This marine notice advises vessel owners, vessel operators, masters, officers, seafarer training organisations and industry organisations that AMSA does not consider electronic visual distress signals (EVDs) to be a suitable replacement for pyrotechnic distress signals.

Getting hooked-up is one of the most dangerous situations you can experience on a trawler. Be prepared. Knowing what you and your crew need to do can save lives.

On the evening of 29 May 2022, a commercial fishing vessel was on a voyage from Mackay to Cairns when the master noticed an auxiliary engine alarm. Upon lifting the engine room hatch, the master saw smoke and an orange glow and the engine room subsequently caught fire. The master quickly made the decision that they would not be able to fight the fire without jeopardising their safety and abandoned ship. An SMS risk assessment on appropriate crewing on a voyage greater than 12 hours duration should be undertaken in these situations.

Procedures for STCW courses provided by Registered training organisations including e-learning, distance learning and blended learning, GMDSS ROC and short courses.

Passenger sustains injury from poorly rigged gangway.

On 6 October 2022, two crewmembers were setting cray pots on the port and starboard side of a fishing vessel. During one setting, the crewmember’s foot (on the port side) became entangled in the cray pot’s rope dragging them over the side. The second crewmember raised the alarm and the master immediately stopped the vessel and instructed the crewmember to attach the line to the pot winch. The master and crewmember, having conducted regular emergency procedure drills, quickly raised the person overboard (PoB) via the pot winch, deployed the overboard ladder, and cut the rope. The PoB sustained some water in the lungs but was otherwise unharmed.

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

We are responsible for handling health and safety issues for personnel on prescribed ships that are engaged in trade or commerce on international and domestic voyages.

We are seeking your feedback on proposed changes to Marine Order 47 (Offshore Industry Units).

Find local suppliers of fuel oil in New South Wales.

A timeline of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA’s) involvement in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

A guide to help domestic commercial marine adventure tourism operators develop their safety management systems (SMS)

Rules and conditions for vessels declared to not be regulated Australian vessels.

Reminding those who own, operate or are on board Australian ships, about offences under Australian sanction laws. The information has been prepared by the Australian Sanctions Office.

Risk assessments help identify why, when and where lifejackets need to be worn during vessel operations. Wearing a lifejacket can help prevent a tragic incident.