We engage with national, domestic, regional and international stakeholders to develop a best practice Australian search and rescue (SAR) system.

At approximately 5.30 am WA time on Friday 21 August 2009 the Montara Wellhead mobile drilling unit, located 140 miles offshore from the north-west Australian coast, had an uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons from one of the platform wells. Consequently oil escaped to the surface and gaseous hydrocarbons escaped into the atmosphere.

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

You can prepare in case your ship is inspected during a visit to an Australian port.

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.

In this safety lesson, veteran trawl fisher Mark Millward explains what he has learned from involvement in person overboard incidents. Mark has operated in the Queensland East Coast and Torres Strait Prawn Trawl Fisheries for over 40 years.

Follow these steps to apply for an initial STCW certificate of competency or certificate of proficiency. Find out what you need to do to meet eligibility requirements, complete training and sea service and submit your application.

How to manage a deceased estate with AMSA.

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

Ships registered on the Australian general shipping register have Australian nationality.

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.

Follow these steps if you wish to operate your vessel commercially outside of the Australian Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ).

On 21 August 2019, a landing barge (operated as a Class 1E and 2D) capsized while transiting from Great Mackerel Beach to Pittwater north of Sydney.

Guidance for mariners and port stakeholders on the difference between a vessel traffic service (VTS) and a local port service.

Lifejackets save lives

We are responsible for leading national policy on vessel traffic services (VTS).

Learn how non-shipborne AIS units are managed and find out what’s required to apply to operate a base station or AtoN in Australia.

Advice on maintaining rescue boats in working order.