Certificates of Local Knowledge (COLK) are issued under the Marine Safety Act. The requirements for the issue of a Certificate of Local Knowledge are detailed in Marine Safety Regulation and NSW Marine Pilotage Code.
Certificates of Local Knowledge are required for masters of commercial vessels between 30m and 80m LOA.
Certificates of Local Knowledge have a validity of five years with annual validation required.
Certificates of Local Knowledge will only be valid in respect of the vessel stated on the Certificate of Competency held by the Master at the time of issue.
The conditions of all Certificates of Local Knowledge are:
- maintenance of the Certificate of Competency, Master applicable to the size of vessel of which the Certificate of Local Knowledge relates;
- annual validation to determine whether the holder continues to be eligible to hold this marine safety licence;
- the holder must satisfactorily complete any training or assessment as required by Port Authority, as detailed below;
- a valid certificate of medical fitness for the Certificate of Competency held as a Master of the vessel stated in the Certificate;
- must not carry out any unsupervised movements in the area to which the Certificate relates if the holder becomes aware of any circumstance, condition or injury that might cast doubt on the holder's fitness to carry out such movements as are authorised by the Certificate;
- must maintain the records required to be maintained by the NSW Marine Pilotage Code;
- must comply with any direction given by the Harbour Master for the Port; and
- must comply with any Port procedures published by the Harbour Master, Port Authority or Minister;
- it is an offence to cheat in an examination associated with a marine safety licence, including a COLK (under section 84 of the Marine Safety Regulation 2016 (NSW)). If you commit an offence under this section you are liable to pay a financial penalty in accordance with the Act and will be disqualified from holding a licence for 12 months.
A Certificate can be endorsed for any or all areas, provided the Applicant satisfies the experience and examination requirements for the appropriate area(s).
| Location | Deck Service | Bridge Service |
| Whole Harbour Sydney | 200 Hours | 100 Hours |
| Main Harbour - Manly to Gladesville Bridge | 100 Hours | 50 Hours |
| Port Botany | 100 Hours | 50 Hours |
The applicant must provide proof that:
- They have been employed for a total of at least the required hours in the last year (substantiated by a Record of Service Book or a letter from their employer) in deck service on a ship of at least 15 and no more than 80m in length that operates within the applicable area and is the subject of a permit under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law.
- This can be reduced to the required hours bridge service (substantiated by a statement to the effect that the applicant observed operations on the bridge of the vessel throughout the period from each Master).
The applicant must provide the following:
- Application Form
- Evidence of Qualifying Time or Experience:
- letter from employer or copy of record of service book (to be kept on file by Port Authority) bring on the day of exam
- On the day of the exam bring the following original documents:
- A valid Certificate of Competency issued under the Marine Safety Act
- A valid Certificate of Medical Fitness as required for the Certificate of Competency held by the applicant.
The COLK exam is a computer based knowledge exam that will cover the following topics:
- Names of bays, headlands, points, wharves, berths
- Navigational marks including leading marks with their descriptions, light characteristics and fog signals
- Depth contours
- Berth numbers and their location
- Position of submarine cables and pipelines
- Reporting points and speed zones
- Prohibited areas for anchoring, restricted areas and naval waters
- Heights under bridges
- Marine Safety Act, 1998
- Marine Safety Regulation 2016
- Harbour Master's Directions
- Standard Marine Communication Phrases
- VHF practice on approach
- Reporting points within the port
- Information available from Vessel Traffic Service (Sydney Ports VTS)
- Relevant sections of the Boating handbook issued by RMS Maritime
You have one hour to answer 50 questions and achieve a mark of 90% to pass.
- Marine Safety Regulation 2016 - NSW Legislation
- Harbour Master’s Directions - In force from 15 February 2022
- Notice to Mariners
- Berths and Channels Information
- Safety standards - Commercial vessels - Maritime - Roads and Waterways – Transport for NSW
- Sydney Harbour AUS Chart 200
- Port Botany AUS Charts 198
- Boating Maps for NSW Waterways: Maps - Navigation and communication - Using waterways - Maritime - Roads and Waterways – Transport for NSW
- You can purchase AUS digital charts from Hydrographic Office: Australian Hydrographic Office - AusChartviewer
- New application $79.00
- Renew application $42.00
- Payment will be processed on the day: We accept Visa/MasterCard
- https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2016/308/sch11
Once you have studied and you are ready to book a time and date to do the exam:
Use the link below to book online.
COLK Exam Calendar
or email: [email protected]
PLEASE NOTE: All Exams are now done on-line via Microsoft Teams
Alternatively, if you have any queries, please contact Wendy Graham on 02 9296 4502.
The Applicant will be required to submit evidence once a year on the anniversary of the certificate issue date:
- A reminder email will be automatically sent to you prior to the anniversary date for you to provide evidence of sea service and maintain validity of your certificate.
- The evidence of sea service must state:
- that you have carried out navigation in command of a vessel of at least 15 metres in length in each port/area for which you hold Certificates.
- that this sea service was completed within the preceding 12 months.
- Evidence of sea service may take the form of a letter from the Applicant's employer or record of service (AMSA Form 771).
- Completed Application Form
These documents can be emailed to: [email protected]
Or mailed to:
Port Authority of New South Wales
Attention: Certificates of Local Knowledge
PO BOX 25
Millers Point NSW 2000
The Pilotage Code requires that holders of Certificates of Local Knowledge are assessed when:
- Five years has expired since the Certificate was issued
The Applicant must provide the following:
- Completed Application Form
- A current Certificate of Local Knowledge
- A valid Certificate of Competency
- A valid Certificate of Medical Fitness that is required by the Certificate of Competency above
- Evidence of active employment in the preceding six months in command of a ship of at least 15 metres and not more than 80 metres in length that operates within the harbour area for which the Certificate of Local Knowledge is valid and is the subject of a permit under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law
- The COLK renewal is a computer based exam. You have to answer 25 questions in 30 minutes with a pass mark of 22.
The COLK exam is a computer based knowledge exam that will cover the following topics:
- Harbour Masters Directions
- Standard Marine Communication Phrases
- Reporting points within the port
- Information available from Sydney Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)
- Marine Safety Act
- Marine Safety (General) Regulations
- Incident Reporting requirements
- Usual shipping and ferry routes
- Maneuvering areas in Botany Bay
- Restricted areas in relevant port
There are no shortcuts to passing the test. If you don't study the AUS CHART, you are unlikely to pass.
Once you've studied for the exam, you can take the free online practice COLK. It is designed to help you become familiar with the exam and decide if you're ready to attempt the exam.
Practice COLK
The practice test looks and operates like the real exam. It consists of questions drawn from the COLK Question Bank. At the end of the practice test, you will be advised whether you passed or failed and you will be able to review your answers
Take a practice COLK exam by clicking on the links below or scan the QR code with your mobile device:
