Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)



Vessel classes and service categories

Your compliance requirements will be affected by the service category of your vessel.

Use the following table to work out your vessel service category. For example, a passenger vessel carrying 30 people and operating out to 15 nautical miles has a service category of 1C.

Vessel useIndicated by
Passenger vessel (13 or more passengers)1
Non-passenger vessel (up to 12 passengers)2
Fishing vessel3
Hire and drive vessel used by the hirer only for recreational purposes4

 

Operational areaIndicated by
Unlimited domestic operations (no longer available to domestic commercial vessels). Vessels operating in A waters must be Australian regulated vessels under the Navigation Act 2012.A
Extended offshore operations (beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmania, a recognised island but within the exclusive economic zone)B Extended
Offshore operations (within 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmania, a recognised island but within the exclusive economic zone)B
Restricted offshore operations (within 30 nautical miles from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmania, a recognised island; within 50 nautical miles of the baseline of Queensland, within the Great Barrier Reef Region or the Torres Strait Zone; whilst remaining within the exclusive economic zone)C
Restricted offshore operations—specified areasC Restricted
Partially smooth water operationsD
Smooth water operationsE

Sheltered waters boundaries

For information on sheltered waters boundaries (D or E operational areas) in any state or territory, contact your local marine safety agency.

Last updated: 8 July 2020