The Australian Shipping Registration Office was established in 1982 under the provisions of the Shipping Registration Act 1981 . Since the formation of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in 1991, the office has been a part of the Authority.
The main purpose of the Act is to fix the conditions for the registration of ships in Australia and to grant ships Australian nationality. It also provides for Australian ships to fly the Australian National Flag or the Australian Red Ensign in accordance with Australia's obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 , to which Australia is a party.
The business of the office includes the establishment of the ownership of ships, the registration of mortgages and caveats, the granting of certificates and providing public access to the information held in the Australian Register of Ships.
It should be noted that the Australian States also keep records of ships and small craft that are subject to their jurisdiction. The State records, however, are not registers of ownership or nationality.
last updated: 13 February 2006