Our 2026-27 regulatory program identifies the priority regulatory reform projects that will be progressed this financial year.
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About our regulatory program
Our annual regulatory program is designed to continuously improve AMSA’s regulatory framework.
Publishing a regulatory program makes it easier for business and the community to take part in the development of our regulatory instruments, such as marine orders and the National Standard for Commercial Vessels.
The regulatory program contains information on consultation on legislative or other action planned during the current financial year that could lead to changes in our regulatory instruments.
It covers the period from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
While AMSA works hard to deliver the program as published, there may be unforeseen delays to consultation or implementation for amended instruments, including from consultation feedback, resourcing constraints or other work priorities. There may also be some regulatory activities that we are unable to forecast at the time the program is published. As such, proposed instruments in the regulatory program 2025-26 should be considered indicative only. In all cases, however, significant regulatory changes will involve consultation with affected parties and will be recorded in future regulatory programs.
Please direct any queries about our regulatory program to Ship Safety Regulation and Certification Branch.
2026-27 program
Regulations made under the Navigation Act 2012
| Project title | Instrument(s) | Project summary |
|---|---|---|
| Administration – Definitions and provisions which apply to all marine orders | Marine Order 01 - Administration | This review will ensure the Marine Order is fit for purpose and in line with modern drafting, noting it has not been reviewed since 2013. |
| Improving standards for the welfare of seafarers | Marine Order 11 – Living and working conditions on vessels | This project will give effect to mandatory changes agreed by the International Labour Organization to the Maritime Labour Convention, including in relation to sexual harassment and bullying, and repatriation. |
| Cargo handling equipment | Marine Order 32 – Cargo handling equipment | This review will ensure the Marine Order is fit for purpose and to ensure that the requirements for cargo handling equipment reflect modern safety requirements. |
| Livestock cargo handling | Marine Order 43 – Cargo and cargo handling - livestock | This project will ensure the Marine Order is fit for purpose. The Marine Order is due to sunset on 1 October 2028. |
| Develop rules to be made under s342A of the Navigation Act 2012 (vessels that become or stop being facilities) | Marine Order 47 Marine Order 1 Marine Order 12 Marine Order 15 Marine Order 16 Marine Order 18 Marine Order 19 Marine Order 21 Marine Order 25 Marine Order 27 Marine Order 30 Marine Order 58 | This regulatory change will give effect to SOLAS regulations that will be applied to offshore facilities through working across agencies to develop new rules under the Navigation Act 2012. |
| Construction, equipment and operation of special purpose vessels | Marine Order 50 – Special purpose vessels | This review will ensure the Marine Order is fit for purpose and to ensure that the construction, equipment and operation of special purpose vessels reflect the current requirements. |
| Helicopter and ship operations | Marine Order 57 – Helicopter operations | This regulatory change will reflect the updated International Chamber of Shipping Guide to Helicopter Operations. The marine order is due to sunset on 1 October 2026. |
Regulations made under the Protection of the Sea (POTS) Act 1983
| Project title | Instrument(s) | Project summary |
|---|---|---|
| Pollution prevention in relation to noxious liquid substances | Marine Order 93 – Marine pollution prevention – noxious liquid substances | This regulatory change will give effect to mandatory changes to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), such as electronic record keeping. |
Regulations made under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
| Project title | Instrument(s) | Project summary |
|---|---|---|
| Review of certificate of survey requirements | Marine Order 503 – Certificates of Survey Exemption 02 Exemption 06 Exemption 07 Exemption 39 Exemption 40 Exemption 41 Exemption 44 Exemption 49 | This project will review current certificate of survey requirements to address workability issues and clarify requirements for novel vessels. |
| Risk-based review of requirements for hire and drive vessels | Marine Order 503 – Certificates of survey Marine Order 504 – Certificates of operation Marine Order 505 – Certificates of competency NSCV – Part F2 – Leisure craft NSCV – Part G – Non-survey vessels Exemption 02 Exemption 22 Exemption 48 | The hire and drive sector is diverse, ranging from small human powered craft to luxury yachts. This project will review the suitability and clarity of regulatory requirements applicable to hire and drive vessels across marine orders, standards and exemptions. The review may consider arrangements for tenders, personal watercraft (PWC) licencing and house rafts. |
| Develop guidance on safety requirements for low-risk battery vessels in survey | New industry guidelines | This project will investigate safety requirements for lithium battery installation in vessels. The project will create guidelines for the safe adoption of battery electric technology in specific usage categories and operational areas. |
| Review of Novel Vessel Policy Statement (NVPS) | NVPS Marine Order 503 – Certificates of Survey Various parts of the NSCV Marine Surveyor Guidance Manual | This project will review and revise the NVPS to ensure it provides a proportionate risk-based approach to the safe adoption of novel technologies. |
| Review of fire safety requirements for DCVs in survey | NSCV – Part C4 – Fire safety | This project will review fire safety requirements for new vessels to ensure they remain contemporary, address known workability issues and introduce fire safety requirements for small lithium-ion battery installations. |
| Review design, construction and equipment standards for non-survey vessels | NSCV – Part G – Non-survey vessels Exemption 02 | The project will review and update design, construction and equipment standards for approximately 18,000 non-survey vessels to ensure requirements are contemporary, risk based and accommodate relevant emerging technologies. |
| Review of standards for communications and navigation equipment | NSCV – Part C7B – Communications equipment NSCV – Part C7C – Navigation equipment | The project will review and update the standards for communications and navigations equipment required on new DCVs and consider the requirements for modernised navigation equipment for existing DCVs. |
| Review of the Marine Surveyor Accreditation scheme | National Law Act National Law Regulations Potential for a new National Law marine order Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual | This is a multi-year project that involves working collaboratively with stakeholders to review and re-design a fit-for-purpose accredited marine surveyor accreditation scheme. |
Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act
| Project title | Instrument(s) | Project summary |
|---|---|---|
| Review of AMSA Fees Determinations for Service - 2025 | AMSA Fees Determination 2025 | This project involves working collaboratively with the Department to review AMSA’s existing fees for service and to progress amendments to the AMSA Fees Determination. |
- 2027-29 planned program
This section outlines AMSA’s indicative regulatory priorities for the 2027–29 period. These are forward looking and subject to change.
