Maritime Operations - Skipper Fishing Vessel Limited

NMIT is part of Te Pūkenga

This means that you will now graduate with a Te Pūkenga qualification. Read more
Locations and dates

Nelson:

27 October 2025
Study options

Full-time or part-time
Length

18 weeks total duration - includes online/distance learning components and a 7 week block course here in Nelson prior to your MNZ Final Examination.
Total credits

60
Fees

2024: $3,505 plus $122 Student Services Levy

A Compulsory Student Services Levy applies (2024; $2.05 per credit).

Fees listed are for each year of the programme, indicative only and may vary with course selection.

View course details for individual fees.
National qualification code

NZ2512

This programme contributes to graduates obtaining their Maritime New Zealand licence: Skipper Fishing Vessel.

This programme will give you the skills you need to manage and maintain, the safety of fishing vessels of less than 45 metres length, or non-fishing vessels up to 500t, operating within coastal and offshore limits (currently up to 200 nautical miles off the NZ coast).

To enrol on this programme, you need to hold either the MNZ Mate Fishing Vessel – Limited license, or the STCW Watchkeeper Deck 500t Near Coastal license. You will also be eligible to enrol if you hold a New Zealand Offshore Watchkeeper license, however you will also need to enrol on two additional courses covering Ship Stability and Cargo/Fishing vessel operations.

This programme also includes all the short courses you require to gain your license, such as all the STCW basic and advanced short courses, and Radio certificates. If you already hold any of these short courses, you do not need to do them again – we will credit them towards your programme.

Please refer to the Maritime New Zealand publication Seacert(external link), which will provide information on how much seatime is required for each license.

Furthermore, if you wish to know more about the International Maritime Institute of New Zealand click the link IMINZ.(external link)

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

No minimum academic requirements.

English language requirements

All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to undertake this programme, which is taught and assessed in English. Those students whose first language is not English should have an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score

Level 4 Programmes: IELTS of at least 5.5 (with no band score lower than 5.0) issued within the last two years, or equivalent.

Level 5 Programme:IELTS of at least 5.5 (with no band score lower than 5.0) issued within the last two years, or equivalent.

Other requirements

Applicants for each Programme must hold the MNZ Licence (or equivalent) as listed below:

Applicants for Maritime Operations- Skipper Coastal Offshore- must hold an SRL or equivalent
Applicants for Maritime Operations- Skipper Fishing Vessel Limited/ Master 500t Near Coastal - must hold either Mate FV Limited or Watchkeeper Deck 500t Near Coastal
Applicants should be aware that there are MNZ sea time, medical and eyesight requirements for the MNZ licence which their programme contributes towards.

Applicants should refer to www.maritimenz.govt.nz website(external link).

In order to undertake the Fire Training Courses (FAC303 and/ or FFT511)

Applicants must also:

Be physically fit and capable of participating in the practical training component
Students must provide a Medical Certificate issued by a General Practitioner, or provide a Seafarers Medical Certificate or equivalent.

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