How it works

Flag State control (FSC)

AMSA inspectors conduct inspections on Australian-flagged ships subject to the Navigation Act 2012 using the same targeting arrangements applied to foreign-flagged ships.
AMSA conducted 95 initial FSC inspections on 76 Australian-flagged ships during 2021, resulting in 254 deficiencies being recorded, seven of which were detainable deficiencies resulting in the detention of three ships. The average number of deficiencies per inspection increased from 2.4 in 2020 to 2.7 in 2021.
The number of FSC detentions increased to three in 2021, from one in 2020. This equated to a detention rate of 3.2 per cent, which is well below the average of 5.6 per cent recorded for foreign-flagged ships during the same period.

Port State control – Australian-flagged ships (overseas)

Australian-flagged ships calling at foreign ports were subject to a total of one PSC inspection by foreign maritime authorities, resulting in four deficiencies and one detention. AMSA is working with the operator of this ship to address their compliance with all requirements applicable to ships on an international voyage.

Refusal of a ship’s access and condition of entry

Australia is a signatory to various International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions which aim to ensure ships are safe.
Ships that are not operated and managed to meet applicable minimum standards and relevant Australian laws pose an increased risk to seafarers, ships and the environment. The Navigation Act 2012 gives AMSA the power to direct that a ship be refused access to Australian ports. AMSA exercises that power on occasions where a ship is repeatedly detained, has a poor PSC record, or there are concerns about the performance of the ship operator. We promulgate our policy on refusing access on our website.  

AMSA can issue a ship with a direction not to enter or use an Australian port (or ports) for a set period, as deemed necessary. When considering ship performance, AMSA also looks at the performance of the entire company responsible for the operations of the ship. Where the company’s performance is also deemed unacceptable, the periods for which the ship is not permitted to enter an Australian port may be extended. A direction resulting from a detention will generally take effect as soon as the ship leaves the Australian port or anchorage following rectification of the detainable deficiency.

We publish a list of ships that are refused access to Australian ports on our website. 

Table 20 lists the ships issued with directions not to enter or use an Australian port in 2021.

Table 20 – Ships issued with directions⁶

High performing operators

When considering ship performance, AMSA also considers the performance of operators in respect of the detention and deficiency rates of the ships they operate. In this report AMSA has identified operators that are considered to be high performing. This is assessed on the following basis:

• At least 10 inspections during the year (less than 10 is not statistically significant)
• No detentions during the year
• A deficiency rate at no more than 70% of the average deficiency rate for the year.

Applying these criteria to data for 2021, AMSA identified 25 high performing operators as listed in Table 21 below.

Table 21 – High performing operators 2021

Footnotes

⁶  The full list of ships which have been refused access to Australian ports, or issued letters of warning, can be found on the AMSA website here.