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

On 16 March 2022, a class 2B landing barge collided with a starboard channel marker. The investigation identified that the previous swing engineer did not inform the incoming engineer that the port main engine cooling water suction valve was shut. After getting underway, the engine began to overheat. This distracted the master from monitoring the vessel’s intended track. The vessel’s safety management system did not have an appropriate engineering handover procedure.

Read a transcript of the webinar 'Changes to safety management systems requirements' held 19 March 2025.

You need to revalidate your STCW CoP or CoC every 5 years. The exact requirements depend on your certificate, sea service and training.

Follow these steps to apply for an initial STCW certificate of competency or certificate of proficiency. Find out what you need to do to meet eligibility requirements, complete training and sea service and submit your application.

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.

Operators and crew of these types of operations face unique safety challenges and risk.

Highlights the importance of maintaining rescue boats in good working order ready for immediate use

Our search and rescue incidents from 2018–19.

Our regulatory program is prepared annually and contains details of planned and completed changes to our regulatory instruments.

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.

Your New Zealand seafarer qualifications allow you to gain a Certificate of recognition for your qualification in Australia.

In this edition we give guidance on managing some of the changes mentioned in Schedule 1 of MO503, explain electrical plan approval requirements, and more.

Australian legislative requirements preventing pollution from discharge of garbage.

Regulatory requirements for certificates of competency, sometimes referred to as ‘tickets’, apply to thousands of Australians working across the domestic commercial vessel (DCV) industry.