Lost freight containers pose serious risks to maritime safety and the marine environment. Because of this, mandatory reporting rules have been added to SOLAS Chapter V under IMO Resolution MSC.550(108).
We are now updating Australian laws to align with these international safety requirements and make container loss reporting clear and enforceable.
The main updates are to Marine Order 27 (Safety of navigation and radio equipment). There are minor updates to Marine Orders 41 and 94 to ensure consistency.
We have also taken the opportunity to make minor consequential and administrative changes to these orders as well as Marine Orders 43 and 70.
Result
We did not receive any submissions from the public consultation process, and the drafts were finalised with no further amendments.
Key dates
- Consultation period: 17 November to 18 December 2025
- The amendments are scheduled to come into effect on 1 April 2026
Feedback report
- Introduction
The 108th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) adopted Resolution MSC.550(108) which amends SOLAS Chapter V/31 and V/32 to require vessels (regardless of build date) to report any freight containers they lose or observe in the water.
The new requirements came into effect on 1 January 2026 and are not automatically captured under existing legislation.
This project gives effect to the new requirements through amendments to Marine Order 27 (Safety of navigation and radio equipment) 2023 (Marine Order 27). Marine order 27 sets out the requirements for safety, urgency and distress communications and gives effect to SOLAS Chapter V/31 and V/32.
This project also makes administrative amendments to the following instruments:
- Marine Order 27 (Safety of navigation and radio equipment) 2023;
- Marine Order 41 (Carriage of dangerous goods) 2017;
- Marine Order 43 (Cargo and cargo handling — livestock) 2018;
- Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) 2014; and
- Marine Order 94 (Marine pollution prevention — packaged harmful substances) 2014.
These administrative amendments advise of the new SOLAS requirements, update superseded references, remove obsolete transitional arrangements and align communication preferences with current practice.
- Consultation approach
During public consultation we sought feedback on:
- updates to Marine Order 27 requiring all vessels (regardless of build date) to report any freight containers they lose or observe in the water, in line with SOLAS Chapter V
- minor updates to marine orders 41 and 94 to reflect the MO27 changes and ensure consistency
- separate minor updates to marine orders 27, 41, 43, 70 and 94 to improve clarity, revise outdated references and align with recent international conventions.
The changes apply to Owners and operators of regulated Australian vessels (RAVs) and Foreign-flagged vessels operating in Australian waters.
The external consultation utilised AMSA’s targeted consultation lists for MO27, which includes stakeholders with an interest in safety, urgency and distress communications as required under Chapter V of SOLAS.
- Public consultation
The public consultation on the proposed amendments took place between 17 November 2025 and 18 December 2025 for four and a half weeks. A copy of the draft amendment instrument was placed on the AMSA website for public comment. Notification of the public consultation was also emailed to approximately 125 recipients provided in the AMSA’s MO27 stakeholder lists, as well as those that have subscribed via our website. These stakeholders include port authorities, ship operating companies, seafarer representative organisations, classification societies, shipping industry peak bodies and interested government departments and agencies.
AMSA did not receive any submissions from the public consultation process, and the drafts were finalised with no further amendments.
Download the report
Contact
If you require further information, please contact AMSA Connect.