AMSA update

June 2018 

• Transfer of national system services—timeline
• Maritime safety services—we’re getting ready to do business
• Survey changes—what you need to know
• National system certificates—valid until expiry date
• Locating containers lost from YM Efficiency
• Appropriate crewing for your operation 
• May incidents
• Coming events

Transfer of national system services—timeline

From June 2018, state and territory marine safety agencies will begin transferring national system services to AMSA. A four-week timeline of key activities is available on the AMSA website.

Please note you should keep sending your applications to the relevant maritime safety agency until the end of June.

Maritime safety services—we’re getting ready to do business

From 1 July 2018, going to amsa.gov.au will be the easiest and quickest way to do business. You will be able to apply, renew and pay for certificates of survey and operation plus access a range of other services including exemptions, equivalent compliance and permits—at a time that suits you.

If you need to talk to someone, our AMSA Connect customer service centre will be open from 8 am to 5 pm weekdays on 1800 627 484.

AMSA offices located in 19 key regional areas will have staff on hand to provide technical advice, help you develop your safety management systems and assist you with new processes and systems following the transition of services.

Australia Post shops in 110 locations around the country will also be ready to take applications and payments for certificates of competency.

A service locator map showing the locations of AMSA offices and participating Australia Post shops open from July is now available.

Survey changes—what you need to know

From 1 July 2018, all domestic commercial vessels that are required to have a certificate of survey will need to be surveyed in line with:

• the survey frequency and requirements in the new Marine Order 503
• Part 2 of the Marine Surveyor Manual.

How these changes affect you will vary depending on:

• your vessel
• whether you hold a current certificate
• when your certificate is due for renewal
• if you have recently made an application
• if you have other approvals or exemptions in place. 

Commencing in June 2018, we will begin contacting vessel owners who hold a certificate of survey directly by mail to let them know what these changes mean.

We will also be issuing you with an updated schedule to your certificate that will outline your new survey frequency category and new survey dates.

Read more

National system certificates—valid until expiry date

All current certificates obtained through your local marine safety agency will remain valid until the expiry date listed on the certificate. You will not need to apply for a new certificate through AMSA until it is due for renewal.

Locating containers lost from YM Efficiency

On 1 June 2018 the Liberian-flagged container ship YM Efficiency lost 81 containers in heavy weather about 30 kilometres southeast of Newcastle.

While it is believed that the remaining containers sunk close to the site of the incident between Newcastle and Crowdy Heads, it is possible that some may have remained buoyant and drifted following the loss.

Given the potential risk to vessel safety, particularly trawling operations, AMSA is actively investigating options to pinpoint the location of the containers on the sea floor.

Updates can be found on the AMSA website.

To report debris or for further information call 13 12 36 or visit the NSW Roads and Maritime Services website

Appropriate crewing for your operation 

Consultation has now closed on the proposed changes to certificates of operation (Marine Order 504).

We consulted on two options for changing crewing requirements to focus on empowering the operator to determine the appropriate crew for their vessel.

We are grateful to everyone who took the time to make a submission. Most submissions favoured Option 1, which allows operators the flexibility to determine appropriate crewing. In line with our efforts to move towards performance based rather than prescriptive regulation, we will implement this option.

May incidents

A total of 20 domestic commercial vessel incidents were reported to AMSA in the month of May. Of these three were serious. Noting not all incident reports are received by AMSA.

• A fishing vessel experienced a control failure while berthing and collided heavily with the wharf.
• A deckhand was reported missing from a commercial charter vessel. Police coordinated a search for man overboard with no success.
• A vessel’s starboard chain released, resulting in the anchor and chain becoming tangled in the propeller.

AMSA's primary focus is safety. Reporting your incidents helps AMSA understand how it can improve the culture of safety within the industry.

Not all incident reports are received by AMSA. The national law actually requires you to report certain incidents involving domestic commercial vessels. You can do this by contacting AMSA directly or your local Marine Safety Agency as soon as possible after you become aware of the incident.

More information

• Go to the Domestic incident reporting page on the AMSA website
• Read about your reporting obligations
• Contact your local Marine Safety Agency
• Call AMSA Connect 1800 627 484

Coming events

AMSA will be at the following industry events and ready to answer questions about the national system, AMSA services, and beacons.

• Melbourne Boat Show—28 June–1 July
• Sydney International Boat Show—2–6 August
• Harvey Bay Seafood Festival—12 August 
• Perth International Boat Show—21–24 September