Who is affected?
These exemptions may apply to domestic commercial vessel (DCV) owners and operators, masters or crew.
What you need to do
You should review any exemption updates that may be relevant to your operations and submit an application if required.
Exemptions that require a new application
| Exemption | About the exemption | Application form | Changes effective from 1 July 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exemption 14 (Sea rangers) | This exemption is for sea rangers who want to master a vessel to manage activities within the marine environment without a certificate of competency. | Reapplication required. Submit a complete AMSA form 618. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. No policy changes but some minor changes to the application process. |
| Exemption 15 (Scientific research and educational activities) | This exemption allows people who work on a vessel involved in scientific research or educational activities to master the vessel without a certificate of competency. | Reapplication may be required. Application is required if you wish to operate in ‘other waters’ or to allow non-employees to be the master of the vessel. Request this by submitting a complete AMSA form 758. | Reissued for 4 years until 30 June 2029. Scientific research or educational organisations can now request approval to allow non-employees to be the master of the vessel. |
| Exemption 31 (Expired pre-USL Code certificates) | This exemption is for people who have an expired pre-Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code certificate who want to work on a domestic commercial fishing vessel without the required certificate. | Reapplication required. Submit a complete AMSA form 758 application and receive an approval by 31 January 2026. Alternatively, you may apply for a certificate of competency using your expired pre-USL certificate. For further information, call AMSA Connect on 1800 627 484. | Reissued for 3 years until 30 June 2028. Individuals previously approved to operate under the exemption are required to re-apply. This will allow AMSA to understand how many people are still using the exemption and to contact affected individuals about any changes. |
| Exemption 36 (Steam-powered vessels) | This exemption allows people to operate a steam-powered DCV without the required certificate of competency. | Reapplication required. When your current exemption expires, you will need to submit a complete AMSA form 758 application. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. No policy changes but some minor changes to the application process. |
Exemptions for final reissue
| Exemption | About the exemption | Changes effective from 1 July 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Exemption 39 (Lifejacket lights) | Exempts a passenger vessel in service category 1C from the requirement for passenger lifejackets to have a light that complies with the requirement in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part C7A – Safety equipment. | Reissued for 3 years until 30 June 2028 with no policy changes. No policy changes. This exemption will not be reissued after 30 June 2028. After this time, operators using the exemption will need to comply with the requirement in the NSCV to have lifejackets fitted with a light. Lifejacket lights improve the visibility and detection of people in the water at times of poor visibility, including during daylight hours. |
Exemptions being extended with no reapplication required
A new application for approval is not required for the following exemptions, but you should:
- check the new expiry date
- make sure you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for your exemption.
| Exemption | About the exemption | Changes effective from 1 July 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Exemption 01 (Vessel identifiers) | This exempts eligible DCVs from having to obtain or display a unique vessel identifier (UVI). | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. No policy changes. |
| Exemption 03 (Certificates of operation) | This exempts certain DCVs from the requirement to obtain a certificate of operation or comply with certain conditions on the certificate of operation. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. The exemption has been updated to reflect the updated Marine Order 504 – Certificates of Operation. |
| Exemption 04 (Recreational use) | This exemption is for owners of DCVs who may wish to operate their vessels for recreational purposes. | Reissued for 4 years until 30 June 2029. No policy changes. |
| Exemption 06 (Periodic survey, equipment certification, compass adjustment and liferaft servicing) | This exemption allows DCV owners an extension of time for obtaining periodic or load line surveys, or a new certificate of currency for equipment. It also allows them to operate without required compass adjustments or while a liferaft is being serviced. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. No policy changes. |
| Exemption 10 (Operation of fishing vessels) | This exemption allows eligible people to work as a master on a commercial fishing vessel in parts of Queensland without the required certificate of competency. | Reissued for 4 years until 30 June 2029. No policy changes. |
| Exemption 16 (Traditional fishing) | This exemption allows people to master a traditional inhabitant fishing boat without the required certificate of competency. | Reissued for 4 years until 30 June 2029. No policy changes. |
| Exemption 17 (Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Zone) | This exemption allows people to work as a master or chief mate on a vessel operating from a Queensland island or in the Great Barrier Reef or Torres Strait Zone without the required certificate. | Reissued for 4 years until 30 June 2029. The updated exemption includes some minor editorial changes, including changing the vessel length from ≥35m to ≥45m to align with Schedule 1 of Marine Order 505. There is no effect to operations because under Marine Order 505:
|
| Exemption 22 (Bareboats) | This exemption allows people to operate a bareboat without the required certificate of competency. | Reissued for 3 years until 30 June 2028. No policy changes. |
| Exemption 23 (Masters or crew without certificates) | This exemption allows people who were working on a DCV under state or Northern Territory law on 30 June 2013, to continue working without the required certificate. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. No policy changes. |
| Exemption 24 (Emergency services vessels) | This exemption allows volunteer emergency services to crew their vessels using trained volunteers without a certificate of competency. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. See detailed guidance on the updated exemption 24. |
| Exemption 40 (Class C restricted operations) | Exempts owners of certain vessels operating in designated Class C Restricted areas from holding a certificate of survey. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. The updated exemption includes minor updates and a new note about survey and stability requirements. |
| Exemption 41 (Unpowered barges) | This exemption is for owners of certain kinds of unpowered barges where it may not be practical to comply with specified construction and equipment requirements. | Reissued for 5 years until 30 June 2030. The exemption includes minor updates to remove the minimum crewing component of the exemption (this has been absorbed into MO504 so is no longer needed). |
Exemptions not listed
For information on exemptions that were not reissued, please see the article on National Law general exemptions set to expire on 30 June 2025.