This Statement of Intent (SoI) is issued in response to the Statement of Expectations (SoE) issued to the AMSA Board by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, covering the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2028. This document has been approved by the AMSA Board as the Accountable Authority and will be used to guide development of organisational strategy that is consistent with the SoE, and AMSA’s statutory roles and functions.
1. Overview
AMSA’s vision is safe and clean seas, saving lives. AMSA’s mission is ensuring safe vessel operations, combating marine pollution, and rescuing people in distress.
AMSA’s Organisational Strategy 2026-2030 (the Strategy), guided by its vision and mission, reflects the aims expressed in the SoE.
AMSA is accountable for the delivery of its statutory functions under the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990. AMSA will continue to deliver these functions to meet the needs of stakeholders demonstrated by:
- Maritime safety: Ensuring the safety of seafarers and vessels by implementing and enforcing
international conventions and safety standards for commercial shipping, domestic commercial
vessels, and maritime operations in Australian waters. - Marine environment protection: Preventing and responding to ship-sourced pollution to preserve
Australia’s marine environment, through maintaining regulations and capability to prevent and
respond to incidents. - Navigation infrastructure: Providing marine navigation aids, and ensuring delivery of maritime
infrastructure services and systems, to support safe navigation in Australian waters. - Search and rescue coordination: Coordinating and supporting operations in Australia’s search and
rescue region, ensuring timely and efficient response to maritime and aviation distress situations.
AMSA operates within an increasingly complex and interconnected operating environment characterised by evolving safety risks, technological change, environmental pressures, workforce challenges and growing stakeholder expectations. AMSA will work collaboratively with governments, industry and international partners to address these challenges while maintaining confidence in Australia's maritime regulatory framework. AMSA will ensure that regulatory, operational, and incident response functions are continually reviewed to meet the evolving needs of the maritime sector and Australian community.
2. Governance
AMSA remains dedicated to maintaining high standards of governance in the execution of its roles and responsibilities. AMSA will fulfill its obligations under relevant legislative frameworks.
AMSA will maintain clear and open communication with the Minister, and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (the Department), ensuring all material events or issues are communicated in a proactive manner.
AMSA will continue to focus on:
- Integrity and accountability: AMSA officials will act with honesty, integrity, and professionalism in
all decisions and actions, consistent with government and community expectations, and with
AMSA’s own values. - Transparency: AMSA will maintain high standards of performance measurement and public
accountability through publication of service standards, key performance indicators and reporting
on major reform initiatives that improve productivity, service delivery and regulatory effectiveness.
3. Strategic direction and manner of performance
In keeping with AMSA’s enduring vision and mission, consistent with its intent to be a modern and effective maritime safety regulator, and to continue its objectives as a risk-based regulator committed to continuous improvement, AMSA’s Organisational Strategy reflects the SoE and continues to address the challenges and opportunities in its operating environment. AMSA will continue to work collaboratively with the Department and other agencies to support Government recommendations related to the transformation of its operating environments, including the establishment of a sustainable funding model for AMSA. AMSA’s collaborative efforts will support the creation of a strategic fleet, industry adoption of emerging technologies, decarbonisation, modernisation of Australia’s shipping regulatory framework, and establishing appropriate cost recovery arrangements for regulatory services.
AMSA will continue to review and communicate its regulatory philosophy to ensure its approach is both clear and accessible to stakeholders. AMSA’s philosophy is for a risk-based approach to ensure efficient and effective performance, compliance with relevant laws and international standards, reduce regulatory burden, and that cost recovery for services is fair and equitable.
4. Key initiatives
AMSA will use its Corporate Plan and Annual Report to communicate key initiatives and report on progress. AMSA will focus on the following priorities consistent with the achievement of the Minister’s SOE and through its strategic intent:
- Risk-based approach: AMSA will continue to mature its risk-based regulatory model through improved use of intelligence, data analytics, predictive insights and assurance processes to support consistent, transparent and proportionate decision-making. AMSA will continue to encourage voluntary compliance by industry and will apply compliance and enforcement actions proportionate to the risk they present to operational safety, the marine environment and seafarer welfare. AMSA will ensure modern regulatory design that supports and facilitates innovation, productivity and growth of the maritime sector.
- Streamlined service delivery: AMSA will leverage digital technologies and automation to improve regulatory effectiveness, operational capability, service delivery and organisational efficiency. AMSA will progressively modernise its operations consistent with its financial and resource capacity. AMSA will adopt a digital-first approach to deliver easier, quicker, and more accessible certification and registration services.
- Environmental stewardship: AMSA’s environmental policies and operations are guided by the Government’s environmental policies. AMSA will promote sustainable maritime practices and implement agreed greenhouse gas emission measures to address climate impacts on the maritime environment.
- Incident response and operational capability: AMSA will continue to strengthen operational effectiveness and streamline service delivery, including through incident management arrangements that support timely, coordinated and data-informed response. AMSA will continue to support National Plan arrangements including working with the Department to ensure appropriate capabilities are identified and implemented.
5. Stakeholder engagement
AMSA collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including the Australian and international maritime industry, government agencies at Federal, State/Territory level, international administrations and organisations, and the Australian public. These collaborative efforts ensure AMSA policies, regulations and operations are:
- informed by the experiences of regulated communities, partner agencies and organisations, and
- consistent with Australia’s interests, government policies, and foreign policy priorities.
AMSA will continue to strengthen stakeholder engagement approaches that enhance engagement and transparency, supports effective and modern stakeholder engagement, and builds a deeper understanding of stakeholder expectations. Our international engagement efforts will support Australia’s representation on the International Maritime Organization Council and re-election campaign.
AMSA’s Stakeholder Engagement Framework ensures engagement is consistent, appropriate, and meaningful for all stakeholders. Guided by five principles—respectful, purposeful, transparent, inclusive, and timely—it aims to foster strong relationships and supports the achievement of our strategic engagement goals.
Using multiple channels and methods AMSA will inform, educate, consult, and collaborate with all stakeholders. AMSA will continue to strengthen partnerships with domestic, regional and international stakeholders.
6. Conclusion
Through this Statement of Intent, AMSA commits to delivering its statutory responsibilities in a manner that is accountable, transparent and effective. AMSA will continue to work collaboratively with governments, industry, communities and international partners to improve maritime safety, protect the marine environment, support resilient maritime services and maintain public confidence in Australia's maritime regulatory framework.
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This version was approved by the AMSA Board on 23 September 2026. The SoI was communicated to the portfolio Minister on 28 September 2026 by the AMSA Board.