In some circumstances, it is mandatory to make a MARPOL report for certain pollution incidents.

DCV Safety Alert: 1/2021 aims to raise awareness of recommendations made by the United States, National Transportation Safety Board, following the investigation into the fire and subsequent loss of the passenger vessel Conception.

Keeping a radio watch saves lives. Use this guidance to set up your radio watchkeeping process and comply with Marine Order 504.

If you are an assessor from a registered training organisation (RTO) in Australia, you can validate entries in a task book if you need third party evidence of the competence of a student.

In this edition we explain correct and incorrect use of conditions.

A passenger ferry was returning from its scheduled service when an unanticipated wave raised its stern and caused its bow to dive under the water. Water rushed over the bow and a significant amount came through the forward portside access door and into the passenger compartment. The master immediately reduced speed, which expelled most of the water overboard. The forward portside access door had been left open by a crew member who was attempting to alleviate sea sickness among some passengers. The action of leaving the door open during the voyage was contrary to the vessel’s survey requirements. Signage requiring the door to be kept closed when underway was reportedly not seen by crew members. This resulted in water entering the vessel creating a potentially unsafe situation.

In this edition, learn more about careers at AMSA and maintenance plan essentials.

Do you want to take paying passengers on tours or between islands? If so, your boat is a domestic commercial vessel (DCV) and must be approved by AMSA.

How to get an International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Certificate of safety training (CoST) (STCW Reg VI/1) if you are serving or have served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

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

Guidance on crewing of domestic commercial vessels as per Schedule 1 Clause 6 - Appropriate crewing and Clause 8 - Minimum crewing of Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation - national law) 2024. Schedule 1 applies to all vessels other than class 4 vessels.

From 1 July 2018, new survey requirements for domestic commercial vessels apply. This includes changes to marine order 503 to apply the new periodic survey requirements to all vessels required to be in survey—existing, transitional and new vessels.

What changes to Marine Order 54 (Coastal pilotage) 2014 (MO54) did we seek feedback on?

Commonwealth legislation requires a verified gross mass (VGM) be supplied before a container can be loaded onto a ship.

A charter vessel transiting between research sites at night collided with a stationary vessel. The stationary vessel’s master claimed to have an anchor light on, but the crew of the charter vessel stated they did not see any navigation lights. The master of the stationary vessel was preparing food on the vessel at the time and may have obstructed the anchor light view from the charter vessel’s crew. The master of the charter vessel was found to have been operating at high speed given the conditions (night operations). This also rendered the lookout ineffective.

Feedback from stakeholders about proposed changes to Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation and operation requirements) 2018 (MO504) relating to safety management systems (SMS).

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.

Guidance for VTS providers on the qualifications and training of VTS personnel in Australia.