Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)
Requirements vary depending on how you plan to bring the vessel here.
RAVs must be built and maintained in class. Engage a recognised organisation (RO) at the plan approval stage to make sure your vessel meets class requirements.
ROs are usually located near major ship building areas so you can access them easily. They will be familiar with customs and processes in the local ship yard which may make the build process easier.
Notify us: Provide us with your vessel details well in advance so we can assist you.
Vessels being towed to Australia need to meet these requirements.
If your vessel doesn’t meet these requirements now, work towards meeting them as soon as possible.
Operator of the vessel being towed: Provide us with your vessel details now so we can assist you.
Operator towing the vessel: Provide us with details of your intended voyage at least 7 days before departure. See Marine Order 31: Division 4 Notification Matters.
All Australian vessels travelling from or to a foreign port are required to be registered.
Importing asbestos or asbestos containing materials is prohibited for ships entering Australian waters.
Contact Australian Border Force to ensure that the right inspection and certification measures are in place before your ship arrives.
Contact Australian Border Force.
Find out more about asbestos on ships.
Your vessel will be subject to biosecurity control. This means you will need to report on how you’ve actively managed biofouling before you arrive in Australian waters.
Report how you’re managing biofouling through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Maritime Arrivals Reporting System.
See also Marine Notice 11/2022—Biofouling and in-water cleaning.
Your crew will be required to hold relevant certification and qualifications. You'll also need to have a certain number of crew depending on the size of your vessel.
Apply for a minimum safe crewing document so AMSA can assess whether the vessel is safely crewed.
Learn about RAV crewing.
If you are bringing a passenger vessel or cargo vessel of 500 gross tonnage and above to Australia, you will need to comply with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
See AMSA Marine notice 7/2015 - Piracy and armed robbery against ships for details.
There may be other requirements you need to comply with. We’ll let you know what they are when you provide us with your vessel details.
If your vessel won’t undertake further overseas voyages after arriving in Australia, you will need to:
Please provide us with your vessel details and we can advise you on the process.
Note: An Australian vessel being brought to Australia as deck cargo may not need registration or certification as a regulated Australian vessel (RAV). It depends on the delivery circumstances.
Notify us: Provide us with your vessel details now so we can assist you.
Contact AMSA Connect to find out if your vessel needs to be registered.
If it does, register your vessel.
Importing asbestos or asbestos containing materials is prohibited for ships entering Australian waters.
Contact Australian Border Force to ensure that the right inspection and certification measures are in place before your ship arrives.
Contact Australian Border Force.
Find out more about asbestos on ships.
Your vessel will be subject to biosecurity control. This means you will need to report on how you’ve actively managed biofouling before you arrive in Australian waters.
Report how you’re managing biofouling through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Maritime Arrivals Reporting System.
See also Marine Notice 11/2022—Biofouling and in-water cleaning.
If you are bringing a passenger vessel or cargo vessel of 500 gross tonnage and above to Australia, you will need to comply with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
See AMSA Marine notice 7/2015 - Piracy and armed robbery against ships for details.
There may be other requirements you need to comply with. We’ll let you know what they are when you provide us with your vessel details.
Vessels being brought to Australia under their own power need to meet these requirements.
Notify us: Provide us with your vessel details now so we can assist you.
All Australian vessels travelling from or to a foreign port are required to be registered.
Importing asbestos or asbestos containing materials is prohibited for ships entering Australian waters.
Contact Australian Border Force to ensure that the right inspection and certification measures are in place before your ship arrives.
Contact Australian Border Force.
Find out more about asbestos on ships.
Your vessel will be subject to biosecurity control. This means you will need to report on how you’ve actively managed biofouling before you arrive in Australian waters.
Report how you’re managing biofouling through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Maritime Arrivals Reporting System.
See also Marine Notice 11/2022—Biofouling and in-water cleaning.
Your crew will be required to hold relevant certification and qualifications. You'll also need to have a certain number of crew depending on the size of your vessel.
Apply for a minimum safe crewing document so we can assess whether your vessel will be safely crewed.
Learn more about RAV crewing.
If you are bringing a passenger vessel or cargo vessel of 500 gross tonnage and above to Australia, you will need to comply with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
See AMSA Marine notice 7/2015 - Piracy and armed robbery against ships.
There may be other requirements you need to comply with. We’ll let you know what they are when you provide us with your vessel details.
If your vessel won’t undertake further overseas voyages after arriving in Australia, you will need to:
Please provide us with your vessel details and we can advise you on the process.