How Australia collaborates

Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) 

Australia provides the Secretariat to APHoMSA. The group has 29 member countries from the rim of the Pacific Ocean and 9 observer organisations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The forum meets annually to strengthen cooperation between maritime agencies and develop regional solutions to our shared challenges in areas like safety and seafarer welfare, environmental protection, maritime incident response, regional cooperation, and women in maritime.

Learn more about APHoMSA’s work.

International Maritime Organization Integrated Technical Cooperation Program (ITCP) 

The ITCP helps countries to comply with the IMO’s regulatory framework.  

Australia supports this program through donations and in-kind assistance, technical expertise and participation.

Australia recently provided a substantial donation to:  

• support the establishment of the IMO Regional Presence Office for the Pacific
• develop capacity building programs for the Indo-Pacific region
• assist Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries in any region
• support women in maritime and seafarer welfare around the world. 

Pacific Search and Rescue Steering Committee (PACSAR) 

Australia is a metropolitan member and current Chair of PACSAR.

PACSAR is made up of search and rescue (SAR) agencies from 5 principal nations—Australia, Fiji, France, New Zealand, and the United States of America. These members hold responsibility for significant SAR areas within the Pacific region.  

We commit to working with other partners and Pacific Island countries and territories to build regional search and rescue capabilities in the region. 

Pacific Islands Regional Marine Spill Contingency Plan (PACPLAN) 

Australia is the primary source of assistance for 6 Pacific Island countries under PACPLAN — Tuvalu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kiribati.

PACPLAN provides a framework for cooperative regional responses to major marine spills in the Pacific Islands region. It sets out how Pacific Island countries can request assistance from Australia, New Zealand, France, or the United States of America.

Ongoing technical assistance to the broader Indo-Pacific region. 

Australia is proud to partner with several regional organisations including:  

• Pacific Community (SPC)
• Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
• Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)  
• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)  
• Indian Ocean and Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control.

We also support the development of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea’s maritime transport sector through strong bilateral programs that help improve:

• domestic maritime legislation
• ship inspection
• marine environment protection
• search and rescue capabilities. 

Scholarships/fellowships  

Australia is also delighted to support the World Maritime University.

The University, as a global centre of excellence recognised by the IMO and United Nations General Assembly, plays a significant role in:

• maritime and ocean education
• research
• capacity-building
• economic development.

It also promotes the roles of women in the maritime and ocean sectors. 

Australia is committed to advocating for the region’s maritime interests and enhancing the technical, professional and leadership skills of the region’s maritime specialists.

Since 2018 Australia supported Indo-Pacific students by:

• providing 25 scholarships for the World Maritime University Masters of Science in Maritime Affairs program   
• sponsoring 2 students to undertake the International Maritime Law Institute’s Master of Humanities and Master of Laws program.

Increasing IMO presence in the Pacific region 

Australia is pleased to support the IMO and Pacific Island Member States to establish an IMO Regional Presence Office (RPO) for the Pacific. Fiji has been selected as the host country of the RPO.

The establishment of a regional presence office for the Pacific will improve the IMO’s understanding of the special needs of Pacific Islands and enhance the IMO’s capacity to deliver assistance to the region. 

Australia supports the development and implementation of shipping standards

We are dedicated to shaping standards for international trade and sea transport through our participation on IMO committees and sub-committees, which work to develop and implement shipping standards across the many areas of the IMO’s broad remit.

Australia currently chairs the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, which plays a crucial role in overseeing the safe transport of packaged dangerous goods, solid bulk cargoes, bulk gas cargoes, and containers.