Our regulatory program is prepared annually and contains details of planned and completed changes to our regulatory instruments.
Publishing a regulatory program makes it easier for business and the community to take part in the development of our regulatory instruments, such as marine orders and the National Standard for Commercial Vessels.
The regulatory program contains information on consultation on legislative or other action planned during the current financial year that could lead to changes in our regulatory instruments.
We publish an annual regulatory program each financial year.
While AMSA works hard to deliver the program as published, there may be unforeseen delays to consultation or implementation for amended instruments, including from consultation feedback, resourcing constraints or other work priorities. There may also be some regulatory activities that we are unable to forecast at the time the program is published. As such, proposed instruments in the regulatory program 2024-25 should be considered indicative only. In all cases, however, significant regulatory changes will involve consultation with affected parties and will be recorded in future regulatory programs.
Please direct any queries about our regulatory program to maritimesafetysystems@amsa.gov.au.
Regulatory Program 2024–25
The regulatory program shows the regulatory changes that will be progressed during the financial year.
| Project | Description of Action |
|---|---|
| Navigation Act | |
| Marine Order 11 - Living and working conditions on vessels | AMSA is undertaking a review to give effect to the 2022 mandatory amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention which enter into force in December 2024. |
| Marine Order 15 - Construction—fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction & Marine Order 49 – High speed craft | AMSA is undertaking a review to give effect to mandatory changes to SOLAS Chapter II-2 and HSC Code which prohibits the use or storage of fire extinguishing media containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) for new vessels constructed on or after 1 January 2026. |
| Marine Order 16 - Load lines & Marine Order 19 – Tonnage measurement | AMSA is conducting a review of Marine Order 16 to apply the International Load Lines Convention to recreational vessels; and a review of Marine Order 19 to apply the International Tonnage Convention. |
| Marine Order 28 - Operations standards and procedures | AMSA is undertaking a review to give effect to mandatory amendments to STCW Code. The review will incorporate an alcohol provision clause to reflect the 2010 Manila amendments to the STCW Code. |
| Marine Order 32 - Cargo handling equipment | AMSA is conducting a review to give effect to mandatory changes to SOLAS Chapter II-1 which introduces new requirements providing standards for design, construction and installation of all onboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, which enters into force on 1 January 2026. |
| Marine Order 53 - Vessels in polar waters | Review to give effect to mandatory amendments to the POLAR Code providing requirements for Navigation and voyage planning for non-SOLAS vessels operating in polar waters, which enters into force on 1 January 2026. |
| Protection of the Sea (POTS) Act | |
| Marine Order 91 - Marine pollution prevention - oil | AMSA is undertaking a review to give effect to mandatory amendments to Annex I (Oil) of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). The review will provide for the use of electronic record books and issue of exemption certificates to unmanned non-self-propelled barges for certain survey and certification requirements. |
| National Law Act and National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) | |
| Marine Order 504 – Certificate of operation and operational requirements | AMSA is progressing a project to improve the safety outcomes of using the safety management system (SMS) and ensuring that it is practical, clear, and easy to use. The project involves the review and remaking of Marine Order 504. |
| Marine Order 503 – Certificates of survey, and associated general exemptions | AMSA is undertaking a review of the Certificate of Survey requirements set out in Marine Order 503, Exemption 02 and Exemption 40 to address any critical workability issues. |
| NSCV C7A – Safety equipment | AMSA is undertaking a review of safety equipment carriage standards for Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCVs) in survey to ensure requirements are contemporary, risk based and appropriate for size of vessel. The review also includes an in-depth revision of standards for key survival equipment including lifejackets and life rafts. |
| NSCV Omnibus review (NSCV C4 – Fire Safety, NSCV C6B – Buoyancy and stability after flooding, NSCV C7B – Communications equipment, NSCV C7C – Navigation equipment) | AMSA is progressing an omnibus amendment to address priority policy issues relating to standards for communications and navigation equipment, firefighting equipment and buoyancy foam used for positive flotation on Domestic Commercial Vessels. The review will also include firefighting measures for small lithium-ion battery installations. |
- Completed Program 2023-24
The completed program shows the regulatory changes that have been completed during 2023/24. Project Description of Action Date of Effect Marine Orders – made under the Navigation Act Marine Order 12 (Construction – subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations) 2023 AMSA undertook a full review to give effect to amendments to SOLAS which entered into force on 1 January 2024. 1 January 2024 Marine Order 27 (Safety of Navigation and Radio Equipment) 2023 AMSA undertook a full review to give effect to amendments to SOLAS Chapter IV which entered into force on 1 January 2024. 1 January 2024 Marine Order 55 (Vessel Carrying Industrial Personnel) 2024 AMSA created a new Marine Order to capture the new SOLAS Chapter XV and the new mandatory International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP) Code, which entered into force on 1 July 2024. 1 July 2024 Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014 AMSA undertook a full review to clarify the transition arrangements for certificates and remake the order under the Navigation Act 2012. 1 July 2024 Marine Orders – made under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act Marine Order 501 (Administration – National Law) 2023 AMSA undertook a sunsetting review to update and remake the order under the National Law Act 2012. 1 September 2023
Last updated: 22 August 2024