How it works

Flag State control (FSC)

AMSA Inspectors conduct inspections on Australian-flagged ships subject to the Navigation Act 2012 using the same targeting arrangements applied to foreign-flagged ships.

AMSA conducted 87 initial FSC inspections on 77 Australian-flagged ships during 2020, resulting in 210 deficiencies being recorded, five of which were detainable deficiencies resulting in the detention of one ship. The average number of deficiencies per inspection in 2020 remained unchanged from 2019 at 2.4, which was slightly above the average recorded for foreign-flagged ships during the same period (2.1).

The number of FSC detentions decreased to one in 2020, from three in 2019. This equated to a detention rate of 1.1 per cent, which is well below the average recorded for foreign-flagged ships during the same period (5.9 per cent).

Port State control – Australian-flagged ships (overseas)

Australian-flagged ships calling at foreign ports were subject to a total of 11 PSC inspections by foreign maritime authorities, resulting in eight deficiencies and no detentions.

Focused inspection campaign

From 1 August 2020 to 31 October 2020, AMSA conducted a focused inspection campaign (FIC) on containerised cargo securing arrangements. This was to verify that containerised cargo was stowed and secured in accordance with Chapter VI of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Over this three-month period, AMSA conducted a total of 208 FIC inspections. Two ships were detained as a direct result of the FIC.

Find more information on the FIC results.

Refusal of a ship’s access and condition of entry

Australia is a signatory to various International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions which aim to ensure ships are safe.

Ships that are not operated and managed to meet applicable minimum standards and relevant Australian laws pose an increased risk to seafarers, ships and the environment. The Navigation Act 2012 gives AMSA the power to direct that a ship be refused access to Australian ports. AMSA exercises that power on occasions where a ship is repeatedly detained, has a poor PSC record, or there are concerns about the performance of the ship operator.

We provide access to our policy on refusing access on our website.  

AMSA can issue a ship with a direction not to enter or use an Australian port (or ports) for a set period of time, as deemed necessary. When considering ship performance, AMSA also looks at the performance of the entire company responsible for the operations of the ship. Where the company’s performance is also deemed unacceptable, the periods for which the ship is not permitted to enter an Australian port may be extended. A direction resulting from a detention will generally take effect as soon as the ship leaves the Australian port or anchorage following rectification of the detainable deficiency.

We publish a list of ships that are refused access to Australian ports on our website. 

Table 20 lists the ships issued with directions not to enter or use an Australian port in 2020.

Table 20—Ships issued with directions⁷

High performing operators

When considering ship performance AMSA also considers the performance of the operator in respect of the detention and deficiency rates of the ships they operate. In this report AMSA has  identified operators that are considered high performing.

This is assessed on the following basis:

• At least 10 inspections during the year (less than 10 is not statistically significant)
• No detentions during the year
• A deficiency rate at no more than 70 per cent of the average deficiency rate for the year.

Applying these criteria to data for 2020 AMSA identified 25 high performing operators as listed in Table 21 below.

Table 21—High performing operators 2020

Footnote:

^7. The full list of ships which have been refused access to Australian ports, or issued letters of warning.