We have an intergovernmental agreement on the National Maritime Emergency Response Arrangement.

Understand the state of the Australian maritime workforce. Find out how many domestic and international seafarers are certificated by AMSA to work in Australia.

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.

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

We engage with national, domestic, regional and international stakeholders to develop a best practice Australian search and rescue (SAR) system.

Trajectory models can help predict spill behaviour in the marine environment. If you are from one of our National Plan partner agencies, you can request a spill trajectory model when an oil or chemical spill occurs.

The 276th meeting of the Board was held on Thursday, 20 November 2025, in Canberra, ACT.

We are seeking feedback on proposed changes to Marine Order 503 (Certificates of survey - national law). Marine Order 503 (Certificates of survey – national law) 2018 (MO503) outlines certificate of survey requirements for domestic commercial vessels (DCVs). These requirements help ensure that commercial vessels operating in Australia are safe and seaworthy. MO503 consultation.

On 30 August 1992 the fuel tank of Era was ruptured by the bow of the tug Turmoil during berthing operations at Port Bonython, South Australia, during high winds. Approximately 300 tonnes of bunker fuel was released into Spencer Gulf.

For vessels in distress or in need of assistance there can be, at times, a need to find an appropriate ‘place of refuge’, where steps can be taken to stabilise or repair the vessel and prevent the situation from worsening.

A guide for domestic commercial vessels

Specifies the minimum standards for design and construction and safety equipment.

Your compliance requirements will be affected by the service category of your vessel.

1. The criteria for the issue to a person of a trainee pilot licence are that the person: (a)  is entitled to work in Australia; and (b)  holds: 

You can use some STCW certificates in place of equivalent near coastal certificates to work on a domestic commercial vessel.

Australia’s policy is that those who pollute our marine environment should be responsible for cleaning up and repairing the damage they have caused. If AMSA has to do this because they do not, then they should pay AMSA.