Have you ever dreamt of a life upon the seas? Begin your steps towards earning your sea legs by becoming a coxswain. TAFE Gippsland offers a range of certificates in maritime operations or you can attend the special training centre at Lakes Entrance to begin your education on piloting a boat. In this article, we’ll cover what a coxswain is, the duties and responsibilities of a coxswain and what’s required to take charge of your vessel on the open water.

TAFE Gippsland trainer instructing a student in a boat

What is a coxswain?

A coxswain is in charge of a boat, in particular the steering and navigation of the vessel. In the days of the Royal British Navy, a coxswain was a chief petty officer who was in command of a barge or ship. They were the pilot of a vessel rather than the commander of a vessel, who would be the captain. In modern times, the role of a coxswain has become more or less the captain of a vessel, just without the actual title. With TAFE Gippsland you can become a coxswain (near coastal), which means you can be the master of a boat anywhere up to 15 nautical miles offshore. Further study can have you working within Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends out to 200 nautical miles offshore.

There are a lot of career opportunities for a coxswain. A qualified coxswain can do any number of the following roles.

  • Dive boat charter. There are many dive opportunities close to shore around Australia. Shipwrecks, such as the Albert near Lakes Entrance, provide exciting dive opportunities. The coastline between Kilcunda and Inverloch offers countless diving opportunities to experience the wild habitats of many sea creatures.
  • Ferry services. Sometimes the best route between two points is across the water with a ferry. You can take people and vehicles from point to point, many times a day. TAFE Gippsland has a Lakes Entrance Bar Crossing for Professional Operators short course to help with local ferry services.
  • Cruise boat operator. Tourism is growing and taking people out onto the water is the best way to see dolphins, seal colonies and the rugged coastline. It's a perfect chance to educate people about the local wildlife and the history of the Gippsland coast.
  • Chartered fishing. Within the 15 nautical miles you can take chartered fishing tours into the deep water for bigger fish.
  • Casual boat tours. You can take people on a leisurely cruise out at sea with a nice lunch and just relax. Let your passengers take in some sights, watch dolphins riding your bow waves and make lasting memories.

Prerequisites for a coxswain

Before you become a coxswain you need to understand yourself and if you’re up for the challenge. Here are some of the prerequisites for a coxswain:

  • You will need to make sure you have your sea legs. It can get rough out on the water and the pilot of the ship must be able to maintain self-control at all times.
  • You must be in good health and pass regular fitness tests. You will also need 20/20 vision. A coxswain is in charge of a vessel and potentially responsible for crew and passengers, so you must be in peak physical health.
  • You will need to have leadership skills and confidence in decision making under pressure. You must understand maritime safety and law, what to do in an emergency situation and procedures of helping others out at sea.
  • You will need to be at least 16 years of age and have finished a minimum of year 10 at high school. You will need to read and speak English fluently so when you enquire with TAFE Gippsland there may be a Language Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) test for you to do.
  • If doing an advanced maritime course, you must have qualified sea service on a vessel. Check the conditions on our website before applying to study.
  • It is highly recommended that you also have a First Aid Certificate and CPR training. If you’re operating a ferry or a cruise operation, a Working With Children’s check would also be required if you have families on board with children.

TAFE Gippsland trainer instructing a student on deck of a boat

Duties of a coxswain

Piloting a boat from dock to the open sea is just one of the many duties you will undertake as a coxswain. You have a responsibility to your crew, your passengers and your boat. Duties of a coxswain include:

  • Pilot and navigate small vessels. Depending on your level of qualifications, you may be qualified to pilot a vessel less than 12 metres in length within 5 nautical miles from shore, or command a vessel up to 24 metres in length within the 200 mile EEZ. Further duties could include acting as Chief Mate on larger vessels within Australia’s EEZ.
  • Consult with meteorological authorities before a voyage. It is important to know what the weather is going to be on the water every day you go out. This is vital for both safety and comfort reasons. You know your craft and you should know if it will be able to sustain the forecast weather. If you are taking on passengers, will the weather make things uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for them? You must know when the tides are high or low and what the different navigational issues are related to each. Low tide may expose a sandbar, high tide may be more difficult to navigate.
  • Manage and instruct your crew. You are in charge on your boat and you need to manage and instruct your crew. You will need to lead them, teach them and maintain discipline on board your vessel.
  • Communications with passengers - safety instructions and voyage updates. You are responsible for any passengers on your boat. As a coxswain, you must know all the safety features of your boat and relay them to your passengers. Be prepared to check safety equipment regularly and run safety drills to ensure all crew members know the protocols as well.
  • Maintain ship’s logbook. This is a record of departures and arrivals, distance travelled, who was on board and importantly, what happened while on board. If there is an incident, your logbook can be a legal document required in an investigation. As a coxswain, you must maintain and update the information in the logbook.
  • Mooring and unmooring of vessels. A vital skill, being able to gently moor your boat at the end of a journey without damaging both your boat and the dock, is imperative. It involves safe speeds and learning knotting and unknotting the vessel from dock.
  • Navigate safe passage using navigational tools and techniques. A coxswain will be reading charts, understanding tides and navigating maritime obstacles, such as sandbars. These are fundamental skills you will learn. You’ll need to know latitude and longitude and how to find your position using these coordinates.
  • Maintain seaworthiness of your vessel. Much like your daily drive, your boat will need to be maintained, serviced and repaired.
  • Use maritime radio or telephone. There are codes and phrases that are particular to maritime operations and the use of a maritime radio. You must be familiar with these codes and phrases and be able to communicate freely while using them.
  • Respond to maritime emergency situations. When you hear a call for help you may be the only one able to render assistance. You will need to locate the people in distress and be able to undertake assistance. Knowledge of maritime safety laws is essential.

Certifications you need to become a coxswain

The best way to become a coxswain is through TAFE Gippsland’s maritime courses. There are four full-time courses for you to study. Some of these courses require you’ve spent time on board a commercial vessel, so check prerequisites before applying.

The Seamec training centre at Lakes Entrance also offers some relevant short courses, such as a Short Range Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency - Marine Radio and a Long Range Radio Operator Certificate of Proficiency - Marine Radio, as well as two courses to understand crossing sand bars when heading into the open ocean - Lakes Entrance Bar Crossing for Professional Operators and Lakes Entrance Bar Crossing for Recreational Operators.

How much can a coxswain make?

There is great earning potential in this career field. The average salary for a coxswain in Australia ranges between $55,000 and $75,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications. Hourly rates for a coxswain vary between $31 an hour up to $60 an hour, again depending on experience and qualifications.

Being a coxswain is a fantastic career choice. You are able to share the sights and wonders of our picturesque coastline with tourists and international visitors. It’s a qualification that can literally take you around the world via the deep blue sea. For further information, visit our maritime course page, to see if becoming a coxswain is the career for you.