Inspection and Search of the Register
Inspection
The Register may be inspected at the Australian Shipping Registration Office during business hours 08:30 - 16:30 Monday to Friday.
Search
A search of the Register can be
conducted by staff of the Shipping Registration Office on behalf of persons
who cannot inspect the Register. The result of a search is normally a statement
of the particulars of the current registered ownership, mortgages, caveats
and the description of the ship. An application form [
PDF: 72KB] is available (see our Privacy Policy
on use of personal information provided to AMSA).
A search can be undertaken on a ship's name alone, but a search is more likely to be successful if the ship's Official Number is also specified.
Other information - such as the type of ship, overall length or principal material of construction - may be useful for searching purposes. If this other information is given, the search will be considered successful only if it matches information contained in the Register.
Historical Research
By prior arrangement with the Registrar, bona fide researchers may be granted access to records kept at the Shipping Registration Office.
Records that are most likely to be of interest to historical researchers are now held by the National Archives of Australia. The most important of them are the Australian Registers of British Ships (1834-1982). Microfilm copies of the registers are available for reading at all regional offices of Australian Archives.
Fees
Fees are payable in advance to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The GST does not apply to services supplied by the Shipping Registration Office
The fees are:
- Inspection: $21 per ship
- Search: $41 per ship