Due to fatal and serious non-fatal incidents, we want to identify opportunities to enhance safety in the following areas: 

• Monitoring and accounting for passengers on board vessels.
• Preventing passengers from falling overboard.
• In the event a passenger does fall overboard—ensuring they can be retrieved quickly and safely. 

We are interested in understanding:

• If or how these key areas are currently being addressed in passenger vessel operators’ safety management systems.
• Whether safety management systems are the best place to deal with these key areas, or
• whether additional prescriptive regulation is required.

If you own, operate or work on a vessel that carries passengers, we want to hear feedback on your operations, what you do to ensure passenger safety, what this looks like in your safety management system, and any ideas you have about practical improvements that could be implemented.  If you think no changes are required, tell us why, and what works well. 

We also want to hear from the general public, including passengers, on your expectations for safety on passenger vessels.

In our consultation paper, we give some examples of measures that could be included to improve safety, with a focus on how this could be done through safety management systems. We would like feedback on whether these examples are practical.  You are also welcome to provide other examples or suggestions.

The consultation closed on 20 October 2019.

This consultation process is the first step in improving safety outcomes.  We will consult again on any changes that we decide to pursue as a result of feedback we receive through this process. In the meantime, AMSA’s normal inspections will continue, so make sure your safety management system adequately addresses your passengers’ safety.

Consultation papers

• Read the discussion paper (PDF 1.9 MB) PDF1.89 MB.
• Read the consultation feedback report (PDF 390 KB) PDF389.01 KB

We proposed to make changes to survey arrangements for the domestic commercial vessel fleet by implementing the outcomes of the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) – Survey under the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessels (the RIS), as well as a suite of complementary amendments.

It was specifically proposed that these changes commence from 1 July 2018 unless otherwise stated.

The proposed amendments were: 

• Expanded eligibility criteria for non-survey vessels through changes to Marine Safety (Certificates of survey) Exemption 2018 (Exemption 02).
• A reduction in the frequency and depth of survey for most DCVs through changes to Marine Order 503 (Certificates of survey - national law) 2018 (Marine Order 503) and the expansion of the Marine Surveyors Accreditation Guidance Manual 2014 (the Marine Surveyor Manual) to cover requirements for persons who undertake surveys of DCVs, including ‘depth’ of survey requirements, in addition to processes for becoming accredited.
• Expanded eligibility criteria for vessels operating under Marine Safety (Class C restricted operations) Exemption 2018 (Exemption 40).
• Changes to the requirements for unpowered barges operating under Marine Safety (Unpowered barges) Exemption 2018 (Exemption 41).
• Minor changes to Marine Order 507 (Load line certificates – national law) 2018 (Marine Order 507) to allow vessels to comply with the Load Lines Convention or Section 7 of the Uniform Shipping Laws Code (USL), and to align with the proposed new Marine Order 503 survey schedule. 
• Permitting vessels less than 65 metres to ‘drop out of Class’ and move into periodic survey by accredited marine surveyor, and permitting less than 45 metres vessels undergo initial survey by an accredited marine surveyor from 1 July 2020.

We also sought stakeholder feedback on a policy paper which considered further potential changes to the requirements for larger vessels to be surveyed by recognised organisations. The revised instruments have now been made and are available on our website and will commence on 1 July 2018.

Consultation papers

• Read the full consultation feedback report (PDF 687 KB) PDF899.02 KB

The consultation closed on Sunday 29 September 2019.

The proposed new Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2019 provides a standard for certificates of competency and qualifications for crew and masters of domestic commercial vessels. 

The new marine order will simplify the information for domestic commercial vessel certificates and qualifications so they are easier to read, use and apply.

Read the Consultation on the near coastal qualifications review proposed new Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2019 (PDF 300 KB)

The proposed changes include:

• National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) part D will be incorporated into a new Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2019
• Five new kinds of certificates are proposed: 
  • Coxswain grade 3 near coastal
  • Sailing master coastal near coastal
  • Sailing master offshore near coastal
  • Master less than 45 metres near coastal
  • Master less than 100 metres near coastal
• Three kinds of certificates no longer to be issued:
  • Master less than 35 metres near coastal
  • Mate less than 80 metres near coastal
  • Master less than 80 metres near coastal
• Mandatory completion of an AMSA approved task book before most certificates of competency will be issued. 
• A new standard for the assessment of medical fitness for masters and crew of domestic commercial vessels.
• Inclusion of the provisions for the conduct of AMSA mandated practical assessments (AMPAs).
• Sea service to be recorded in hours—eight hours equals one day.
• Removal of certificate of competence endorsements that allow for an increase in vessel length.
• Removal of the ‘restricted to sheltered waters’ restriction on certificates.
• A first-aid certificate will be required for initial issue and renewal of all certificates of competency.
• Carrying passengers to be now permitted for Coxswain 2.
• Medical and eyesight tests will be required for issuing all new certificates.
• Colour vision testing will not be required for engineering certificates.  

Many available general exemptions that expire at end of 30 June 2020 will be incorporated into the new Marine Order 505. Some exemptions also will be repealed as a result of the changes.

We want your feedback on the following:

• Is the draft Marine Order 505 easy to understand? 
• Are there any sections that are not clear? 
• Do you agree that an application for a new certificate of competency should include the requirement to hold a first-aid certificate? 
• Do you think a medical fitness certificate for a new issue and self-declaration of medical fitness for renewal is appropriate for the lower grade certificates? 
• Do you think the eligibility requirements and duties for a Coxswain grade 3 NC are appropriate? 
• Do you think a recreational boat licence is sufficient for a Coxswain grade 3? 
• Do you wish to comment on any other aspect of the order?

Consultation dates

The consultation closed on Sunday 29 September 2019.

Following this consultation period, it is proposed that amendments to marine order 505 will come into effect on 1 July 2020.

Information sessions

To support the consultation, we held a series of information sessions around the country.

Documents

Read the Consultation on the near coastal qualifications review proposed new Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2019 (PDF 300 KB) PDF265.52 KB

Estimated annual regulatory costs and savings (PDF 740 KB) PDF710.36 KB (Impacts from proposed changes to Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2013)

Draft proposed Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2019 (PDF 880 KB)

Change summary—AMSA regulatory consultation on draft Marine Order 505 (PDF  820 KB) PDF821 KB

Draft Standards for the medical examination of domestic seafarers (PDF 804 KB) PDF734.76 KB

Draft Certificate of medical fitness domestic seafarers ¹

¹ This content no longer available - please contact us for more information.

The proposed exemption for short term marina accommodation (Exemption 27) was open for public consultation in April 2018 for an eight week period.  A total of 153 submissions were received from a diverse range of stakeholders, presenting a wide range of views. 

The exemption proposed regulating recreational vessels being used for short term marina accommodation through a general exemption to the national law (the draft Exemption 27). Stakeholder feedback indicated that this is not the most appropriate approach and an alternative longer term and more sustainable regulatory approach is required.  

We will continue working with stakeholders on ways to support the share economy and enable innovation where possible. 

Next steps

The next steps involve:

• Working with our state and territory marine safety agency partners, to consider alternative options for the regulation of recreational vessels being used for short term marina accommodation.
• Reviewing the definition of a ‘domestic commercial vessel’ in the National Law, with a view to excluding these types of operations in the future.

Read the consultation feedback report.