April 2024
In this edition:
- Safe navigation, voyage planning and appropriate crewing
- New marine notice on reduction of underwater noise
- New global requirements for maintaining garbage record books
- Register for the International Day for Women in Maritime 2024 event
- Ship master and company convicted over pilot ladder failures
- Monthly domestic commercial vessel incident report
- ‘Experience’ fails to prevent vessel capsize
- Coming soon – questionnaire on garbage discharge regulations
Our new guidance for domestic commercial vessel owners and operators highlights the importance of voyage planning and appropriate crewing determinations. The guidance focuses on watchkeeping arrangements to ensure the safe navigation of a vessel.
During 2022 and 2023 AMSA received 875 incident reports involving contact, collision, grounding, and close quarters. These accounted for 62% of all reported incidents in 2022.
Don’t be hasty with navigational safety.
Ensure you have enough appropriately certificated crew onboard to account for your operational requirements, crew fatigue, and watchkeeping requirements to maintain the safe navigation of a vessel.
Read more about safe navigation
New marine notice on reduction of underwater noise
A new marine notice has been issued on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Revised guidelines for the reduction of underwater radiated noise from shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life.
The revised non-mandatory guidelines provide updated information on approaches, mechanisms and programs to reduce underwater radiated noise (URN) from ships and the associated impacts on marine life.
Read the marine notice
New global requirements for maintaining garbage record books
From 1 May 2024, new global requirements under the MARPOL Convention will commence. Australian vessels of 100 gross tonnage and above that are undertaking international voyages must maintain a garbage record book. This is in addition to the existing requirement to carry a garbage management plan.
Garbage record books provide an accurate record of garbage generated onboard a vessel. This new minimum international standard means that foreign port State control authorities could issue deficiencies or detain vessels that do not comply with maintaining a garbage record book.
Each year in May we celebrate International Day for Women in Maritime with a public event to inform and promote gender equity in the maritime community. The theme this year is 'Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety'.
Join us either online or in-person for a panel discussion on how the maritime industry can shape the future of the maritime workforce by creating safe and inclusive workplaces, followed by breakout discussions and networking.
Event details
Date: Thursday 16 May
Time: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm AWST (in-person) or midday – 1.30 pm AWST (online)
Location: East Fremantle Yacht Club, East Fremantle WA (or join us online)
The event is co-hosted by AMSA, WISTA Australia and the Nautical Institute.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, on behalf of AMSA, has successfully prosecuted the master of the ship MV Boshi 58 and its operator, Fu Ye Shipping, following a serious accident involving a ship’s mooring master in 2023.
Both have pled guilty and were fined $5,300 and $32,000, respectively, for failing to ensure pilot transfer arrangements complied with the relevant Marine Order and the Navigation Act 2012.
Read the media release
Monthly domestic commercial vessel incident report
A generator blew up while a contractor was conducting repairs, and a passenger fell overboard when a vessel rolled in a large wind swell. These are some of the occurrences included in the latest incident report.
During February 2024, there were 111 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels. Of these, 28 were serious.
Read the incident report
‘Experience’ fails to prevent vessel capsize
The importance of having a risk assessment, which addresses operational risks with appropriate control measures in place, is the focus in this month’s safety lesson report.
Every month, we share an overview of a domestic commercial vessel incident investigation and the safety lesson you can learn to ensure safe operations on board your vessel.
Read the monthly safety lesson
Coming soon – questionnaire on garbage discharge regulations
AMSA marine inspectors will soon be asking domestic commercial vessel owners, operators and crew to complete a short questionnaire about the MARPOL Annex V garbage regulations during normal vessel inspections.
Your participation in the questionnaire will help us improve the way we communicate and keep you informed about guidance relevant to your operation.
Marine inspectors will start conducting our questionnaire in May.
Find out more about garbage discharge regulations
- March 2024
In this edition:
- Tender for technical support and logistics for aids to navigation network now open
- Provide your feedback on AMSA update
- Help shape Australia’s first plan to reduce maritime emissions
- Open consultations
- AMSA encourages a career in maritime
- Monthly domestic commercial vessel incident report
- Passenger vessel fire and evacuation
- Liberian bulk carrier banned from Australian ports
Tender for technical support and logistics for aids to navigation network now open
The much-anticipated tender for technical support and logistics for AMSA’s aids to navigation network is now available on AusTender.
