Qualified Deck Crew (QDC)

Find information on training, sea service and other requirements for the QDC certificate, including how to apply and pay for your certificate, and where to find more help.

QDC is a national deck certificate. With a QDC certificate, you can perform the functions and duties of a deck crew member on non-passenger ships and passenger ships of less than 24 metres length, operating in restricted and near-coastal waters.

You must have a passenger endorsement if the ship is carrying more than 250 passengers.

From QDC, you can progress to Skipper Restricted Limits (SRL).

Requirements

Before you spend time doing sea service and training, we recommend you check that you can meet the medical fitness and eyesight standards (including for colour vision), and that you understand the fit and proper person requirements.

A summary of the requirements for this certificate is provided below. You need to meet all of these requirements to get your QDC certificate.

  • complete the QDC training record book
  • have the required ancillary certificates
  • pass Maritime NZ’s final exam
  • prove that you are a fit and proper person
  • be medically fit and have good eyesight (visual acuity and colour vision)
  • be at least 16 years old.

You must also have English conversation, reading and writing skills appropriate to the responsibilities and functions for the level of your certificate, so that you can satisfactorily complete training, pass examinations and discharge your duties.

Each of these requirements and how to prove that you meet them is explained in the full guideline below.

Qualified Deck Crew (QDC)[PDF: 229Kb, 19 pages]

Cost

The application fee for this certificate is $368, which includes goods and services tax (GST)

Application process

This is the application process for this certificate of competency.

Contact us for more help

If you have any questions about seafarer certification, please contact our Personnel Certification team.

Phone:

New Zealand (toll free):
0508 SEACERT or 0508 732 237

Call Personnel Certification now

Email:

seafarers@maritimenz.govt.nz
Tell us what you need help with and remember to include your contact details (email address and phone numbers).