The latest issue of the Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin focuses on maintenance.

On 6 February 1988 the Hong Kong registered bulk carrier Sir Alexander Glen lost approximately 450 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the waters off Port Walcott, Western Australia when a bunker tank was holed by the ship's anchor.

You can submit your completed Seafarer form 419 or Certificate of competency application form 426 at participating Australia Post retail outlets.

Poorly secured containers can put lives at risk, damage the environment and cost millions. Find out how safe stowage practices keep cargo on board and help protect lives, livelihoods and the industry.

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.

The information you provide in your incident report plays an important part in guiding the way we improve maritime safety for everybody on the water. By reporting marine incidents to us, you are also meeting your reporting obligations under Australian laws.

In Australia, domestic commercial vessels are regulated under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (national law act). The National Law Act underpins the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety (national system).

The purpose of this marine notice is to draw attention to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Recommendations for the carriage of plastic pellets by sea in freight containers, which were released on 19 April 2024.

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

Guidance for calculating your sea service equivalence if you are a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Rating (specialist seaman department), Maritime Warfare Officer (Maritime Warfare department) or RAN Leading Seaman, Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer or Warrant Officer (Marine Engineering or Electrical Technical department).

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.

January - March 2026There were 335 reported incidents involving domestic commercial vessels in Quarter 1 of 2026. Of these, 44 were serious and 1 very serious.

The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is a mandatory measure that promotes the use of energy efficient (less polluting) equipment and engines on new build ships.

The following vessels are our declared off-shore industry vessels and trading vessels that work in inland and near coastal waters.

Learn the differences between general and direct supervision

Guidance on ensuring appropriate crewing for safe navigation for domestic commercial vessels.

Our search and rescue incidents from 2017–18.

Just before midnight on 24 January 2006, approximately 25 tonnes of heavy fuel oil was spilt from the bulk carrier Global Peace while berthing at the RG Tanner Coal loading facility in Gladstone in Queensland.