Supporting future regional maintenance contractors, the successful tenderer for the technical support and logistics role is the final piece which will complete AMSA’s new regionalised model for maintenance delivery on the aids to navigation network.
All tender packages can be viewed on AusTender. Interested businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.
Provide your feedback on AMSA update
We’d like to hear your thoughts on our monthly newsletter so we can improve how we deliver the industry news that matters to you most.
This survey will take less than 10 minutes, and your answers are anonymous.
Help shape Australia’s first plan to reduce maritime emissions
The Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan (MERNAP) will set the strategic direction to decarbonise our maritime transport sector and contribute to international shipping emissions reductions.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has released the 4th MERNAP issues paper for consultation.
Open consultations – have your say on:
Updates to Part 2 of the Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual
We want to know what you think about proposed revisions to the Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual Part 2
Consultation closes Tuesday 2 April 2024.
Requirements for the carriage of industrial personnel
We want your feedback on the draft of the new Marine Order 55 (Vessels carrying industrial personnel) 2024.
Consultation closes Sunday 14 April 2024.
AMSA encourages a career in maritime
We recently attended the Australian Maritime College (AMC) Careers Expo in Launceston, which attracted over 250 aspiring and current AMC students, high school students, local educators, career counsellors, and a range of prospective employers—including AMSA.
As a sponsor of AMC’s Engineering our Future campaign, we support a program of work to encourage students to pursue a career in the maritime sector.
AMSA's scholarship program supports the development of skills in the maritime industry. Applications for our 2025 intake will open in August 2024.
Monthly domestic commercial vessel incident report
Two jet skis collided, and a vessel sustained extensive damage during a recent cyclone. These are some of the occurrences included in the latest incident report.
During January 2024, there were 111 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels. Of these, 21 were serious and one was very serious.
Passenger vessel fire and evacuation
The importance of regularly training crew on emergency procedures and maintaining compliant firefighting systems is the focus in this month's safety lesson report.
Every month, we share an overview of a domestic commercial vessel incident investigation and the safety lesson you can learn to ensure safe operations on board your vessel.
Read the monthly safety lesson
Liberian bulk carrier banned from Australian ports
AMSA has issued a ‘refusal of access Direction’ to the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier KMAX Leader, effective 15 February 2024, banning the ship from entering Australian ports for 12 months. The Direction was issued as a result of serious safety violations and breaches of Australian legislation committed by the ship’s Master and owner while in Gladstone Harbour, Queensland.
- AMSA update February 2024
In this edition:
- Eight tenders on offer for regional maintenance work on aids to navigation
- New limits of operational area in Tasmania
- Updates to Part 2 of the Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual
- Business opportunity opens for logistical management of heritage artefacts
- Have your say: Requirements for the carriage of industrial personnel
- Whitsundays skipper convicted of maritime and safety offences
- Have your say on our performance as a regulator
Eight tenders on offer for regional maintenance work on aids to navigation
AMSA is excited to announce the release of 8 tender packages on AusTender for the provision of asset maintenance work to support our 480 aids to navigation network.
This is an important milestone in AMSA’s transition to a regional maintenance service delivery model for aids to navigation.
AMSA remains committed to providing a resilient and reliable network that best suits Australia’s needs well into the future.
Read the full story.
New limits of operational area in Tasmania
Changes to declared areas of sheltered waters in some areas of Tasmania are now in effect.
The changes include an increase in areas defined as smooth waters, changes to the operational limits within Storm Bay to the east of Bruny Island, and the removal of several historic port limits in other locations that clearly extended out into open waters.
Updates to Part 2 of the Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual
We want to know what you think about proposed revisions to the Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual Part 2 (SAGM 2).
SAGM 2 sets clear standards and criteria for Accredited Marine Surveyors and Recognised Organisations (class societies), outlining the procedures for surveying domestic commercial vessels to ensure compliance with safety regulations and standards.
You can provide your feedback on the proposed revisions by midnight (AEST) on Tuesday 2 April 2024.
