You can submit your completed Seafarer form 419 or Certificate of competency application form 426 at participating Australia Post retail outlets.

Australian legislative requirements preventing pollution from discharge of garbage.

In this edition we talk about Draft instruction for ultrasonic thickness measurement for metallic vessels, Transitional requirements, Proposed changes to SAGM Pt 2 Stability booklets and more

A safety management system (also referred to as an SMS) is a systematic approach to managing safety.

Transfer, suspend or revoke a certificate or approval for a domestic commercial vessel. You may need to transfer the certificate or approval when you sell or purchase a vessel.

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

Electronic visual distress signals are not a substitute for conventional pyrotechnic flares.

Knowledge of regulations and duties will help you navigate safely on the seas.

During a private charter a passenger fell down a stairwell and sustained serious injuries. The area around the top of the stairwell had a recess that reduced the floor area slightly and could be missed during movements. The stairs themselves were not found to be contributory to this incident. However, the spiral design proved problematic for providing post-incident medical assistance for the passenger. Any area that may present a safety risk to passengers onboard a vessel should be risk assessed, with appropriate control measures put in place to ensure passenger safety.

Keeping a radio watch saves lives. Use this guidance to set up your radio watchkeeping process and comply with Marine Order 504.

In this edition we talk about recent surveyor audits.

Our search and rescue incidents from 2016–17.

How to calculate and record your sea service for a near coastal certificate of competency.

We are the Australian Government agency responsible for implementing the 1 January 2020 low sulphur fuel regulation as set out in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).

Read previous AMSA update editions from 2024

If you are a Traditional Inhabitant of the Torres Strait and use your TIB to catch seafood and sell it, your boat is being used as a domestic commercial vessel. This page explains what that means, when you can use the TIB-specific exemption, and the steps you must follow to operate safely and legally.

Australia can request and receive information on vessels travelling within 1000 nautical miles off its coast.