AMSA Online payments and some forms will be unavailable on Wednesday 11 December 2024 between 7:00 pm and 10:30 pm due to maintenance.

Marine Surveyors Manual—parts 1 and 2

The Surveyor Accreditation Guidance Manual (SAGM) is a mandatory standard that outlines the requirements for accredited marine surveyors.
AMSA 306
21 November 2024

A new version of Part 2 comes into effect on 1 January 2025. You can download the current and new versions.

Part 1

Part 1 of the manual details the administrative requirements for accreditation, including:

  • Role overview: introduction to an accredited surveyors’ responsibilities
  • Accreditation categories: introduction to the categories of accreditation
  • Accreditation requirements: skills, experience and knowledge required
  • Conflict of interest provisions: prohibition from conducting surveys if conflicted  
  • Application process: for new, renewed, or varied accreditation
  • Conditions tied to accreditation: AMSA’s ability to condition a surveyor, conduct audits of surveyors’ work and potential consequences of not complying
  • Surrendering, revoking or suspending accreditation: procedures to voluntarily close your accreditation. 

Download SAGM Part 1 PDF345.44 KB.

Part 2

Part 2 of the manual specifies the procedural standards that accredited surveyors must follow for survey, including:

  • The purpose and objectives of surveys: defining the intent and goals of surveying
  • Survey preparation requirements: defining the types of surveys, pre-requisites and preparation before commencing a survey
  • Record-keeping and traceability obligations: obligations for maintaining records
  • Reporting and documentation obligations: requirements for survey reports and recommendations to AMSA
  • Survey requirements for vessels:
    • seeking new certificates of survey
    • undergoing transitional surveys
    • renewing their certification
    • certified under the EX40 scheme
    • formerly regulated under the Navigation Act.

Current version

Download the current version of SAGM Part 2 PDF984.07 KB

It will remain effective until 31 December 2024.

New version

Download the new version of SAGM Part 2 now to review the upcoming changes. 

It will come into effect on 1 January 2025.

Part 2 was updated in 2024: key changes

Increased flexibility for survey cycles

  • High survey frequency vessel owners can choose to conduct their out of water survey in either year 2 or year 3 of the survey cycle.
  • Medium survey frequency vessel owners can choose to conduct their year 3 survey either in or out of the water.

Simplified dual 2/4 class certification for leisure type vessels

  • Class 2 vessels engaged in leisure type activities (up to C waters) can use the same CE certification, for structural certification, as class 4 vessels.

Streamlined EX40 survey criteria

  • Categories of accreditation and documentation requirements simplified to better facilitate certification of production vessels.  

 

 

Author

Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Last updated: 21 November 2024