This Statement of Intent (SoI) is issued in response to the Statement of Expectations (SoE) issued to the AMSA Board by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, covering the period 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026. This document has been approved by the AMSA Board as the Accountable Authority and will be used to guide development of organisational strategy that is consistent with the SoE, and AMSA’s statutory roles and functions.

1. Overview

AMSA’s vision is safe and clean seas, saving lives. AMSA’s mission is ensuring safe vessel operations, combating marine pollution, and rescuing people in distress. 

AMSA’s strategy, guided by its vision and mission, will reflect the aims expressed in the SoE. 

AMSA is accountable for the delivery of its statutory functions under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990.  AMSA will continue to deliver these functions to meet the needs of stakeholders demonstrated by: 

• Maritime safety: Ensuring the safety of vessels and seafarers by implementing and enforcing safety standards for commercial shipping, domestic commercial vessels, and maritime operations in Australian waters.
• Marine environment protection: Preventing and responding to ship-sourced pollution to preserve Australia’s marine environment, through maintaining regulations and a capability to respond to incidents.
• Navigation infrastructure: Providing marine navigation aids, and ensuring delivery of maritime infrastructure services and systems, to support safe navigation in Australian waters.
• Search and rescue coordination: Coordinating operations in Australia’s search and rescue region, ensuring timely and efficient response to maritime and aviation distress situations.

AMSA’s efforts will be focused on meeting the challenges presented by the complex multi-jurisdictional operating environment it works in, and supporting stakeholders - Government, industry and the Australian public - to address their own unique challenges in this environment.

AMSA will ensure that regulatory, operational, and incident response functions are continually reviewed to meet the evolving needs of the maritime sector and Australian community.

2. Governance

AMSA remains dedicated to maintaining high standards of governance in the execution of its roles and responsibilities. AMSA will fulfill its obligations under relevant legislative frameworks. 

AMSA will maintain clear and open communication with the Minister, and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department), ensuring all material events or issues are communicated in a proactive manner.  

AMSA will continue to focus on:

• Integrity and accountability: AMSA officials will act with honesty, integrity, and professionalism in all decisions and actions, consistent with community expectations of government and with AMSA’s own values.
• Transparency: AMSA is committed to transparent decision making, guided by the Commonwealth Regulator Performance Guide. AMSA will maintain high standards of consultation, regulatory impact analysis, and performance reporting, ensuring all relevant information is publicly available.

3. Strategic direction and manner of performance

In keeping with AMSA’s enduring vision and mission, consistent with its intent to be a modern and effective maritime safety regulator, and to continue its objectives as a risk-based regulator; AMSA will ensure its strategy reflects the SoE and continues to address the challenges and opportunities in its operating environment.  AMSA will continue to work collaboratively with the Department and other agencies to support Government recommendations related to the transformation of its operating environments, including the establishment of a sustainable funding model for AMSA. AMSA’s collaborative efforts will support the creation of a strategic fleet, industry adoption of emerging technologies, decarbonisation, modernisation of Australia’s shipping regulatory framework, and establishing appropriate cost recovery arrangements for regulatory services.

AMSA will continue to review and communicate its regulatory philosophy to ensure its approach is both clear and accessible to stakeholders. AMSA’s philosophy is for a risk-based approach to ensure efficient and effective performance, compliance with relevant laws and international standards, reduce regulatory burden, and that cost recovery for services is fair and equitable.

4. Key initiatives

AMSA will use its Corporate Plan and Annual Report to communicate key initiatives and report on progress. AMSA will focus on the following priorities consistent with the achievement of the Minister’s SOE and through its strategic intent:

• Risk-based approach: AMSA applies a risk-based regulatory model to ensure efforts are balanced, informed by data, and proportionate to address the safety and environmental risks. AMSA encourages voluntary compliance by industry and ensures compliance and enforcement actions are proportionate to the risk they present to operational safety, the marine environment and seafarer welfare.
• Modern service delivery: AMSA embraces digital transformation and innovative technologies to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery, and to progressively transform its operations consistent with its financial and resource capacity. AMSA will adopt a digital-first approach to improve access to certification and registration services.
• Environmental stewardship: AMSA’s environmental policies and operations are guided by the Government’s environmental policies. AMSA will promote sustainable maritime practices and implement agreed greenhouse gas emission measures to address climate impacts on the maritime environment. 

5. Stakeholder engagement

AMSA collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Australian and international maritime industry, government agencies at Federal, State/Territory level, international organisations, and the Australian public. These collaborative efforts ensure AMSA policies, regulations and operations are:

• informed by the experiences of regulated communities, partner agencies and organisations, and
• consistent with Australia’s interests, government policies, and foreign policy priorities.

AMSA’s Stakeholder Engagement Framework outlines a strategic approach to ensure engagement is consistent, appropriate, and meaningful for all stakeholders. Guided by five principles—respectful, purposeful, transparent, inclusive, and timely—it aims to foster strong relationships and ensure stakeholders find value in participating in engagement activities, including regulatory development.

Using multiple channels and methods AMSA will inform, educate, consult, and collaborate with all stakeholders. AMSA will continue to measure its performance against the 'Collaboration and Engagement' principle outlined in the Regulator Performance Guide.

6. Conclusion

This SoI emphasises AMSA's enduring commitment to its vision of safe and clean seas, saving lives through the delivery of effective and efficient regulation and coordination of aviation and maritime search and rescue; and with a focus on the stakeholders it serves.

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This version was approved by the AMSA Board on 19 December 2024. The SoI was communicated to the portfolio Minister on 20 December 2024 by the AMSA Board Chair.