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.

The Modernised Australian Ship Tracking and Reporting System (MASTREP) is a ship reporting system designed to contribute to safety of life at sea.

The Sylvan Arrow was found guilty of discharging an oily mixture into the sea west of Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria on 18 December 1999.

These guidelines aim to assist small1 DCV operations to undertake a risk assessment as part of the vessel’s safety management system.

Lighthouses are part of the network of aids to navigation in Australia. Use our interactive map to locate one of our heritage lighthouses.

It is mandatory under Australian law for certain vessels and fixed or floating platforms to carry a garbage management plan, display placards and maintain a garbage record book.

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We maintain a database which assists us to calculate the risk factor of a vessel. This lets us target elevated risk vessels for inspection. 

The automatic identification system (AIS) works automatically and continuously, regardless of where a vessel is located.

Find out about AMSA’s performance and stay informed about our progress against key initiatives for 2024–25.

In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a revised strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships.

AMSA’s mission is ensuring safe vessel operations, combating marine pollution and rescuing people in distress.

At AMSA, we believe in supporting you to be the best version of yourself.

The 273rd meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 in Canberra, ACT.

Following a report to AMSA, and subsequent investigation, the Pax Phoenix was fined for illegally discharging oily water into the marine environment near Holbourne Island, Queensland on 2 September 2001.

A Class 1 passenger vessel’s port engine caught fire whilst northeast of Fraser Island with 82 passengers and crew onboard. The investigation found that regular planned engine maintenance, in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications, was not in place at the time of the incident. The crew’s response to the incident was immediate and effective. The transfer of the 77 passengers to a nearby vessel, which attended the distress call within 10 minutes, was undertaken quickly and effectively by the master and crew.