We offer nationally recognised units of competency in marine pollution response and incident management.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

This course is designed for marine pollution responders who may be part of an aircrew to investigate and report on an oil spill.

ECDIS familiarisation ensures that master and navigating officers are familiar with the specific make and model of the ECDIS equipment onboard (including backup) before taking charge of a navigational watch.

If you have an alternative way of meeting your safety requirements, you can make an equivalent means of compliance application.

In this edition we talk about Lightship declarations and the law, new surveyor accreditation guidance manual part 2 now available and electrical issues able to be identified by non-electrical periodic surveyors.

Get your Master or deck certificate of competency revalidated before it expires.

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

Disconnection of LPG system the source of explosion on a houseboat

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.

Generic equivalent solutions (GES) support national standards by allowing the use of new technology and other solutions.

This marine notice highlights shipowners, operators, masters and crews obligation to ensure safe working arrangements are in place for any work involving a ship’s elevator.