In Australia, domestic commercial vessels are regulated under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (national law act). The National Law Act underpins the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety (national system).

On 3 August 1999 the Laura D’Amato, a 96,121 DWT Italian registered oil tanker, was berthed alongside at the Shell Gore Bay terminal in Sydney discharging its cargo of Murban light crude oil.

Operators and crew of these types of operations face unique safety challenges and risk.

We have interagency agreements with other agencies.

The oil spill from the Oceanic Grandeur in Torres Strait in March 1970 highlighted Australia’s lack of preparedness at the time to deal with a major oil spill in the marine environment.

How to meet the medical requirements for domestic seafarer certificates

Read a summary of results from the mid-2024 consultation on Marine Order 11 and download a copy of the full report.

In rough weather, early in the morning of 24 May, about 50 containers were lost overboard from the Singapore-flagged container ship APL England. Read our regular updates.

This consultation feedback report is based on submissions to us via an online form and Facebook.

Survey vessels in these classes are required to carry a Scale F first aid kit on board: 1B, 1C (with unberthed passengers), 1D (with berthed passengers), 1E (with berthed passengers), 2B, 2C, 3B and 3C.

Towing of vessel in distress leads to back injury

How to get a engineering qualifications recognized if you are a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) seaman officer.

There are mandatory minimum requirements for your certificates under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (STCW).

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention for addressing ship sourced pollution.

Our eligibility requirements for sailing vessels.

All vessel owners need to do a risk assessment to work out what medical and first aid equipment to carry. Class 1, 2 and 3 survey vessels have minimum medical and first aid equipment they are required to carry.