We celebrated Hulita Lamasialeva Fa’anunu’s achievements on World Maritime Day last year. She embodied the 2019 theme—empowering women in the maritime community.

The Vessel Traffic Services Advisory Group (VTSAG) discusses matters relating to Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) in Australia.

On the evening of 2 April 2022, a Sydney Harbour ferry was operating a regular route between Manly and Circular Quay. A group of young males were exhibiting risk taking behaviour on the deck during adverse weather conditions. One of the group jumped, stumbled, and fell overboard without a lifejacket. The master came about and followed the ferry track back at dead slow to find the person overboard (POB). The POB had the presence of mind to use his mobile phone torch light in the dark to alert the master of his presence and was rescued.

The 274th meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Mohammed Taslim is passionate about marine education in the Pacific and has his sights set on promoting e-learning study for seafarers in Fiji in the not-too-distant future.

About the feedback we received on the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety transition.

This report provides an overview of the consultation process, key issues raised during public consultation and the key changes to the Marine Order.

Survey vessels in these classes are required to carry a Scale G first aid kit on board: 1D (with unberthed passengers), 1E (with unberthed passengers), 2D, 2E, 3D and 3E.

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

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.

This report provides an overview of the consultation process, key issues raised during public consultation and the key changes to the Marine Order.

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

A contractor working on a vessel fell into the water whilst disembarking due to the gap between the wharf and the vessel.  A safe means of access to the vessel was not provided.

A 2C rescue vessel was preparing to depart a river entrance bar with 11 people onboard. The observed sea state was a wave height (breaking) of 1.4 to 1.8 metres. The entrance bar had a moderate to high level of congestion of jet skis and surfboard riders positioned within the aids to navigation departure leads. The vessel came within very close proximity to surfers on 3 occasions whilst negotiating the breaking sea conditions. The vessel then broached upon a wave resulting in the vessel heeling to port and becoming unable to be controlled due to the force of the wave.