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.

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.

This exemption allows DCV owners an extension of time for obtaining periodic or load line surveys, or a new certificate of currency for equipment. It also allows them to operate without required compass adjustments or while a liferaft is being serviced.

In September 2017 the Western Australian Department of Transport ran Exercise Ningaloo Challenge, which was the largest and most complex maritime environmental emergency response exercise ever conducted in WA.