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.

During a private charter a passenger fell down a stairwell and sustained serious injuries. The area around the top of the stairwell had a recess that reduced the floor area slightly and could be missed during movements. The stairs themselves were not found to be contributory to this incident. However, the spiral design proved problematic for providing post-incident medical assistance for the passenger. Any area that may present a safety risk to passengers onboard a vessel should be risk assessed, with appropriate control measures put in place to ensure passenger safety.

These general exemptions are now superseded or repealed. Superseded and repealed exemptions may affect how the national system works for you.

On 21 May 1990 an extensive oil slick was sighted approximately four nautical miles south-east of Cape Otway by the pilot of a light aircraft. The Australian-flagged tanker Arthur Phillip was later established as the source of the spill.

How to meet the medical requirements for domestic seafarer certificates

AMSA port State control inspectors will be using the checklist below when inspecting ships as part of our cargo securing focused inspection campaign. Use this checklist to prepare for the inspection, and to help you ensure your cargo is secure. Below is a sample of the focused inspection campaign checklist.

Compasses, nautical charts, chart systems, and publications.

The Australian Hydrographic Office (AHO) produces and publishes Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) covering Australian, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Australian Antarctic Territory waters.

Find out about vessel categories, calculating vessel size, and read the dictionary of definitions.

Disconnection of LPG system the source of explosion on a houseboat

As a regulatory body, we are required to publish a range of information about our functions and how we carry them out. We do this under the information publication scheme.

Use this appropriate crewing evaluation template to record your crewing assessment and appropriate crewing outcomes in your vessel’s safety management system.

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

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

Read the latest news from AMSA.