Diploma · national qualification
Diploma of Maritime Operations
This diploma is the qualification the Australian Maritime Safety Authority expects before it issues a certificate of competency to a master or deck watchkeeper on a commercial vessel.
- How long it takes
- 8 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- How you can study
- On campus
- Main job
- Ship Captain
- $175,000 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 4 providers
- 4 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Diploma of Maritime Operations asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in working on the water
- good communication skills
- a careful and steady approach to safety
- the ability to work well in a team
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Diploma or Certificate III?
The Diploma of Maritime Operations is at a higher level than the Certificate III in Maritime Operations. The diploma prepares you for AMSA certification as a master or deck watchkeeper, with duties including planning a safe navigational watch, using radar and electronic charts, handling a vessel, managing cargo and stability, and leading a crew.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Ship Captain
Ship captains command a vessel and its crew, carrying legal responsibility for everyone aboard, the cargo and the ship itself.
What else you need
The diploma must be completed with an AMSA-approved training provider. It is only one requirement for an AMSA Master certificate of competency: you also need extensive qualifying sea service, a prior certificate, medical fitness and an oral exam. The award alone confers no certificate. This catalogue groups awards: verify the chosen provider, programme and intake; the family-level link is not confirmation that every offering is approved.
Median pay$175,000
In demand
If you study further
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There are 4 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
What students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for University of Tasmania (opens in a new tab)
University of Tasmania
17 campuses, NSW, TAS, VIC
4.2from 775 Google reviews
What to weigh up
- Lecturers can be slow to reply to emails
- Refunds can take a while
- Course page for South Metropolitan TAFE (opens in a new tab)
South Metropolitan TAFE
Fremantle, WA
3.9from 617 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly and genuinely care about students
- Courses help students learn new skills
What to weigh up
- Phone calls and enquiries can go unanswered
- Website for TAFE International Western Australia (opens in a new tab)
TAFE International Western Australia
TAFE International Western Australia, WA
3.6from 93 Google reviews
What students like
- Staff are friendly, patient and helpful
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Communication can be inconsistent
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Diploma of Maritime Operations.
- Passage planning and navigation
- Electronic charts and radar
- Ship handling and manoeuvring
- Cargo loading and stowage
- Ship stability and seaworthiness
- Firefighting and sea survival
See all 19 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
This diploma is for people working in maritime who seek AMSA certification as Master up to 100 metres Near Coastal, Master up to 500 GT, or Watchkeeper Deck. Most study while working on vessels or after time as a deckhand. It leads to roles such as Deck Officer, Fishing Skipper, Marine Engineer, Marine Surveyor, Ship Captain, or Vessel Traffic Service Operator.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
The qualification itself has no entry requirements, but individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?
Yes. This qualification is required to obtain an AMSA certificate of competency as a Master up to 100 metres Near Coastal, a Master of a commercial vessel up to 500 GT, or a Watchkeeper Deck. AMSA certification also requires qualifying sea service, medical fitness, STCW short courses, and a final AMSA assessment. Seafarers should check requirements with AMSA.
How is it different from Certificate III in Maritime Operations?
The Diploma of Maritime Operations is at a higher level than the Certificate III in Maritime Operations. The diploma prepares you for AMSA certification as a master or deck watchkeeper, with duties including planning a safe navigational watch, using radar and electronic charts, handling a vessel, managing cargo and stability, and leading a crew.