Guidance for mariners and port stakeholders on the difference between a vessel traffic service (VTS) and a local port service.

This page outlines the types of survey reports and details an AMSA assessor looks for when reviewing an application for approval.

This applies to approved Registered training organisations (RTOs) delivering International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping training leading to a certificate of competency.

Seafarers often spend many months working away from family and friends with this situation being made worse if the vessel they are engaged on is involved in a maritime accident

During the COVID-19 pandemic many seafarers have played an essential role.

In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a revised strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

The information you provide in your incident report plays an important part in guiding the way we improve maritime safety for everybody on the water. By reporting marine incidents to us, you are also meeting your reporting obligations under Australian laws.

AMSA and the Bureau of Meteorology provide vessels with maritime safety information (MSI) about hazards and foreseeable dangers to safe navigation through Australia's marine environment.

The National Maritime Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulators Forum is a collaborative platform for discussing maritime workplace health and safety. Its main aim is to improve safety for domestic commercial vessels.

Ships registered on the Australian general shipping register have Australian nationality.

Exercise Barossa was a biannual oil spill response exercise conducted in Adelaide under our National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances.

The information you provide in your incident report plays an important part in guiding the way we improve maritime safety for everybody on the water. By reporting marine incidents to us, you are also meeting your reporting obligations under Australian laws.

Carry the right safety equipment, including lifejackets, life rafts, and first aid kits.

The 276th meeting of the Board was held on Thursday, 20 November 2025, in Canberra, ACT.

In this edition we talk about marine surveyor accreditation renewals, a marine safety incident and a safety recall notice.

IMO performance standards require back-up arrangements to be in place in case of ECDIS failure.

If you are no longer carrying out commercial operations outside the Australian exclusive economic zone, you can switch to being a domestic commercial vessel by surrendering your regulated Australian vessel (RAV) Certificate of survey , Maritime Labour Certificate, and load line certificate. You can then apply for domestic commercial vessel certification.

As a regulatory body, we are required to publish a range of information about our functions and how we carry them out. We do this under the information publication scheme.

The global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) connects you to coast stations and vessels via satellite and radio communications when you're out at sea.