This five-year outlook of future action covers specific industry issues, international developments, priorities for standards, and legislative expiries.

A fire occurred on a passenger vessel in a busy harbour. The master and crew took immediate action and followed emergency procedures to disembark and transfer 73 passengers safely to another ferry. The vessel’s structural and fixed firefighting systems worked effectively to contain and extinguish the fire.

We inspect domestic commercial vessels to ensure crew, vessel, and operational safety.

Passenger sustains injury from poorly rigged gangway.

These are the deficiencies for MARPOL that our inspectors have found.

The 274th meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, in Fremantle, Western Australia.

A 7.5m punt (flat bottomed vessel) used for aquaculture operations contacted a marina at speed, injuring 4 people onboard.

A charter vessel transiting between research sites at night collided with a stationary vessel. The stationary vessel’s master claimed to have an anchor light on, but the crew of the charter vessel stated they did not see any navigation lights. The master of the stationary vessel was preparing food on the vessel at the time and may have obstructed the anchor light view from the charter vessel’s crew. The master of the charter vessel was found to have been operating at high speed given the conditions (night operations). This also rendered the lookout ineffective.

Australia has an interest in ensuring that the ships which visit our ports and transit our waters are seaworthy, have competent crews, and are able to safely navigate through our sensitive marine areas.

Disconnection of LPG system the source of explosion on a houseboat

How to obtain a certificate of equivalence.

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.

Safety Lessons from Marine Incident Investigation (AMSA Report) No.34 - February 2025

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.

Arrangements between government and industry under the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies to respond to shipping casualties.

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

On 1 October 1973, the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies (National Plan) came into operation.

On Sunday 9 January 2012, the cargo vessel the MV Tycoon broke free from its mooring at Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island, and washed against the seawall and nearby cliff face. The ship had been loading phosphate at the time of the incident.