Annual Regulatory Plan 2018–19

Our regulatory plan is produced annually and contains planned changes to our regulatory instruments.

Our regulatory plan provides details of planned changes to our regulatory instruments, such as marine orders and the National Standard for Commercial Vessels, to make it easier for business and the community to take part in the development of those instruments.

The regulatory plans contain information on:

  • legislative or other action planned for the current financial year that could lead to changes in business regulation.
  • a five-year outlook of future action, including for specific industry issues, international developments, priorities for standards and legislative expiry.
  • changes to business regulation that occurred during the previous financial year.

We publish an annual regulatory plan early in each financial year. While there may be some regulatory activities that we are unable to forecast, these activities will involve consultation with affected parties and will be recorded in future regulatory plans.

Direct any queries to regulation@amsa.gov.au.

Regulatory program of marine orders
Marine orderDescriptionConsultationProposed date
Marine Order 5 (Alcohol and Drugs) 2020Proposed new Marine Order to prescribe the kinds of alcohol and drug tests for seafarers and pilots under the Navigation Act 2012, Chapter 2, Part 6.Q1 20201 July 2020
Marine Order 11 (Living and working conditions on vessels) 2015Implement 2016 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) amendments related to bullying and harassment.Q4 20188 January 2019
Marine Order 27 (Safety of Navigation and Radio Equipment) 2016Full review and implement International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution MSC.450(99) replacing INMARSAT as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) service provider with the term ‘recognised mobile satellite service’. Also reference IMO Resolution MSC.434(98) in Schedule 2 (enters into force 1 January 2021).Q3 20191 January 2020
Marine Order 31 (Vessel surveys and certification) 2015Full review to clarify and incorporate the existing survey and certification requirements for government vessels (currently in Marine Order 62). Proposed change will cover all vessels including special provision for vessels under 7.5 metres. Repeal Marine Order 62.Q1 20191 June 2019
Marine Order 44 (Safe Containers) 2002Full review and reissue to modernise drafting style under the Navigation Act 2012. Replace schedule 24 of Marine Order 4.Q4 20181 April 2019
Marine Order 47 (Mobile offshore drilling units) 2012Review and reissue the Order under the Navigation Act 2012 and modernise the drafting style. Amalgamate with Marine Order 60. Replace schedule 25 of Marine Order 4.Q1 20191 June 2019
Marine Order 52 (Yachts and Training Vessels) 2016Review to determine whether the new Red Ensign Group Code (combining the Large Yacht Code 3 and the Passenger Yacht Code), which comes into effect on 1 January 2019, affects the Order.Q4 20181 January 2019
Marine Order 60 (Floating Offshore Facilities) 2001Review and reissue the Order under the Navigation Act 2012 and modernise the drafting style. Amalgamate with Marine Order 47. Replace schedule 36 of Marine Order 4.Q1 20191 June 2019
Marine Order 62 (Government Vessels) 2003Repeal this Order following the review of Marine Order 31.Q1 20191 June 2019
Marine Order 63 (Vessel Reporting Systems) 2015Implement IMO Resolution MSC.450(99) replacing INMARSAT as GMDSS service provider with the term ‘recognised mobile satellite service’. Amendments to the Australian ship reporting system ‘REEFREP’ reporting area.Q3 20191 January 2020
Marine Order 97 (Marine pollution prevention – air pollution) 2013Amendment to cover adoption of IMO Resolution MEPC.304a(73) banning use, and carriage for use, of fuel oil with sulphur content >0.5%m/m. Enact the exemption provisions in Regulation 13.5.4 and 13.5.5 of Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).Q3 20191 January 2020
Marine Order 503 (Certificates of survey – national law) 2018Apply float-free EPIRB requirements to certain kinds of new, transitional and existing vessels required to be in survey.31 October 2017 – 2 February 20181 January 2019
Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency – national law) 2013Review to simplify the qualifications framework. The NSCV Part D will be incorporated into Marine Order 505.Q4 20181 July 2019
Regulatory program of National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV)
NSCVDescriptionConsultationProposed date
NSCV Part B – General requirementsAmendment to definition of ‘smooth waters’ and ‘partially smooth waters’ to recognise waters designated as such by laws in force in a state or territory, to support the implementation of a new Ordinance under the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 to designate the waters in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands lagoon as ‘partially smooth waters’ (Category D).25 May – 1 June 201827 July 2018
NSCV Part C2 – Watertight and Weathertight IntegrityA new standard to specify requirements for watertight and weather tight integrity (removing existing references to the Uniform Shipping Laws Code).Q1 20191 July 2019
NSCV Part C5B – Design and Construction—Engineering—ElectricalFull review to incorporate AS/NZS 3004—Electrical Installations—Marinas and Recreational Boats.Q3 20181 November 2018
NSCV Part C7A – Safety EquipmentReview of Scale D, E, F medical kit guidance notes in view of codeine becoming prescription-only medication. Deal with any outstanding issues from ‘transitional’ changes to require all vessels to comply with contemporary safety equipment standard.Q3 20181 January 2019
NSCV Part D – Crew CompetenciesReview to simplify the qualifications framework. NSCV Part D will be incorporated into Marine Order 505.Q4 20181 July 2019
Last updated: 13 July 2022