Advice to the Australian domestic commercial vessel industry during COVID-19

We understand that due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, owners, operators, masters and crews of domestic commercial vessels have a lot of questions and may still face challenges in meeting various regulatory requirements.

Here is some information that might help:

Domestic commercial vessel operations

There are federal and state government requirements that the maritime industry must comply with to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including regular check-ins, social distancing and hygiene measures.

Operating charter businesses

The rules around social distancing including which businesses may operate differ from place to place and we have no control over how these public health orders are made or when they are relaxed.

These rules are subject to change, so we encourage you to keep in regular contact with your local maritime and health authorities.

The following links to state and territory information may help:

Western Australia: Transport WA [1] have some information on charter operations.
Northern Territory: contact the Northern Territory Government [2] for advice on your operation.
Queensland: Maritime Safety Queensland [3] are providing regular updates.
New South Wales: NSW Maritime [4] have advice.
Victoria: you should contact Maritime Safety Victori [5]a for advice on your operation.
South Australia: you should contact the South Australian Government [6] for advice on your operation.
Tasmania: you should contact the Tasmanian Government [7]for advice on your operation.

Social distancing for passenger and non-passenger vessels

The Department of Health announced social distancing requirements [8] to slow the spread of COVID-19. These requirements are being enforced by state and territory authorities [9].

The Department of Health has also published information about routine environmental cleaning and disinfection in the community [10] that covers cleaning requirements for frequently touched surfaces and minimally touched surfaces. This advice is directly applicable to the maritime environment. Read also the Department of Health's information for employers [11] to find out how you can safeguard your workplace.

Our advice to the DCV industry is to take a risk assessment approach, implementing control measures suitable for your operation while taking into consideration state and federal government health advice.

If you think you are able to comply with government health requirements and continue to operate, you should include a risk assessment in your safety management system which identifies how and what you will do to comply with these requirements.

As always, marine incidents should continue to be reported including those related to COVID-19 that may impact vessel safety. Please also take into consideration any other reporting requirements in relation to COVID-19 in your state or territory.

More information about social distancing

You can keep up to date with latest Australian government information about COVID-19 [12].

Find links to state and territory information [13] to find out how the restrictions are being enforced.

Compliance

We will still conduct inspections and other compliance activities as necessary, including following-up on incidents, and we will continue to investigate the most serious of incidents.

We will continue to apply our compliance and enforcement policy in all cases, and where the risk is such that action must be taken AMSA and its compliance partners will do so. However, we will continue to work with you to bring your operation back into compliance and back on the water as soon as possible. 

This is a shared challenge, which comes with a shared obligations and responsibilities to ensure that you can operate safety, and with as little regulatory burden as possible. 

Inspections

We have some measures and guidelines [14] that vessel owners and operators are required to implement on their vessels during the COVID-19 pandemic when AMSA Marine Inspectors are attending the vessel.

Letter to domestic vessel operators during the COVID-19 pandemic

Dear Owner/Master

This document sets out the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) measures that vessel owners and operators are required to implement on their vessels during the COVID-19 pandemic when AMSA Marine Inspectors are attending the vessel.

Relevant Resources

Australian Government Department of health [15]
Home Affairs [16]

Background

Our regulatory work helps in achieving safety in operations of domestic commercial vessels. To this effect we will continue to undertake domestic commercial vessel inspections, and other compliance activities while it is safe to do so.

To do this, AMSA is implementing the following procedures. These requirements will apply until AMSA notifies its stakeholders otherwise. This period will align with announcements by the Australian Government about measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These measures are being put in place to protect both you as an operator of domestic commercial vessels and marine inspectors (MI) while undertaking their work. Your cooperation in this matter is of the utmost importance.

Before inspection
Pre boarding requirements

The owner/ master, will be provided the questionnaire at the end of this notice by the AMSA inspector via email asking a few questions, on any recent travel and whether you have been ill or in contact with anyone who has recently been ill, to return via email.
Where possible, the common areas of access and the furniture used should be wiped clean using disinfectant prior to boarding.
Non-essential crew to remain clear and maintain safe distance during boarding the vessel.

During an inspection

There is to be no physical contact between the marine inspector and any individual onboard. AMSA inspectors and vessel crew members are, so far as possible, to remain at least 1.5 metres apart.
AMSA inspectors will be refraining from normal pleasantries such as handshakes.
If requested as part of the inspection, and where possible, safety equipment and documentation is to be laid out in an area not in the enclosed cabin.
In the engine room maintain clear distance and use hand signs where audibility is low.

Always maintain safe distance of at least 1.5 metres.

None of us want to contract COVID-19, and together we can prevent the COVID-19 disease from spreading

Questions

Has any person onboard the vessel been in contact with a person who has returned from overseas in the past 14 days?
Has anyone on board the vessel returned from overseas in the past 14 days?
Have any persons on board the vessel been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
Are any person on board the vessel, or close contacts of the anyone on board the vessel, feeling sick with fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or fatigue?

In the event that after returning this form your circumstances change, that is, you come into contact with COVID-19 or go into ‘self-isolation’, please contact AMSA connect on 1800 627 484.
Safety on the water and for vessels and crew still remains the highest goal for AMSA during this difficult period.

It is an offence under section 137.1 of the Criminal Code to provide false or misleading information to a Commonwealth entity. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is a Commonwealth entity.

It is an offence under section 149.1 of the Criminal Code to obstruct, hinder, intimidate or resist a public official in the performance of the public official’s functions. A Marine Safety Inspector is a Commonwealth public official.

Certificate exemptions

For operators and seafarers that find themselves unable to comply with the National Law due to COVID-19, we have a wide range of National Law Act Exemptions that may be of assistance [17].

Exemption 42 [18] and Exemption 43 [19] expired on 31 July 2021. If you believe that your operation continues to be impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and you cannot meet the renewal requirements of your certification, you can apply for one of the exemptions in the link above or alternatively a specific exemption [20].

Support services

Information about the Government's new measures to provide support [21] to affected workers and businesses during the COVID-19 period.

Australian border closures

Maritime Industry Australia Limited (MIAL) have made available to industry the MIAL Australian Maritime COVID-19 Border Closures Table. You can find out more information about this on the MIAL website [22].