Non-survey fishing vessels operating in warm waters and within 2 nautical miles of land

Non-survey fishing vessels operating in warm waters and within 2 nautical miles of land

This new equipment list is for non-survey vessels operating: 

  • within 2 nautical miles of land - if you transit beyond 2 nm miles of land to reach your operational area this equipment list is not applicable to your vessel.
  • in warm waters 
  • with a maximum significant wave height of no greater than 2.5 metres
  • either under Exemption 2 (certificates of survey) or Exemption 40 (class C restricted operations).
 
Warm waters

Waters north of Coral Bay in Western Australia, all coastal waters in the Northern Territory and Queensland, and waters north of Ballina in NSW (waters north of latitude 23.5° south on the west coast and latitude 29° south on the east coast). 

Definition of 'nearest land'

'Nearest land' is the distance from land (other than a reef) as measured from the lowest astronomical tide.

New equipment list

Note: The safety equipment arrangements do not expand a vessel's operational area. For example, a Class 3D vessel can only operate in D waters that are within 200 metres of land with this equipment.

Portable safety equipment

ItemQuantityDescriptionNeed to know3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
lifejacket1 for each person onboardLifejacket – Level 150
  • Lifejackets must fit appropriately
  • A lifejacket must be worn when crossing a designated coastal bar
yes
Red hand-held distress flare2Red hand-held distress flareComply with AS2092 and be within their expiry dateyes
Orange hand-held smoke signal1Orange hand-held smoke signalComply with AS2092 and be within their expiry dateyes
Waterproof bouyant torch or lantern1Waterproof buoyant torch or lanternHave sufficient light intensity to signal for help and be stored with spare batteriesyes
V sheet marine1V sheet marine
  • Fluorescent orange-red coloured sheet
  • Not less than 1.8m x 1.2m
  • Black letter 'V' superimposed on the middle of the sheet
yes
A retrieval deviceRequired if more than 1 person onboardA retrieval device
  • At least 15m of floating rope of suitable strength attached to a device you can grab onto (e.g. end loop, hand hold etc)
  • Device must be throwable and unlikely to injury a person in the water (e.g. throw bags, retriever slings, rescue quoit with rope)
yes

Onboard communication

ItemQuantityDescriptionNeed to know3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2mn of land
Safety management system

1

 

One or more of the onboard communication methods must be recorded as part of your safety management system (SMS) yes

 

VHF radioYou must have one or more of these (not all)VHF marine radioThe best method of contacting other vessels, but must be within a VHF operational area to use this option.yes
Mobile phoneMobile phone (if within the coverage area)Service dependent communication equipment for contacting a shore base or other vesselsyes

 

MF/HF RadioMF/HF Radio (approved by ACMA for maritime use)yes

 

Satellite phone
Satellite phoneyes

Navigational equipment

ItemQuantityDescriptionNeed to know3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
Navigation lights1 setNavigation lights

Only required when operating at night or for restricted visibility:

  • 360 degree white light with port and starboard sidelights
yes

Only required at night or for restricted visibility

Compass or GPS1 of eachCompass or Global Positioning System (GPS)Minimum 75mm diameter compass card showing the cardinal points.
GPS must be suitable for marine navigation, display speed and determine location
yes

Compass + chart or an electronic navigation device

PLUS
Chart or map of the operational area1 of eachChart or map of the operational areaMust be a geographical representation of a marine area that identifies prominent shore marks and offshore islands, reefs and shoals
Electronic navigation device1Electronic navigation deviceOnly required if not equipped with a compass and a chartyes

Compass + chart or an electronic navigation device

Miscellaneous equipment

ItemQuantityDescriptionNeed to know3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
Anchor with chain or rope

1

 

Anchor with chain and/or ropeSufficient holding strength for
conditions and the vessel size and weight
yes
Bailing bucket1Bailing bucket
  • Only required if the vessel is <5m or is not self-draining
  • Bailing bucket must have attached a length of rope long enough to reach the water
yes
Bilge pumpsSee Table 2Bilge pumpsBilge pumps must be able to drain all bilges or closed floor compartments other than airtight voids or spaces filled with flotation. On an open vessel, the bilge system must be able to operate when the vessel is swampedyes

Emergency equipment

ItemQuantityDescriptionNeed to know3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
First aid kit1First aid kitSufficient for the vessel’s operations based on risk assessment within the SMS. Medical supplies must be within their expiry dateyes
Emergency drinking water2 litres per personEmergency drinking waterA minimum of 2 litres of emergency drinking water must be providedyes
Fire blanket1Fire blanket yes
Fire extinguisher1 x dry powderFire extinguisherSee table 1 below for size and ratingyes

 

Table 1: Fire extinguishers

Type of vesselQuantitySize (weight)Rating and type
Outboard vessels operating out to 2nm with ≤25 litres of portable fuel tanks11kg
  • Fire extinguishers must have the correct size and rating in accordance with AS1799.1
  • 1kg dry powder fire extinguisher must have a minimum rating of 20B(E) to comply with AS 1799.1
  • 2kg dry powder fire extinguisher is recommended to have a minimum rating of 40B(E)
  • Fire extinguishers must comply with AS/AZS 1841 and they must be serviced following AS/NZS 1851
Outboard vessels operating out to 2nm with >25 litres of fuel tanks12kg

Table 2: Bilge pumps

 Manual pump or extra low voltage (ELV) pumps
Measured Length of vesselNumberCapacity in kilolitre/hour
<5mBailing bucket acceptable for open boats provided the bilge is readily accessible.
<7.5m14.0
≥7.5m to <12m24.0

* Existing fishing vessels not required to have a certificate of survey under Exemption 02.
# New vessels not required to have a certificate of survey under Exemption 40.

Definitions

NSCV Part B (General requirements) is on AMSA's website:

  • Operational area category C is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Restricted offshore operations’
  • Operational area category C Restricted is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Restricted offshore operations – specified areas’
  • Operational area category D is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Partially smooth water operations’
  • Operational area category E is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Smooth water operations’.

Map of warm waters

The new equipment list applies to the vessels outlined above that operate in warm waters as shown in red on the map.

map of warm waters