National Standard for Commercial Vessels

Part C - Design and construction 

Section 3 - Construction 

Edition 1.3

Commenced 1 April 2022

The National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) section C3 specifies the minimum safety standards required for the construction of vessels to: 

a) withstand the loads that arise in normal operations; and  

b) survive the loads that may be encountered in abnormal conditions of operation. 

This Section shall be read in conjunction with NSCV Part B—General Requirements.  

This section applies to all vessels, other than vessels that fall within the application of NSCV Part F—Special Vessels, unless specified otherwise in Part F.  

This NSCV was updated as a result of the Omnibus amendments instrument No 1, 2021. (AMSA has made minor editorial amendments to six NSCVs to address minor issues in nature raised by industry).

 Summary of changes:

1. In the note following clause 2.2:
2. In clause 3.2.2 Deemed-to-satisfy alternatives to class, Table 1:
3. In Annex C, Table C.1

The list of changes are available via the following link: NSCV Omnibus amendments instrument No1 2021 PDF518.45 KB.

• NSCV Part B - General requirements 
• NSCV Part F - Special vessels 
• Uniform Shipping Laws code

Generic equivalent solutions:

• Construction of vessels from polyethylene PDF165.88 KB
• Window design and installation for vessels up to 35 metres in length PDF160.38 KB
• Use of AS4132 for construction of vessels using FRP or aluminium

Policy and Regulation 

To provide feedback or report issues / errors with this or any other any NSCV or related webpages, contact us at  NSCVfeedback@amsa.gov.au 

Please include the name and clause number of the NSCV in the email.

For questions that relate to an application please email dcvsurvey@amsa.gov.au