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AISR Fact Sheet
The Australian International Shipping Register
Note: This is for Notification only - more information will be available in the near future.
With the passage of the Shipping Registration Amendment (Australian International Shipping Register) Act 2012, revisions establishing the Australian International Shipping Register (the International Register) under the Shipping Registration Act 1981 were adopted on Thursday 21 June 2012. The International Register formally came into existence on 1 July 2012.
The International Register has been established to provide a competitive alternative for Australian individuals or companies, that own or operate ships, to registering overseas with other registers. The register will maintain Australia’s international reputation for high quality maritime safety and environmental standards. The objects of this register are to:
- facilitate Australian participation in international trade; and
- provide an internationally competitive register to facilitate the long term growth of the Australian shipping industry; and
- promote the enhancement and viability of the Australian maritime skills base and the Australian shipping industry.
As with the General Register, AMSA will regulate vessels on the International Register. The International Register will require vessel owners or operators to meet ownership requirements or provide evidence that the ship is being operated by an Australian entity under a demise charter.
Inclusion on the International Register is a discretionary option for owners and operators that are predominantly engaged in international trading (vessels would otherwise be registered on the General Register). AMSA will have the discretion to decide whether to permit a ship to be registered in the International Register. This process is intended to ensure ships are of an appropriate standard.
Consistent with the operation of other quality international registers, vessels on the International Register will be permitted to operate with mixed crews, with the majority of officers and crew not required to be Australian citizens or residents. This reflects the global nature of shipping, with crew drawn from across the world. The Government has determined that at least two senior positions (engineering and deck officers), preferably the Master and Chief Engineer, are to be filled by Australian citizens or residents. This reflects the policy intent to build the domestic maritime skills base by providing an opportunity for Australians to gain the necessary international seafaring experience.
To ensure that the International Register is competitive, international labour terms and conditions will apply to seafarers working on board ships registered in the International Register while they are engaged in international trading. A minimum safety net is provided through the application of the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), which Australia has ratified.
In addition, ships on the International Register will have access to a range of tax incentives to ensure the register is competitive with open registers. These tax incentives are managed by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and the Australian Tax Office. More information is available on the DIT web site.
Guide to Registration
Information on how to register a ship on the International Register, the conditions of registration and how to maintain registration is contained in the Guide to the Registration of a Ship on the International Register. This guide is also available in hard copy from AMSA Offices.
Note: This guide is advisory only and is designed to provide a link between the different elements of the relevant legislation. It should not be relied upon solely and interested parties are advised that they also need to consult the legislation when considering registration. |
Qualifications
For service on a ship registered in the AISR all seafarers who do not hold a primary certificate or certificate of recognition issued by AMSA must hold a certificate of recognition (COE). A COE is only valid for service on a ship registered in the AISR. AMSA will only issue a COE to seafarers holding a certificate issued by an administration that has entered into a formal agreement with AMSA for recognition of certificates. See Guidance material on obtaining a COE.
Manning
The procedure for determining the minimum safe manning for a ship registered in the Australian International Shipping Register (AISR) is the same as that for a ship registered in the Australian General Shipping Register. Information on how to obtain a Minimum Safe Manning Document is available from the Manning section of this web site.