Record of Service (ROS) books
When using a Record of Service (ROS) book, you must record sea service in the basic unit of a day. A standard day is a minimum of seven and a half hours in one calendar day. Sixty per cent of the time claimed in the day must be served in the geographical area being claimed. You cannot accrue more than one day of sea service in any calendar day. Part days are calculated by the marine examiner.
By formally recording sea service you are making a factual recording of the actual service you have completed. For example if you are working as a deckhand on a commercial vessel only operating in partially smooth waters, the duties are recorded as ‘D’ and the area of operation is recorded as 'PS'. Falsifying sea service is an offence.
More information about recording qualifying sea service.
Maritime Safety Queensland will calculate sea service according to the National Marine Safety Committee Circular – Principles for assessing sea service (PDF, 39 KB). This document covers the following:
- calculation of sea service
- applying for a restricted certificate
- employment in a dual master/engineer role
- sea service on longer voyages (voyages of longer than 24 hours — service in vessels where there are long periods underway in a watchkeeping situation covering periods underway both day and night)
- sea service in recreational vessels, other industries or on a vessel in a non-deck or engineering role
- completing a Record of Practical Experience and Sea Service (ROPES) book or equivalent programs for enhancing the quality of sea service.
The ROS books have a similar section to ROPES books for recording sea service. However, by completing the tasks in the ROPES books you may be eligible for a reduction of up to 50 per cent of the required sea service.
The master or owner of the ship you are working on must sign off entries in your ROS book. If you are the master of the ship, then the owner must sign off your entries.
If you complete a workplace-based task book provided by an authorised registered training organisation you will qualify for a 50 per cent remission in the qualifying sea service requirements relative to the licence level. If you complete a ROPES book you will qualify for up to a 50 per cent remission in the qualifying sea service requirements relative to the licence level, with a sliding scale of remission for a book that is not 100 per cent complete.
Notes for guidance of candidates detail the amount of sea service required for each type of marine licence.
Applying for a Record of Service book
Application for a ROS book must be done in person. You should contact a Maritime Safety Queensland regional office as you may need to make an appointment.
What you will need:
Maritime Safety Queensland may not issue a marine licence if the minimum standards of vision and medical fitness are not met. We strongly recommend that you undertake at least eyesight testing before purchasing a ROS book or commencing marine training with a Maritime Safety Queensland authorised registered training organisation (PDF, 27 KB).
