Australia is a leading maritime nation committed to strengthening representation and participation in the IMO.
Summary
- Australia promotes regional cooperation and inclusion and advocates for an IMO that is innovative, inclusive, transparent and effective.
- Our experts help shape global maritime standards, contributing to all committee and sub-committee meetings.
- We champion environmental protection and decarbonisation and make a practical difference to secure cargo better and reduce plastic pollution.
- We drive maritime innovation by delivering trusted digital services and world-class network of navigational aids that keep ships moving safely and efficiently.
Influential maritime leader
We strive to improve safety, security and environmental performance for the global shipping industry.
Australian experts contribute to every committee and sub-committee meeting, supporting the maritime community to improve standards for commercial shipping and achieve fair outcomes for Member States, seafarers and the shipping industry.
With 99% of commodities entering and leaving Australia by sea, we are committed to fostering a sustainable, equitable and ethical global maritime industry.
Island nation with 60,000 kilometres of coastline
Our coastline links the Pacific, Indian and Southern Oceans.
We have over 8,000 islands and the third-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Australia is one of the world’s largest exporters of bulk commodities. We are home to Port Hedland, the world’s largest bulk export port. We also have major ports in Brisbane, Newcastle, Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
More than 85% of Australians live by the sea. Our unique and diverse marine environments form part of our national identity. Our range covers Macquarie Island Marine Park in the Southern Ocean to the Great Barrier Reef, to the Torres Strait in the north and Ningaloo Coast in the west.
Australia is home to some of the region’s most respected maritime training institutions. Australia offers seafarer education and conducts cutting-edge maritime research.
Australia's maritime values
As a committed maritime partner, Australia leads mature maritime cooperation programs and serves as the permanent Secretariat to the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) forum.
Committed to reform, we advocate for an International Maritime Organization that is innovative, inclusive, transparent and effective.
Dedicated to developing fair and effective shipping standards, we aim to ensure that all nations benefit from safe, efficient ships and a clean environment.
Australia invests in alternative fuels for sustainable development and a cleaner future.
We consult widely to ensure that Council decisions reflect the diverse priorities and needs of IMO members.
As a champion of seafarer welfare, we maintain a world-class search and rescue capability and port State control program.
We enforce internationally agreed labour conditions on all ships operating in Australian waters.
Major maritime trading nation
Among the world’s largest exporters of iron ore and bauxite, Australia is also a major exporter of grain, beef, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, nuts and wine.
More than 1.5 billion tonnes of cargo are exported from Australia each year, making Australia one of the world's largest commodities exporters.
Australia promotes high cargo safety standards for the sustainability of bulk commodity trade. For example, we've worked on cargo liquefaction, dynamic separation and safe carriage of bulk liquid hydrogen.
Environmental champion
We protect the marine environment by negotiating and enforcing strong international standards for global shipping.
As a proud member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution by 2040, we are committed to achieving this target and supporting global action to address shipping’s contribution.
We are committed to the decarbonisation of the international shipping sector. This commitment is reinforced through Australia's national emissions reduction targets.
Australia supports the adoption of IMO mid-term measures and the ongoing review of the short-term measure. Collectively these measures will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping in line with the objectives set out in the IMO's 2023 Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shipping, including a just and equitable transition.
We have protected the iconic Great Barrier Reef by successfully seeking its designation as the first IMO designated Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) in 1990.
We have comprehensive national arrangements to manage maritime environmental emergencies. We provide help to our Pacific Island neighbours through the Pacific Islands Marine Spill Contingency Plan (PACPLAN).
Seafarer and ship safety and navigation
Australia has a world-class, risk-based port State control inspection regime.
We conduct nearly 3,000 port State control inspections each year.
Australia upholds the highest standards to address the mistreatment of seafarers and continues to support them by:
- ensuring compliance with Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) conditions onboard ships in Australian ports
- conducting investigations of MLC complaints
- detaining ships in breach of the MLC, and in severe cases, refusing access to Australian ports.
We work with international partners to advance digital maritime services, enabling ships to access trusted navigational and safety information in more efficient and user-friendly ways.
We also provide a comprehensive network of 11,250 visual and electronic aids to navigation in Australia’s waters. This allows ships to navigate safely around Australia’s coastline and to and from our ports.
Australia has one of the largest search and rescue regions, covering 53 million square kilometres, which is one-tenth of the Earth’s surface, extending to Antarctica.
Our SAR region borders 11 other SAR regions and includes some of the world’s major shipping routes.
We collaborate closely with other nations and take a leadership role in SAR in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific region.
As a member of the IMO Council and with a significant interest in shipping and maritime safety, Australia plays a key role in SAR capabilities across the region.
Our SAR services are backed by strong partnerships and programs in:
- the north-west Indian Ocean
- Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
- the south-west Pacific Island countries and territories.
We support our neighbours to achieve sustainable change and gender equality in the maritime industry.
- We fund scholarships for regional women to attend the World Maritime University. This provides opportunities for female maritime specialists to enhance their technical, professional and leadership skills.
- We run a domestic scholarship program to encourage women to enter the maritime industry in Australia.
Find out more about our scholarship opportunities and recipients.
Australia for IMO Council
Category B 2028-2029 biennium
