AMSA Connect phone services may have longer wait times on Monday 1 June 2026 while we operate with reduced staffing due to the Reconciliation Day Public Holiday in Canberra. Our search and rescue team will continue to operate during this time.
Find out how domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) performed on safety, crew training, incident reporting and more during our focussed inspections campaign on towage operations.
Due to amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (STCW), refresher training is required for some certificates.
We use marine orders to give effect to international and national conventions and standards. Find out more about these conventions and standards and how you can access them as publications.
The Navigation Act 2012 is legislation which covers international ship and seafarer safety, protect the marine environment where it relates to shipping and the actions of seafarers in Australian waters.
Our 24/7 high tech search and rescue capabilities allow us to respond quickly to people in distress across our region. We use advanced response and satellite technology, contracted equipment, an emergency towage vessel, and four jet aircraft to respond to calls for help.
When a livestock ship, certified with an Australian Certificate for the Carriage of Livestock (ACCL), carries cattle and/or buffalo, cargo hold decks should be washed and cleaned regularly.
This report summarises our port State control activities and reports on the performance of commercial shipping companies, flag States and Classification Societies for the 2018 calendar year.
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.