Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)

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Uniform Shipping Laws code

The Uniform Shipping Laws code (USL code) provides standards for the design, construction and operations of domestic commercial vessels in Australia.

The USL code was first published in 1979 in response to the need for a common national safety standard for commercial vessels. The National Standard for Commercial Vessels [1] has largely replaced the USL code for all new domestic commercial vessels.

Access the My Boat system [2] for guidance on how to keep your vessel compliant.

Section Title Year of publication Applicable region
1 Introduction, definitions and general requirements 1993

All regions [3]

2008

Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia [4]

2008

Queensland [5]

2008

South Australia [6]

2 Qualifications and manning: trading vessels 1991

All regions [7]

2008

All regions [8]

3 Qualifications and manning: fishing vessels 1991

All regions [9]

2008

All regions [10]

5

Construction

   
5A Preliminary 1989

All regions [11]

2008

All regions [12]

5B Structural strength 1989

All regions [13]

2008

All regions [14]

5C Watertight subdivision of passenger vessels 1993

All regions [15]

2008

All regions [16]

5D Watertight subdivision of class 2 and class 3 vessels 1989

All regions [17]

2008

All regions [18]

5E Passengers, passenger accommodation, guard rails and bulwarks 1989

All regions [19]

2008

All regions [20]

5F Structural fire protection 1989

All regions [21]

2008

Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia [22]

2008

Queensland [23]

2008

South Australia [24]

5G Design loading 1989

All regions [25]

2008

All regions [26]

5H Aluminium 1993

All regions [27]

2008

All regions [28]

5I Copper nickel 1989

All regions [29]

2008

All regions [30]

5J Ferro-cement 1989

All regions [31]

2008

All regions [32]

5K Fibre reinforced plastic 1993

All regions [33]

2008

All regions [34]

5L Steel 1989

All regions [35]

2008

All regions [36]

5M Timber 1989

All regions [37]

2008

All regions [38]

6 Crew accommodation 1989

All regions [39]

2008

All regions [40]

7 Load lines 1989

All regions [41]

2008

All regions [42]

8 Stability    
8A Preliminary 1993

All regions [43]

2008

All regions [44]

8B Simplified presentation of stability 1993

All regions [45]

8C Stability criteria 1993

All regions [46]

9 Engineering 1993

All regions [47]

2008

Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia [48]

2008

Queensland [49]

2008

South Australia [50]

10 Life saving appliances 1993

All regions [51]

2008

Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia [52]

2008

Queensland [53]

2008

South Australia [54]

11 Fire appliances 1989

All regions [55]

2008

Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia [56]

2008

Queensland, South Australia [57]

12 Radio equipment 1989

All regions [58]

2008

All regions [59]

13 Miscellaneous equipment 1989

All regions [60]

2008

Commonwealth, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia [61]

2008

Queensland [62]

14 Surveys and certificates of survey 1993

All regions [63]

2008 All regions [64]
15 Emergency procedures and safety of navigation 1993 All regions [65]
2008 All regions [66]
16 Collision regulations 1989 All regions [67]
2008 All regions [68]
17 River Murray traffic regulations 1989 All regions [69]
2008 All regions [70]
18 Hire and drive vessels 1989 All regions [71]
2008 All regions [72]
  Amendments 1993 Amendment list 1 [73]
1996 Amendment list 2 [74]
1996 Amendment list 3 [75]
1997 Amendment list 4 [76]
2007 Amendment list 5 [77]
2007 Amendment list 6 [78]
Amendment list 6 attachment A [79]
2008 Amendment list 7 [80]
2010 Amendment list 8 [81]
2010 Amendment list 9 [82]

Source URL: https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/uniform-shipping-laws-code

