Friday 30 May 2025
New safety management system (SMS) requirements come into effect for domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) on 1 June 2025, under Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation – national law) 2024.
The changes to SMS requirements were developed in collaboration with industry to ensure they are clearer, more practical and fit for purpose for the diverse range of DCVs across Australia.
What’s changed
- Simplified SMS: vessels under 7.5m, other than class 1, may be eligible for a streamlined SMS. Check your eligibility now.
- Fatigue risk management: risk assessments must identify and address the risk of master and crew fatigue (except class 4 vessels).
- Drug and alcohol policy: your SMS must include a policy to manage these risks.
- Cargo and dangerous goods: include procedures to manage risks of cargo operations and dangerous goods in your SMS.
- Operational procedures: your SMS must cover key vessel operations, where relevant (class 1, 2 and 3 vessels).
- Emergency plans: the risk of loss of propulsion and fuel or oil spills need to be included in your emergency plan, if applicable.
- Responsibility statements: include updated statement for the master and a new statement for the designated person in your SMS.
- Assembly stations: alternatives are only required if reasonably practicable, based on vessel layout, characteristics and risk assessment.
- Vessel modifications: you need to identify risks to vessel stability and include this in your risk assessment and also maintain a record of modifications impacting stability (not required for class 4 vessels).
Webinars
If you missed our webinars, you can watch them on our website.
The 3 webinars covered:
- Fatigue risk management
- Overview of changes to SMS requirements
- Simplified SMS
Act now to comply
The changes are now in effect. If you haven’t updated your SMS yet, make sure you visit our guidance page to find out what the changes mean for you and what you need to do to comply.