Our regulatory plan is produced annually and contains planned changes to our regulatory instruments.
Our regulatory plan provides details of planned changes to our regulatory instruments, such as marine orders and the National Standard for Commercial Vessels, to make it easier for business and the community to take part in the development of those instruments.
The regulatory plans contain information on:
- legislative or other action planned for the current financial year that could lead to changes in business regulation.
- a five-year outlook of future action, including for specific industry issues, international developments, priorities for standards and legislative expiry.
- changes to business regulation that occurred during the previous financial year.
We publish an annual regulatory plan early in each financial year. While there may be some regulatory activities that we are unable to forecast, these activities will involve consultation with affected parties and will be recorded in future regulatory plans.
Direct any queries to regulation@amsa.gov.au.
- Regulatory program of marine orders
Marine order Description Consultation Proposed date Marine Order 5 (Alcohol and Drugs) 2020 Proposed new Marine Order to prescribe the kinds of alcohol and drug tests for seafarers and pilots under the Navigation Act 2012, Chapter 2, Part 6. Q1 2020 1 July 2020 Marine Order 11 (Living and working conditions on vessels) 2015 Implement 2016 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) amendments related to bullying and harassment. Q4 2018 8 January 2019 Marine Order 27 (Safety of Navigation and Radio Equipment) 2016 Full review and implement International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MSC.450(99) replacing INMARSAT as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) service provider with the term ‘recognised mobile satellite service’. Also reference IMO Resolution MSC.434(98) in Schedule 2 (enters into force 1 January 2021). Q3 2019 1 January 2020 Marine Order 31 (Vessel surveys and certification) 2015 Full review to clarify and incorporate the existing survey and certification requirements for government vessels (currently in Marine Order 62). Proposed change will cover all vessels including special provision for vessels under 7.5 metres. Repeal Marine Order 62. Q1 2019 1 June 2019 Marine Order 44 (Safe Containers) 2002 Full review and reissue to modernise drafting style under the Navigation Act 2012. Replace schedule 24 of Marine Order 4. Q4 2018 1 April 2019 Marine Order 47 (Mobile offshore drilling units) 2012 Review and reissue the Order under the Navigation Act 2012 and modernise the drafting style. Amalgamate with Marine Order 60. Replace schedule 25 of Marine Order 4. Q1 2019 1 June 2019 Marine Order 52 (Yachts and Training Vessels) 2016 Review to determine whether the new Red Ensign Group Code (combining the Large Yacht Code 3 and the Passenger Yacht Code), which comes into effect on 1 January 2019, affects the Order. Q4 2018 1 January 2019 Marine Order 60 (Floating Offshore Facilities) 2001 Review and reissue the Order under the Navigation Act 2012 and modernise the drafting style. Amalgamate with Marine Order 47. Replace schedule 36 of Marine Order 4. Q1 2019 1 June 2019 Marine Order 62 (Government Vessels) 2003 Repeal this Order following the review of Marine Order 31. Q1 2019 1 June 2019 Marine Order 63 (Vessel Reporting Systems) 2015 Implement IMO Resolution MSC.450(99) replacing INMARSAT as GMDSS service provider with the term ‘recognised mobile satellite service’. Amendments to the Australian ship reporting system ‘REEFREP’ reporting area. Q3 2019 1 January 2020 Marine Order 97 (Marine pollution prevention – air pollution) 2013 Amendment to cover adoption of IMO Resolution MEPC.304a(73) banning use, and carriage for use, of fuel oil with sulphur content >0.5%m/m. Enact the exemption provisions in Regulation 13.5.4 and 13.5.5 of Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Q3 2019 1 January 2020 Marine Order 503 (Certificates of survey – national law) 2018 Apply float-free EPIRB requirements to certain kinds of new, transitional and existing vessels required to be in survey. 31 October 2017 – 2 February 2018 1 January 2019 Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2013 Review to simplify the qualifications framework. The NSCV Part D will be incorporated into Marine Order 505. Q4 2018 1 July 2019
- Regulatory program of National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV)
NSCV Description Consultation Proposed date NSCV Part B – General requirements Amendment to definition of ‘smooth waters’ and ‘partially smooth waters’ to recognise waters designated as such by laws in force in a state or territory, to support the implementation of a new Ordinance under the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 to designate the waters in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands lagoon as ‘partially smooth waters’ (Category D). 25 May – 1 June 2018 27 July 2018 NSCV Part C2 – Watertight and Weathertight Integrity A new standard to specify requirements for watertight and weather tight integrity (removing existing references to the Uniform Shipping Laws Code). Q1 2019 1 July 2019 NSCV Part C5B – Design and Construction—Engineering—Electrical Full review to incorporate AS/NZS 3004—Electrical Installations—Marinas and Recreational Boats. Q3 2018 1 November 2018 NSCV Part C7A – Safety Equipment Review of Scale D, E, F medical kit guidance notes in view of codeine becoming prescription-only medication. Deal with any outstanding issues from ‘transitional’ changes to require all vessels to comply with contemporary safety equipment standard. Q3 2018 1 January 2019 NSCV Part D – Crew Competencies Review to simplify the qualifications framework. NSCV Part D will be incorporated into Marine Order 505. Q4 2018 1 July 2019
Last updated: 13 July 2022