Renewing national certificates of competency and endorsements

National certificates and endorsements

Certificates and endorsements for vessels operating in restricted limits and vessels less than 24 metres (<24 ) in coastal/offshore waters must be renewed every five years.

This applies to the following national certificates and endorsements:

National certificate

Skipper Restricted Limits

Skipper Coastal/Offshore

Master Yacht <24m

MEC 4

MEC 5

MEC 5 (Steam)

MEC 5 (Motor and Steam)

MEC 6

Endorsement

Skipper Restricted Limits endorsed for vessels of 500–3000 gross tonnage (SRL 500–3000GT)

Passenger endorsement

Cook Strait endorsement

High-speed endorsement

Square-rigged endorsement

Medical fitness

You need to prove that your medical fitness and eyesight meet the required standard. You must also meet the fit and proper person requirements.

Sea service

You must provide evidence of having completed at least six months' approved sea service within the previous five years or 45 days' sea service in the three months immediately before renewing.

If you do not meet the sea service requirements or your certificate has expired, alternatives to sea service may be available. These may involve a practical competency assessment and/or further training and assessment.

MNZ is also able to accept experience in certain non-seagoing positions as equivalent to sea service.

Certificate renewal sea service fact sheets [PDF: 192kB, 3 pages]

 

Find out more

Renewal of national certificates of competency and endorsements [PDF: 349kB, 14 pages]

 

Transitioning to new certificates

If you have an old certificate, refer to the transition information on MNZ's website to identify the new SeaCert certificate or certificates it aligns with, and find out what you need to do to transition.

Transition – moving from old to new certificates