SAGM 2 Public consultation information session
Come along to our webinar to learn more about the proposed revisions to SAGM 2.
This session is designed for industry professionals, Accredited Marine Surveyors, and stakeholders in the maritime sector.
You will also have the opportunity to ask the presenter questions.
Webinar details
Date: Friday 22 March 2024
Time: 2pm (AEST) (runs for 45 minutes)
Presenter: Rob Maher, Principal Naval Architect, AMSARegister now to attend.
Business opportunity opens for logistical management of heritage artefacts
Australian storage and warehousing businesses have a rare opportunity to tender for a contract to logistically manage hundreds of heritage maritime artefacts with connections to aids to navigation like heritage-listed lighthouses.
Read the media release to learn more.
Have your say: Requirements for the carriage of industrial personnel
We want your feedback on Marine Order 55 (Vessels carrying industrial personnel) 2024, which contains mandatory requirements to ensure the safe carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on cargo vessels and high-speed cargo crafts.
Marine Order 55 gives effect to the new SOLAS chapter XV and the associated International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel.
Whitsundays skipper convicted of maritime and safety offences
A Whitsundays charter boat skipper has been convicted and fined over $15,000, after a successful prosecution by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, on behalf of AMSA.
The skipper was convicted of a litany of serious safety issues, leading to the vessel grounding near Hook Passage in the Whitsundays.
Have your say on our performance as a regulator
We continually assess our regulatory performance so we can better support safe vessel operations and combat marine pollution – and we would like to hear from you.
Please fill out a short survey to help us improve our practices—it will only take about 2 minutes to complete.
- AMSA update January 2024
In this edition:
- Stop pollution from domestic commercial vessels
- Safety alert: Recommendations from the investigation into the fire onboard passenger vessel Conception
- Changes to Marine Order 27
- Monthly domestic commercial vessel incident report
- Passenger vessel collision with unseen submerged rock
- Tell us about electrical safety
Stop garbage pollution from domestic commercial vessels
How would you feel seeing garbage dumped into the sea? We are sure you would be outraged, which is exactly why we have regulations that protect our marine environment from garbage pollution from vessels.
MARPOL Annex V – Regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships, applies domestically by law here in Australia. Owners and operators of domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) need to be aware of the rules in place.
We have information available on what is considered 'garbage', prohibited garbage discharges, garbage management planning, record keeping and signage, and how you can best manage garbage on your DCV.Safety alert: Recommendations from the investigation into the fire onboard passenger vessel Conception
Our recent safety alert shares recommendations made by the United States National Transportation Safety Board, following the investigation into the fire that resulted in 34 fatalities and loss of the passenger vessel, Conception.
The findings are a reminder to review the risk assessment for your operation regularly and ensure fire risks are adequately considered.Changes to Marine Order 27
Marine Order 27 sets out the requirements for: navigation safety measures and equipment, radio equipment, and safety, urgency and distress communications.
The consultation feedback report includes an overview of the consultation process, main issues raised during the public consultation and the proposed key changes made to the Marine Order 27 (Safety of navigation and radio equipment) reissue.
Learn about the new Marine Order 27 (Safety of navigation and radio equipment), which came into effect on 1 January 2024.
Monthly domestic commercial vessel incident report
A diver was attacked by a shark and required a medical evacuation via helicopter, and a vessel collided with a moored yacht and was significantly damaged. These are some of the occurrences included in the latest incident report.
During November 2023, there were 79 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels. Of these, 30 were serious.Passenger vessel collision with unseen submerged rock
This month’s safety lesson report highlights the importance of adhering to cross-checked and authorised planned routes, and only deviating from them if required due to immediate safety concerns.
Every month, we share an overview of a domestic commercial vessel incident investigation and the safety lesson you can learn to ensure safe operations on board your vessel.
Tell us about electrical safety
We invite all domestic commercial vessel owners, operators and crew to tell us about electrical safety onboard your vessels.
We'd like to understand your awareness and knowledge of:
- electrical safety issues
- your approach to maintaining electrical safety
- some of the challenges you face.
Your feedback will help us improve the way we communicate and allow us to provide more tailored guidance, relevant to your operation.
The anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and closes on Friday 9 February.