Regulations made under the Navigation Act 2012
Project title Instrument(s) Project summary Support the operation of the Australian International Shipping Register Marine Order 02 – Australian International Shipping Register This project will ensure that seafarers working on ships registered on the Australian International Shipping Register reflect the current Shipping Registration Act. Construction of fire equipment on vessels Marine Order 15 – Construction – fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction This project will ensure that the standards for the construction of fire equipment on vessels related to protection, detection and extinction remain fit for purpose and effectively reflect the recently adopted or approved amendments to both mandatory and non-mandatory IMO instruments. Certification for regulated Australian vessels Marine Order 31 – SOLAS and non-SOLAS certification This project will ensure that the Marine Order is fit for purpose, promotes deregulation and in-line with regulations relating to SOLAS and non-SOLAS certification. Grain cargo handling Marine Order 33 – Cargo and cargo handling - grain This project will ensure that the requirements for loading, unloading, stowage and carriage of grain in vessels remain fit for purpose. Solid Bulk Cargoes Marine Order 34 – Solid bulk cargoes This project will ensure that the Marine Order is fit for purpose, promotes deregulation and in-line with regulations relating to loading, stowing, carriage and unloading of solid bulk cargoes (other than grain). Carriage of dangerous goods Marine Order 41 – Carriage of dangerous goods This project will ensure that the Marine Order is fit for purpose, promotes deregulation and in-line with regulations relating to the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form. Carriage, stowage and securing of cargoes and containers Marine Order 42 – Carriage, stowage and securing of cargoes and containers This project will ensure that the Marine Order is fit for purpose, promotes deregulation and in-line with regulations relating and in-line with regulations relating to carriage, stowage and securing of cargoes and containers. High Speed Craft Marine Order 49 – High speed craft This project will ensure that the that the Marine Order is fit for purpose, promotes deregulation and in-line with regulations relating high speed craft. Vessel Reporting Systems Marine Order 63 – Vessel reporting systems This project will ensure that the Marine Order is fit for purpose, promotes deregulation and in-line with regulations relating and in-line with the requirements for vessels transiting in Australian designated reporting areas. Regulations made under the Protection of the Sea (POTS) Act 1983
Project title Instrument(s) Project summary Pollution prevention in relation to garbage Marine Order 95 – Marine pollution prevention - garbage MEPC will consider in 2027 whether to adopt a Code under MARPOL for the management of risks associated with the transport of plastic pellets by sea. Should a Code be so adopted, amendments will be needed to Marine Order 95. Regulations made under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
Project title Instrument(s) Project summary Review of Exemption 04 – Recreational use Exemption 04 The exemption allows a DCV to operate for recreational purposes without meeting the crewing requirements and operational area limitations required by the national law. This project will review the exemption before it is due to expire on 30 June 2028. Review of Exemption 31 – Expired Pre-USL Code certificates Exemption 31 The exemption allows individuals to work on a domestic commercial fishing vessel with an expired pre-Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code certificate as a master, engineer or coxswain. The project will review the exemption before it is due to expire on 30 June 2028. Targeted review of several NSCV Parts to address known issues NSCV – Part B – General requirements
NSCV – Part C3 - Construction
NSCV – Part C5A - Machinery
NSCV – Part C6A – Intact stability requirements
NSCV – Part C6B – Buoyancy and stability after floodingThe project will address known minor errors and ambiguities contained in several parts of the NSCV, including general requirements, construction, machinery and intact stability requirements.
- Completed program 2025-26
The completed program shows the regulatory changes that have been completed during 2025-26.
Project Description of action Date of effect Prohibiting the use or storage of fire extinguishing media containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) for new vessels Marine Order 15 – Construction – fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction
Marine Order 49 – High speed craft
1 April 2026 The application of the Load Lines Convention to all applicable Australian vessels on overseas voyages, and the International Tonnage Convention to Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCVs) Marine Order 16 – Load lines
Marine Order 19 – Tonnage measurement
1 September 2025 Maximum lowering speed for launching appliances using falls and a winch Marine Order 25 – Equipment –lifesaving 1 June 2026 Danger messaging requirements relating to the loss of freight containers Marine Order 27 - Safety of navigation and radio equipment 1 April 2026 Prescribed alcohol limit Marine Order 28 – Operations standards and procedures 1 September 2025 Installation of onboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches Marine Order 32 – Cargo handling equipment
Marine Order 12 – Construction – subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations
1 May 2026 Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act
Review of AMSA Fees Determinations for Service - 2015 AMSA Fees Determination 2015 Completed in October 2025
Last updated: 18 August 2026