The National Law – Marine Surveyors Accreditation Guidance Manual 2014 (Marine Surveyor Manual) contains two parts:
- Part 1 is a ‘how to’ guide to getting accredited as a Marine Surveyor under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Regulation 2013 (the Regulations).
- Part 2 contains the survey requirements for vessels, and the survey methodology for surveyors undertaking surveys under the National Law.
Read the National Law – Marine Surveyors Accreditation Guidance Manual 2014.
See administrative forms for marine surveyors for more information about applying for and managing your accreditation.
Overview of Part 2
Part 2 of the Marine Surveyor Manual is based on content that was previously in the National Standard for the Administration of Marine Safety (NSAMS) Section 4 (Surveys of vessels).
Part 2 of the Marine Surveyor Manual has 8 chapters.
| Chapter number | Chapter title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | Preliminary | Definitions and other preliminary information. |
| Chapter 2 | Control of the survey process | General requirements for surveyors, such as how recommendations are made to AMSA. |
| Chapter 3 | Initial survey for vessels not constructed to Class rules | Initial survey process for Marine Order 503 vessels. This applies to all new Marine Order 503 vessels, and some vessel alterations and changes—except where an aspect of a vessel is built to Class rules. |
| Chapter 4 | Periodic and renewal surveys for vessels not constructed to class rules | Periodic and renewal survey requirements and processes for Marine Order 503 vessels. This applies to all Marine Order 503 vessels, except where an aspect of a vessel is built to class rule. |
| Chapter 5 | Initial, periodic and renewal surveys where vessel complies with class rules | Applies where some aspects of a vessel are built to Class rules. All aspects of the vessel not built to Class rules are subject to chapters 3 and 4. |
| Chapter 6 | Load line surveys | Applies to all vessels subject to Marine Order 507 including those not required to have a certificate of survey due to the grandfathering arrangements of Exemption 02. |
| Chapter 7 | Exemption 40 vessel surveys | Applies to all Exemption 40 vessels and surveys. |
| Chapter 8 | Survey of a Regulated Australian Vessel or foreign flag vessel applying for domestic commercial vessel (DCV) status for the first time | Applies to vessels moving from international certification arrangements to Marine Order 503. |
Moving the content from NSAMS 4 to the Marine Surveyor Manual means all relevant guidance, instructions to surveyors, and related documents are easier to locate and use.
Changes to survey schedules
From 1 July 2018 there are changes to survey schedules.
The most significant change is that the NSAMS 4 requirement to test, verify, examine, or trial items in specific years has been replaced by a general requirement that surveyors test, verify, examine, or trial items to the extent necessary to be satisfied that the vessel complies with the applicable legislation and standards.
Other changes made as a result of industry feedback include:
- Clarification of the timing and scope of the lightship verification periodic survey requirements. These changes clarify that Class 2, 3 and 4 vessels, and Class 1 vessels less than 12 metres, may make a declaration of any changes made to the vessel, instead of full lightship verification. This better reflects the lightship verification arrangements that these vessels have been subject to.
- A requirement to inspect permanent ballast as part of a survey.