A summary of discharge standards under MARPOL and local regulations if you are operating your vessel in Australian waters.

A passenger vessel collided with an unseen rock, resulting in the injury of a passenger. The master navigated the vessel into unfamiliar waters that was not a normal or planned part of the passenger tour experience, and not authorised by the tour company. Owners and operators should ensure masters continue to conform to the planned or authorised route for the services they offer.

These guidelines aim to assist small1 DCV operations to undertake a risk assessment as part of the vessel’s safety management system.

Environmental, scientific and technical functions and resources in spill response.

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.

Read a transcript of the webinar 'Fatigue management on domestic commercial vessels' held on 8 May 2026.

In this edition we talk about Marine Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual – Part 2 , we include a Case Study about Compliance action on an AMS’s accreditation and decks on domestic commercial vessels

AMSA is pleased to be a sponsor of the 2023 annual conference of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand (MLAANZ), 4-6 October.

Residual current devices minimise the risk of a person receiving an electric shock or being electrocuted when using plug-in electrical equipment on board vessels.

Learn your options for fulfilling the mandatory requirement to hold a first aid certificate or equivalent when applying for a domestic certificate of competency.

Guidance for mariners and port stakeholders on the difference between a vessel traffic service (VTS) and a local port service.

Australia’s aids to navigation (AtoN) network has stood for over a century, evolving and expanding with the economic development of this country and in response to advances in technological innovation, and growth in maritime trade and activity.

AMSA approved training organisations delivering Continued competence (Certificate of Safety Training) (COST).

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.

Marine Order 503 (Certificates of survey – national law) 2018 (MO503) outlines when a domestic commercial vessel (DCV) needs a certificate of survey, and related survey requirements. These requirements help ensure that commercial vessels operating in Australia are safe and seaworthy.

On 3 August 1999 the Laura D’Amato, a 96,121 DWT Italian registered oil tanker, was berthed alongside at the Shell Gore Bay terminal in Sydney discharging its cargo of Murban light crude oil.

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.

The Maritine Agencies Forum (MAF) provides a forum for collaboration on maritime safety and other issues.