competencyPage 11 of 18

3. When and how to apply (continued)3.3 Application processThis is the application process for this certificate of competency. Complete each step beforeyou move on to the next one.1Do you meet all of the requirements?Check that you meet all of the requirements for this certificate.Move to step 2 once you know what the requirements are and that you can meet them.2Do you have the documents we need?Prove that you meet the requirements. Include all of the documents we haveasked for. Use the checklist (see 3.4. Checklist) to help you.Remember: we need certified copies, not the originals – except for your training record book,which must be the original.Move to step 3 once you have certified copies of all of the documents we have asked for andthe original version of your training record book.3Complete the application formsYou need to complete several forms as part of your application. Use the checklistto help make sure you have provided all of the information we need.Move to step 4 once you have completed all of the forms needed for your application.4Pay the application feeYou need to pay an application fee. The options for payment are:pay by bank deposit or internet banking, orpay online using a credit card or debit card, orinclude a cheque with your application.Move to step 5 once you know what you need to pay and you have either included acheque with your application or chosen another payment option.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 12 of 18

3. When and how to apply (continued)5Send us your application by courier or emailThere are two options for you to send your application:1. Use a courier to send us your completed forms, certified documents,training record book (original version) and cheque for the application fee (ifusing that payment option).2. Send your application by email, attaching the scanned documents. (Theapplication form has information about the requirements for electroniccopies. Note that you will need to courier your training record book to usseparately.)Move to step 6 once you have ticked everything on the checklist and either couriered oremailed your completed application to MNZ (using the address provided at 3.5 Where tosend your application).6Send confirmation and/or requestWe will send you an email or letter to:confirm that we have received your applicationgive you reference details to pay the application fee (if you did not includea cheque with your application)list any documents we need from you before we can assess yourapplication.We must receive your payment before we can progress your application.7AssessmentAfter you have paid the fee and sent us all the documents we need, we will assess yourapplication and make a decision. This will usually take 20 working days (about a month).8Issue certificateWe will send you:1. your certificate, if your application has been successful, or2. an email or letter explaining why your application was unsuccessful.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competencyPage 13 of 18

3. When and how to apply (continued)3.4 ChecklistUse this checklist to make sure that you have everything you need for your application.Check that your documents are complete and have been signed, dated and certified as required.We need to see all of the documents listed below to confirm that you have met each requirement. The onlyexceptions to this are documents that you have already sent to us for other applications (just note this inyour application). However, if a document has expired or will expire before we issue your certificate, weneed to see a certified copy of the new or renewed document.About youSeafarer certificate application form (remember to sign the form)Passport or driver’s licence and birth certificateFour passport-sized photos or an electronic copyCharacter referenceFit and proper person formConsent to disclosure of information formPolice clearance for other countries (if applicable)Certificate of medical fitness for seafarersIf required, eyesight test(s) results from an optometrist (check that the optometrist has sent yourresults to us)Your MEC 6 trainingCourse completion letter and assessment recordYour final examination resultsYour sea serviceOriginal training record bookMarine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 14 of 18

Your ancillary certificateFirst aidRemember:Either include a cheque (in $NZ) or indicate which other payment option you’d like to useHave your documents certified (apart from your training record book)Send your application to us by courier or emailFor an emailed application, you will need to send your training record book by courierSend your application to us as early as you canCheck that your MNZ-approved Maritime Examiner has sent us your final exam resultsIf required, check that your optometrist has sent us your eyesight test resultsMarine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competencyPage 15 of 18

3. When and how to apply (continued)3.5 Where to send your applicationTo provide extra security, we recommend that you courier your application forms anddocuments to us.Alternatively, you can scan and email your application and supporting documents (refer tothe application form for information about how to send your documents electronically).Courier your application to:Seafarer CertificationMaritime New Zealand1 Grey StreetWELLINGTON 6011OrEmail your application to:seafarers@maritimenz.govt.nzMarine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 16 of 18

4. Contact us for helpIf you need more information about the requirements for your application, visit the SeafarerCertification section of our website.maritimenz.govt.nz/seafarersIf you can’t find the information you need, send us an email:seafarers@maritimenz.govt.nzTell us what you need help with and remember to include your contact details (email address and phonenumbers).We need your completed application before we can assess whether you meet the requirements for thiscertificate of competency.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competencyPage 17 of 18

5. FormsTo apply for a maritime certificate of competency, there are several forms that you mustprovide and some that you may provide, depending on your situation.Everyone applying for this certificate of competency must complete and send us all of the following forms: Seafarer certificate application form Fit and proper person form Consent to disclosure of information form.Other forms you may need to use: Summary of seagoing service formEach of these forms is available on the MNZ website:maritimenz.govt.nz/seafarersNote:You must complete these forms correctly for your application to be valid. Carefully read any notesbefore you start.Marine Engineer Class 6 (MEC 6) - Guidance for certificate of competency Page 18 of 18