Risk Area 3.1: Domestic commercial vessel inspection targeting
AMSA employs a risk-based, targeted prioritisation model. The analysis of more comprehensive inspection data has allowed further refinement of risk profiles for targeting purpose.
Actions
AMSA will conduct at least 2,300 inspections of domestic commercial vessels based on vessel priority.1
| Group | Activity | Timeframe | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher risk domestic commercial vessels (Priority 1 and 2) | Inspection | Ongoing | 60% |
| Lower risk domestic commercial (Priority 3 and 4) | Inspection | Ongoing | 40% |
Risk Area 3.2: Safe working practices – injury to crew and passengers
Marine Order 504 Phase 2 regulatory changes are linked to existing risk areas across the domestic commercial vesseL fleet. Phase 2 is expected to focus on changes to safety management system provisions, including simpler systems for smaller vessels, covering the following:
- Fatigue management
- Dangerous goods
- Emergency plans
- Simplified SMS
- Stability risks
Actions
Marine Order 504 Phase 2 is scheduled for implementation in late 2024. This will involve an education campaign which covers the range of new regulatory requirements, but with particular focus placed on the new simplified SMS requirements for small vessels and simple operations. As these are new regulatory requirements, it is too early to implement a focused inspection campaign.
| Steps | Activity | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Order 504 Phase 2 education campaign | Education | Quarter 1,2 and 3 (pending completion of consultation and revision) |
Risk Area 3.3: Persons overboard, fatalities
Three (3) Operational fatalities occurred in 2023 (1 hire & drive, 1 passenger, 1 crew on a class 3). All vessels were less than 7.5 metres in length, and all involved persons overboard.
A Focused Inspection Campaign on lifejacket wear requirements conducted in Quarter 3 and 4 of 2023 and introduced as part of the phase 1 changes to Marine Order 504, showed that 46% of the inspected vessels could not identify when lifejackets must be worn. 44% did not identify lifejacket wear other than in an emergency.
Actions
There is a need for continued compliance focus on lifejacket wear and risk assessment requirements. A safety education campaign will be conducted to revisit the requirements.
| Steps | Activity | Timeframe | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education for life jacket wear requirements (primarily crew), as per Marine Order 504. Provide information on lifejacket wear on AMSA correspondence from MARS | Education | Quarter 1 and 2 |
Risk Area 3.4: Carriage of dangerous goods
Carriage of dangerous goods is a high-risk activity for domestic commercial vessels. As such, it has been incorporated into the requirements of MO504 phase 2. This risk area will provide an opportunity to collaborate with State Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulators.
Actions
AMSA will publish safety information in collaboration with State WHS regulators focusing on the carriage of dangerous goods on domestic commercial vessels.
| Steps | Activity | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Publish safety information focusing on carriage of dangerous goods, including stowage, segregation and securing. | Education | Quarter 4 |
Risk Area 3.5: Torres Strait and Top End: Safe vessel operations
AMSA will continue engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities. As relationships are developed between AMSA and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, safety management system workshops will be offered to Indigenous stakeholder groups and vessel owner/operators.
This compliance priority is aligned with AMSA’s reconciliation vision and Reconciliation Action Plan.2
Actions
AMSA will conduct safety management safety education with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander domestic commercial vessel owners and operators including providing guidance on changes to operational safety requirements, including the implementation of Marine Order 504 phase 2 requirements.
| Steps | Activity | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct simplified safety management system workshops. | Education | Ongoing |
Risk Area 3.6: Poorly implemented safety management systems
Vessel operations represent a concerning proportion of serious and very serious marine incidents. A major contributing factor to these incidents is the quality of Safety Management System (SMS) implementation, including risk assessment, safety procedures, crew training and emergency drills.
Actions
AMSA will conduct operational monitoring on key areas of risk assessment, maintenance, crewing and emergency preparedness.
| Steps | Activity | Timeframe | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct operational monitoring of domestic commercial vessels. | Inspection | Ongoing | 100 |
Risk Area 3.7: Pilot transfer operations
Pilot transfer operations present a niche maritime risk that involves a high level of consequence and a high level of complexity in interacting between a domestic commercial vessel (pilot launch) and a vessel requiring a pilot.
Actions
AMSA will conduct operational monitoring on domestic commercial vessel pilot launch operations.
| Steps | Activity | Timeframe | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct operational monitoring on pilot launch operators. | Inspection | Quarter 3 and 4 | Targeted vessels from each pilot launch operator. |
Footnotes
1 AMSA continues to refine the domestic commercial vessel inspection targeting algorithm. Targets are guidance based on data from the time of publication and may change.
2 AMSA, Our Reconciliation Action Plans, AMSA website, 2023, accessed 17 April 2024.