Tuesday 18 March 2025
From 1 June 2025, a simplified safety management system (SMS) will be available for smaller, less complex domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) that meet the eligibility criteria.
This change aims to make compliance easier while maintaining safety.
If you operate an eligible DCV and already have a full SMS, you’ll have the option to switch to the simplified SMS or keep your existing one. Until 1 June 2025, all operators must continue to operate under the current requirements.
Key changes for eligible vessels
- If the owner is also the designated person, a designated person responsibility statement is no longer required.
- If the owner is also the master, a master’s responsibility and authority statement is no longer required.
- The risk assessment no longer needs to identify key daily tasks performed by the master and crew.
- The number of mandatory vessel operation procedures has been reduced.
- Owners are no longer required to identify an assembly station in the emergency plan.
- The mandatory details in the crew list have been reduced.
What you need to do
Step 1: Learn about simplified SMS
Step 2: Check eligibility for a simplified SMS
Step 3: Update your SMS.
AMSA is developing detailed guidance and examples to help operators transition to a simplified SMS. This will be available closer to 1 June 2025.
Join our simplified SMS webinar
To learn more, join AMSA’s simplified SMS webinar on 9 April. We’ll provide an overview of the simplified SMS and answer your questions.