Non-survey fishing vessels operating in warm waters and within 2 nautical miles of land

This new equipment list is for non-survey vessels operating: 

  • within 2 nautical miles of land - if you transit beyond 2 nm miles of land to reach your operational area this equipment list is not applicable to your vessel.
  • in warm waters 
  • with a maximum significant wave height of no greater than 2.5 metres
  • either under Exemption 2 (certificates of survey) or Exemption 40 (class C restricted operations).
Warm waters

Waters north of Coral Bay in Western Australia, all coastal waters in the Northern Territory and Queensland, and waters north of Ballina in NSW (waters north of latitude 23.5° south on the west coast and latitude 29° south on the east coast). 

 

Definition of 'nearest land'

'Nearest land' is the distance from land (other than a reef) as measured from the lowest astronomical tide.

New equipment list

Note: The safety equipment arrangements do not expand a vessel's operational area. For example, a Class 3D vessel can only operate in D waters that are within 200 metres of land with this equipment.

Portable safety equipment

Item Quantity Description Need to know 3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
Lifejacket - Level 150

1 for each person onboard

Lifejacket – Level 150

  • Lifejackets must fit appropriately
  • A lifejacket must be worn when crossing a designated coastal bar
Yes
Red hand-held distress flare
2

Red hand-held distress flare

Comply with AS2092 and be within their expiry date

Yes
Orange hand-held smoke signal
1

Orange hand-held smoke signal

Comply with AS2092 and be within their expiry date

Yes
Waterproof bouyant torch or lantern
1

Waterproof buoyant torch or lantern

Have sufficient light intensity to signal for help and be stored with spare batteries

Yes
V sheet marine
1

V sheet marine

  • Fluorescent orange-red coloured sheet
  • Not less than 1.8m x 1.2m
  • Black letter 'V' superimposed on the middle of the sheet
Yes
A retrieval device

Required if more than 1 person onboard

A retrieval device

  • At least 15m of floating rope of suitable strength attached to a device you can grab onto (e.g. end loop, hand hold etc)
  • Device must be throwable and unlikely to injury a person in the water (e.g. throw bags, retriever slings, rescue quoit with rope)
Yes

Onboard communication

Item Quantity Description Need to know 3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2mn of land
Safety management system
1

 

One or more of the onboard communication methods must be recorded as part of your safety management system (SMS)

 
Yes
VHF radio
You must have one or more of these (not all)

VHF marine radio

The best method of contacting other vessels, but must be within a VHF operational area to use this option.

Yes
Mobile phone

Mobile phone (if within the coverage area)

Service dependent communication equipment for contacting a shore base or other vessels

Yes
MF/HF Radio

MF/HF Radio (approved by ACMA for maritime use)

Yes
Satellite phone

Satellite phone

Yes

Navigational equipment

Item Quantity Description Need to know 3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
Navigation lights

1 set

Navigation lights

Only required when operating at night or for restricted visibility:

  • 360 degree white light with port and starboard sidelights

Yes

Only required at night or for restricted visibility

Compass or GPS
1 of each

Compass or Global Positioning System (GPS)

Minimum 75mm diameter compass card showing the cardinal points.
GPS must be suitable for marine navigation, display speed and determine location

Yes

Compass + chart or an electronic navigation device

PLUS
Chart or map of the operational area
1 of each

Chart or map of the operational area

Must be a geographical representation of a marine area that identifies prominent shore marks and offshore islands, reefs and shoals

Electronic navigation device
1

Electronic navigation device

Only required if not equipped with a compass and a chart

Yes

Compass + chart or an electronic navigation device

Miscellaneous equipment

Item Quantity Description Need to know 3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
Anchor with chain or rope
1

 

Anchor with chain and/or rope

Sufficient holding strength for
conditions and the vessel size and weight

Yes
Bailing bucket
1

Bailing bucket

  • Only required if the vessel is <5m or is not self-draining
  • Bailing bucket must have attached a length of rope long enough to reach the water
Yes
Bilge pumps
See Table 2

Bilge pumps

Bilge pumps must be able to drain all bilges or closed floor compartments other than airtight voids or spaces filled with flotation. On an open vessel, the bilge system must be able to operate when the vessel is swamped

Yes

Emergency equipment

Item Quantity Description Need to know 3C*, 3C-Restricted#, 3D & 3E within 2nm of land
First aid kit

1

First aid kit

Sufficient for the vessel’s operations based on risk assessment within the SMS. Medical supplies must be within their expiry date

Yes
Emergency drinking water

2 litres per person

Emergency drinking water

A minimum of 2 litres of emergency drinking water must be provided

Yes
Fire blanket
1 Fire blanket  
Yes
Fire extinguisher
1 x dry powder

Fire extinguisher

See table 1 below for size and rating

Yes

Table 1: Fire extinguishers

Type of vessel

Quantity

Size (weight)

Rating and type

Outboard vessels operating out to 2nm with ≤25 litres of portable fuel tanks

1 1kg
  • Fire extinguishers must have the correct size and rating in accordance with AS1799.1
  • 1kg dry powder fire extinguisher must have a minimum rating of 20B(E) to comply with AS 1799.1
  • 2kg dry powder fire extinguisher is recommended to have a minimum rating of 40B(E)
  • Fire extinguishers must comply with AS/AZS 1841 and they must be serviced following AS/NZS 1851

Outboard vessels operating out to 2nm with >25 litres of fuel tanks

1 2kg

Table 2: Bilge pumps

 

Manual pump or extra low voltage (ELV) pumps

Measured Length of vessel

Number

Capacity in kilolitre/hour

<5m

Bailing bucket acceptable for open boats provided the bilge is readily accessible.

<7.5m

1

4.0

≥7.5m to <12m

2 4.0

* Existing fishing vessels not required to have a certificate of survey under Exemption 02.
# New vessels not required to have a certificate of survey under Exemption 40.

Definitions

NSCV Part B (General requirements) is on AMSA's website:

  • Operational area category C is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Restricted offshore operations’
  • Operational area category C Restricted is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Restricted offshore operations – specified areas’
  • Operational area category D is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Partially smooth water operations’
  • Operational area category E is defined within NSCV Part B as ‘Smooth water operations’.

Map of warm waters

The new equipment list applies to the vessels outlined above that operate in warm waters as shown in red on the map.

Warm water map stretching from the east coast of Australia from latitude 29 degrees south, to latitude 23.5 degrees south on the west cost of Australia.