Australia recognises that seafarers are the most vital aspect of international shipping.
Summary
- Australia prioritises seafarer safety and welfare through robust enforcement and compliance measures.
- We actively promote gender equity opportunities in the maritime industry.
- Our world-class port State control inspections reduce maritime environmental and safety risks.
Safety and seafarer welfare are our priority
Every year Australia inspects thousands of ships to check the safety and wellbeing of seafarers. Most of our inspectors are ex-mariners who know first-hand the importance of safety and wellbeing at sea.
In line with the Maritime Labour Convention, we ensure:
- seafarers are correctly paid
- conditions, accommodation, and meals reflect international standards.
Women in maritime
We support the IMO’s commitment to gender equality and work to make the maritime community safer and more inclusive.
With women making up just 1.2% of the global seafaring workforce, we are focused on improving opportunities for women in maritime.
Australia has an established women's scholarship program, and we pushed to add ‘women in maritime’ as a regular topic at the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Agencies Forum.
We also joined efforts with PacWIMA and Pacific nations to establish the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime, and we proudly backed the IMO Gender Equality Award.
Learn more about Australia’s work towards gender equality.
Maritime Labour Convention
Australia is a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). The MLC sets global standards for seafarers’ jobs and social rights, ensuring they have decent working and living conditions on vessels.
The Convention is implemented in Australia through the Navigation Act 2012 and legislation such as Marine Order 11 (living and working conditions on vessels) 2015.
We take a zero-tolerance approach to the mistreatment of seafarers:
- checking that ships in Australian ports follow MLC rules
- investigating MLC complaints
- detaining ships in breach of the MLC, and in severe cases, refusing access to Australian ports.
Read the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's MLC annual report for issues uncovered following investigations.
For seafarer support, visit the Australian Seafarers' Welfare Council.
Port State control
Safe ships are generally clean ships, and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority checks both during port State control inspections.
Of our inspections during 2023, 8.7% of detentions identified deficiencies related to inadequate pollution prevention that could harm the marine environment.
In recent years, we have run focused inspection campaigns on environmental issues, such as securing cargo to ensure it doesn’t fall overboard.
Find more information on port State control focused inspection campaigns.
Australia for IMO Council
Category B 2028-29 biennium