Links
[1] https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/national-standard-commercial-vessels-nscv
[2] https://apps.amsa.gov.au/MyBoat/
[3] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/972/download?token=PJgtqxNw
[4] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/973/download?token=65ySvQiw
[5] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/974/download?token=rlJOLf_M
[6] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/975/download?token=7dnulc_c
[7] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/976/download?token=tl-luAdz
[8] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/977/download?token=-JRYVtX-
[9] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/978/download?token=c1D0CclD
[10] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/979/download?token=wO1JYDZq
[11] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/980/download?token=ECA0mCdE
[12] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/981/download?token=taNHp_63
[13] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/982/download?token=ik1RMnjJ
[14] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/983/download?token=m2jFsJ-E
[15] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/984/download?token=A_PxK8w-
[16] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/985/download?token=XeUoo1Hx
[17] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/986/download?token=PopHRjMp
[18] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/987/download?token=t3Bl1bD_
[19] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/988/download?token=Xxsz4XM0
[20] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/989/download?token=9T6bsH_e
[21] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/990/download?token=2vNZJWuY
[22] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/991/download?token=S1Lb9O_W
[23] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/992/download?token=K0z5-ncI
[24] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/993/download?token=w0xjiGyX
[25] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/994/download?token=BPVQFJIQ
[26] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/995/download?token=DCLcTUgt
[27] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/996/download?token=2LnfnLt3
[28] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/997/download?token=u3Vf2c9l
[29] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/998/download?token=8hWPorHM
[30] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/999/download?token=juEyppb6
[31] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1000/download?token=znVVb6Km
[32] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1001/download?token=p2vquf0j
[33] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1002/download?token=jTlZtecl
[34] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1003/download?token=7gy_BcOa
[35] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1004/download?token=RSUQa86g
[36] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1005/download?token=KjwLWu7p
[37] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1006/download?token=RC53UDoj
[38] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1007/download?token=qbgd7TQ_
[39] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1008/download?token=VETEqGeX
[40] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1009/download?token=bGwM0Uqg
[41] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1010/download?token=8pADhiq5
[42] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1012/download?token=WTPcXD6V
[43] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1013/download?token=gUPVcF65
[44] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1011/download?token=Ecq8u5tT
[45] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1015/download?token=3O7LDbW3
[46] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1016/download?token=ZPomMfg_
[47] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1017/download?token=ckuQom4x
[48] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1018/download?token=_ZgZakum
[49] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1019/download?token=JGWJANyv
[50] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1020/download?token=ZL93kDRi
[51] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1021/download?token=3B2WN9ku
[52] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1022/download?token=QFLHvbq0
[53] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1023/download?token=rBj-DWwu
[54] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1024/download?token=uQjquMkB
[55] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1025/download?token=NOKrK0zC
[56] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1026/download?token=bPsKtCLZ
[57] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1027/download?token=Jw80RoVm
[58] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1028/download?token=YcXI2R_1
[59] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1029/download?token=CDQ-i8PH
[60] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1030/download?token=a3pvDHjc
[61] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1031/download?token=eCOfNm2k
[62] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1032/download?token=l5OJK6pd
[63] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1033/download?token=0WZM5Xah
[64] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1034/download?token=VK08Pq4T
[65] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1035/download?token=Jn0413pg
[66] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1036/download?token=YyGWnDkc
[67] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1038/download?token=7PQ3Kb00
[68] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1039/download?token=hRLMl5f6
[69] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1040/download?token=n6qMpyWn
[70] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1041/download?token=3ixoXiPo
[71] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1042/download?token=vDNZH3Qo
[72] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1043/download?token=aVvThF6l
[73] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1044/download?token=OclQ4Wg9
[74] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1045/download?token=TAhhf7rT
[75] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1046/download?token=eFtNFUMy
[76] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1047/download?token=o-tJ_nTT
[77] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1048/download?token=4IencAVp
[78] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1049/download?token=nFtA-I_d
[79] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1050/download?token=SNxBMVL4
[80] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1051/download?token=3ShUJgDE
[81] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1052/download?token=xxAoYL9G
[82] https://www.amsa.gov.au/file/1053/download?token=u1F7gmYW