This marine notice highlights the need for shipowners, operators, masters and crews to ensure safe working arrangements are in place for any work involving height and the risk of falling.

A charter vessel with passengers was conducting a cruise around Sydney Harbour when it narrowly missed an unlit runabout at night. The vessel ran aground, and two attempts to tow the vessel off the sandbank were unsuccessful. The investigation found that the master did not risk-assess the route and respective conditions. The vessel safety management system provided the master with no clear direction on safe routes to follow. The command, control, and communication with and between the crew in relation to emergency procedures and response was ineffective.

The 278th meeting of the Board was held virtually via MS Teams on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.

We sought feedback on proposed changes to Marine Order 53 (Vessels in polar waters) 2016 (MO53). The changes will ensure the marine order aligns with the new requirements following amendments to SOLAS and the Polar Code.

This safety alert draws the attention of vessel operators to the importance of planned maintenance in ensuring safe operation of domestic commercial vessels.

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.

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.

Read a summary of results from the consultation on Exemption 24 - Marine Safety (Emergency service vessels) and download a copy of the full report.

Our regulatory program is prepared annually and contains details of planned and completed changes to our regulatory instruments.

Transfer, suspend or revoke a certificate or approval for a domestic commercial vessel. You may need to transfer the certificate or approval when you sell or purchase a vessel.

Our range of navigation services includes marine navigation and e-navigation.

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

Follow these steps if you want to take a DCV overseas for dry docking, sale or delivery.

Hours of Work and Rest – 01 May 2022 to 17 June 2022AMSA conducted an Hours of Work and Rest Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) over the period 01 May 2022 to 17 June 2022.  

Find out what safety checks you need to do before carrying a fishery observer onboard. 

On 14 July 1975 the Marine Operations Centre in Canberra was alerted that the oil tanker Princess Anne Marie had sustained a large crack in its hull approximately 300 miles off Western Australian.

Find out how domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) performed on safety, training, risk assessment and more during our focussed inspections campaign on hazardous gases.