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.

Standards for domestic commercial vessels, largely replaced by the NSCV for new vessels.

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 this edition we talk about audits and application assessments.

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.

In this edition we talk about audits and application assessments, compass adjustment requirements, uncrewed barges and more.

Dispersants can be effective response tools. Use of dispersants is dependent on many factors including timing, properties of the oil, and logistics.

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.

Our search and rescue modules provide background information as well as information about preparation, principles of how to conduct a search and rescue operation and how to respond to specific kinds of emergency.

Monitoring an oil spill is necessary to address concerns raised about its effects and the impact of the associated cleanup response.