The Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual (SAGM) is a mandatory standard that outlines the requirements for accredited marine surveyors.
AMSA 306
21 November 2024
A new version of Part 2 came into effect on 1 January 2025.
Part 1 - Accreditation of marine surveyors
Part 1 of the manual details the administrative requirements for accreditation, including:
- Role overview: introduction to an accredited surveyors’ responsibilities
- Accreditation categories: introduction to the categories of accreditation
- Accreditation requirements: skills, experience and knowledge required
- Conflict of interest provisions: prohibition from conducting surveys if conflicted
- Application process: for new, renewed, or varied accreditation
- Conditions tied to accreditation: AMSA’s ability to condition a surveyor, conduct audits of surveyors’ work and potential consequences of not complying
- Surrendering, revoking or suspending accreditation: procedures to voluntarily close your accreditation.
Download SAGM Part 1 PDF345.44 KB.
Part 2 - Survey of vessels
Part 2 of the manual specifies the procedural standards that accredited surveyors must follow for survey, including:
- The purpose and objectives of surveys: defining the intent and goals of surveying
- Survey preparation requirements: defining the types of surveys, pre-requisites and preparation before commencing a survey
- Record-keeping and traceability obligations: obligations for maintaining records
- Reporting and documentation obligations: requirements for survey reports and recommendations to AMSA
- Survey requirements for vessels:
- seeking new certificates of survey
- undergoing transitional surveys
- renewing their certification
- certified under the EX40 scheme
- formerly regulated under the Navigation Act.
Download SAGM Part 2 PDF1.4 MB.
Part 2 was updated in 2024: key changes
Increased flexibility for survey cycles
- High survey frequency vessel owners can choose to conduct their out of water survey in either year 2 or year 3 of the survey cycle.
- Medium survey frequency vessel owners can choose to conduct their year 3 survey either in or out of the water.
Simplified dual 2/4 class certification for leisure type vessels
- Class 2 vessels engaged in leisure type activities (up to C waters) can use the same CE certification, for structural certification, as class 4 vessels.
Streamlined EX40 survey criteria
- Categories of accreditation and documentation requirements simplified to better facilitate certification of production vessels.
Previous versions
- SAGM Part 2 - in force from 30 June 2018 to 31 December 2024 PDF984.07 KB
- The National Standard for Administration of Marine Safety (NSAMS) PDF1.31 MB (Section 4) - in force until 30 June 2018
Documents
Last updated:
1 January 2025