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Uniform Shipping Laws code

Standards for domestic commercial vessels, largely replaced by the NSCV for new vessels.

The USL code was first published in 1979 in response to the need for a common national safety standard for commercial vessels. The National Standard for Commercial Vessels has largely replaced the USL code for all new domestic commercial vessels.

Access the My Boat system for guidance on how to keep your vessel compliant.

SectionTitleYear of publicationApplicable region
1Introduction, definitions and general requirements1993All regions PDF1.29 MB
2008Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia PDF58.24 KB
2008Queensland PDF57.5 KB
2008South Australia PDF57.45 KB
2Qualifications and manning: trading vessels1991All regions PDF3.48 MB
2008All regions
3Qualifications and manning: fishing vessels1991All regions PDF2.75 MB
2008All regions PDF137.5 KB
5Construction  
5APreliminary1989All regions PDF243.58 KB
2008All regions PDF20.01 KB
5BStructural strength1989All regions PDF311.7 KB
2008All regions PDF10.47 KB
5CWatertight subdivision of passenger vessels1993All regions PDF3.48 MB
2008All regions PDF171.03 KB
5DWatertight subdivision of class 2 and class 3 vessels1989All regions PDF1.58 MB
2008All regions PDF94.26 KB
5EPassengers, passenger accommodation, guard rails and bulwarks1989All regions PDF332.68 KB
2008All regions PDF296.96 KB
5FStructural fire protection1989All regions PDF986.5 KB
2008Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia PDF25.69 KB
2008Queensland PDF26.58 KB
2008South Australia PDF25.67 KB
5GDesign loading1989All regions PDF645.74 KB
2008All regions PDF327.06 KB
5HAluminium1993All regions PDF56.79 KB
2008All regions PDF11.62 KB
5ICopper nickel1989All regions PDF314.65 KB
2008All regions PDF44.38 KB
5JFerro-cement1989All regions PDF2.79 MB
2008All regions PDF706.63 KB
5KFibre reinforced plastic1993All regions PDF96.76 KB
2008All regions PDF19.44 KB
5LSteel1989All regions PDF1.6 MB
2008All regions PDF788.25 KB
5MTimber1989All regions PDF4 MB
2008All regions PDF2.01 MB
6Crew accommodation1989All regions PDF504.59 KB
2008All regions PDF34.91 KB
7Load lines1989All regions PDF5.46 MB
2008All regions PDF422.33 KB
8Stability  
8APreliminary1993All regions PDF2.5 MB
2008All regions PDF258.61 KB
8BSimplified presentation of stability1993All regions PDF40.51 KB
8CStability criteria1993All regions PDF2.01 MB
9Engineering1993All regions PDF4.79 MB
2008Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia PDF17.25 KB
2008Queensland PDF25.66 KB
2008South Australia PDF17.03 KB
10Life saving appliances1993All regions PDF2.9 MB
2008Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia PDF58.24 KB
2008Queensland PDF292.57 KB
2008South Australia PDF155.33 KB
11Fire appliances1989All regions PDF7.18 MB
2008Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia PDF26.43 KB
2008Queensland, South Australia PDF396.48 KB
12Radio equipment1989All regions PDF813.9 KB
2008All regions PDF42.94 KB
13Miscellaneous equipment1989All regions PDF2.59 MB
2008Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia PDF159.89 KB
2008Queensland PDF172.62 KB
14Surveys and certificates of survey1993All regions PDF1.83 MB
2008All regions PDF1.76 MB
15Emergency procedures and safety of navigation1993All regions PDF1.15 MB
2008All regions PDF1.17 MB
16Collision regulations1989All regions PDF2.42 MB
2008All regions PDF2.45 MB
17River Murray traffic regulations1989All regions PDF1.15 MB
2008All regions PDF1.06 MB
18Hire and drive vessels1989All regions PDF714.34 KB
2008All regions PDF114.41 KB
 Amendments1993Amendment list 1 PDF303.62 KB
1996Amendment list 2 PDF853.62 KB
1996Amendment list 3 PDF228.08 KB
1997Amendment list 4 PDF357.03 KB
2007Amendment list 5 PDF83.52 KB
2007Amendment list 6 PDF170.03 KB
Amendment list 6 attachment A PDF154.74 KB
2008Amendment list 7 PDF203.05 KB
2010Amendment list 8 PDF214.91 KB
2010Amendment list 9 PDF62.51 KB
Last updated: 3 August 2023

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