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.
Our organisation has observed that a number of Administrations are issuing dispensations to ships where a defect has occurred to a critical piece of equipment. There are differing circumstances where we will and will not accept the dispensation.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the Commonwealth statutory body with responsibility for establishing and maintaining marine aids to navigation (AtoN) pursuant to section 190 of the Navigation Act 2012 (Cth).
If special circumstances mean that you require an extension of time for your vessel's periodic survey, you can make an application under for Marine Safety (Periodic survey, equipment certification and compass adjustment) Exemption (Exemption 06).
We have put in place a new exemption allowing masters and crew of class 4 houseboats up to 24 metres in length to perform certain activities when not on hire, providing they hold at least a Coxswain Grade 3 certificate of competency and meet other conditions under the exemption.
New safety management system (SMS) requirements come into effect for domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) on 1 June 2025, under Marine Order 504 (Certificates of operation – national law) 2024.
From 1 May 2023 to 30 June 2023, we will undertake a focused inspection campaign (FIC) on planned maintenance requirements for domestic commercial vessels (DCVs).
All vessel owners need to do a risk assessment to work out what medical and first aid equipment to carry. Class 1, 2 and 3 survey vessels have minimum medical and first aid equipment they are required to carry.