AMSA

AMSA issues updated GMDSS Handbook

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA issues updated GMDSS Handbook
AMSA issues updated GMDSS Handbook

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued an updated edition of its Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Handbook, providing revised operational guidance for vessels operating within Australia’s maritime area of responsibility.

The new handbook has been substantially revised to focus on the practical information required for GMDSS operations in Australian waters, rather than serving as a textbook for GMDSS training courses. It replaces the previous, 11th edition published in January 2018. Continue reading “AMSA issues updated GMDSS Handbook”

AMSA reveals 4,174 marine incidents in 2025

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA reveals 4,174 marine incidents in 2025
AMSA reveals 4,174 marine incidents in 2025

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published its Marine Incident Annual Report 2025, revealing it had received a total of 4,174 marine incident reports along with 452 marine safety concerns.

The Report analyses marine incidents across domestic commercial vessels (DCVs), foreign-flagged vessels (FFVs) and regulated Australian vessels (RAVs), identifying trends across the entire fleet over the past five years. Continue reading “AMSA reveals 4,174 marine incidents in 2025”

AMSA issues safety bulletin highlighting improperly secured cargo

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA issues safety bulletin highlighting improperly secured cargo
AMSA issues safety bulletin highlighting improperly secured cargo

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issues a safety bulletin highlighting that improperly secured cargo continues to contribute to container losses, prompting renewed focus on inspections, crew training and weather preparedness. According to the World Shipping Council (WSC), the number of containers lost at sea has fluctuated over the 17 years of recorded data. The overall trend is encouraging. Despite occasional spikes, long-term data shows a clear decline in container losses compared to earlier years. At the same time, awareness and caution surrounding cargo loss have increased. Continue reading “AMSA issues safety bulletin highlighting improperly secured cargo”

New regulations on load lines and tonnage started in Australia

Posted on by News Hound
New regulations on load lines and tonnage started on 1 September in Australia
New regulations on load lines and tonnage started on 1 September in Australia

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has announced that the updated Marine Order 16 (Load Lines) 2025 (MO16) and Marine Order 19 (Tonnage Measurements) 2025 (MO19) have taken effect on 1 September 2025 as apart of its new regulations on load lines and tonnage. According to AMSA’s latest update, the revisions aim to align Australia’s maritime regulations with international standards, supporting safer and more effective operations in domestic and international waters. Continue reading “New regulations on load lines and tonnage started in Australia”

AMSA National Compliance Plan 2025-2026 published

Posted on by News Hound
The AMSA National Compliance Plan 2025-2026 is published and is available to read   
The AMSA National Compliance Plan 2025-2026 is published and is available to read

The AMSA National Compliance Plan 2025-2026 has been published by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. It outlines a number of key compliance activities that support welfare, safety and pollution prevention across domestic and foreign-flagged vessels.

According to the AMSA National Compliance Plan 2025-2026, the authority outlines priority activities for the upcoming year, providing industry with a clear understanding of the regulatory focus and rationale. Continue reading “AMSA National Compliance Plan 2025-2026 published”

Six leading trends influencing the Australian domestic fleet

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA publishes domestic New Build Trends 2023-2024 Report Australian domestic fleet
AMSA publishes domestic New Build Trends 2023-2024 Report on the Australian domestic fleet

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has released its report, “New build trends in Australia’s domestic fleet 2023-2024”, featuring the latest innovations in vessel design, materials and certification shaping the industry and highlighting the six leading trends influencing the Australian domestic fleet. Continue reading “Six leading trends influencing the Australian domestic fleet”

AMSA bans Marsgracht, a cargo ship from Australian ports

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA has issued a ‘refusal of access Direction’ to the Netherlands-flagged general cargo ship Marsgracht for 180 days
AMSA has issued a ‘refusal of access Direction’ to the Netherlands-flagged cargo ship Marsgracht for 180 days

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a ‘refusal of access Direction’ to the Netherlands-flagged general cargo ship Marsgracht, banning the ship from entering Australian ports for 180 days.

On 6 February, the Marsgracht was detained at Port Alma for improper stowage of dangerous goods – contrary to the International Maritime Organization’s International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.

Despite this, during a port state control inspection at the same port on 14 November 2024, 9 months later, the Marsgracht was again detained for improper stowage of dangerous goods. Continue reading “AMSA bans Marsgracht, a cargo ship from Australian ports”

AMSA changes to shipping registration have come into force

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA Logo
AMSA Logo

Starting from 1st April 2019, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has applied changes to shipping registration laws.

Registering a ship: There are no changes to the way that you register a ship on the Australian Registers unless you do not know the vessel’s full ownership history. Namely:
– Ships registered on the Australian general shipping register have Australian nationality.
– Registration of a ship on the Australian general shipping register provides legally and internationally recognisable nationality to your ship. When registered, you will have Australian protection on the high seas and in foreign ports.

Continue reading “AMSA changes to shipping registration have come into force”

AMSA stresses the importance of marine incident reports

Posted on by News Hound
Cargo ship keeling - Photo credit: Reuters
Cargo ship keeling – Photo credit: Reuters

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has experienced a steady increase in incident reports from 1,721 in 2013 to 3,017 reports in 2017. This is a 75% increase over a five-year period. For the period from 1 January to 30 June 2018, AMSA received 1,611 incident reports.

Key points to note

– During 2013-2017, the number of ship arrivals to Australian ports has increased by 21%.
From the 1611 incident reports in January-June 2018, the vast majority of occurrences (78%) concerned some form of technical issue.
– Among the technical issues, the most predominant occurrences relate to power, propulsion, and steering. This includes, for example, issues with a vessel’s main and auxiliary engines, and the steering gear and rudder.

AMSA uses incident data in combination with other sources of information, such as inspection and survey reports, research findings, accident investigations, and our day-to-day interaction with vessel crews, owners, and operators. This helps us gain a better understanding of Continue reading “AMSA stresses the importance of marine incident reports”

AMSA takes control of domestic commercial vessels

Posted on by News Hound
All domestic commercial vessels are required to have a national law certificate of survey unless an exemption applies.
All domestic commercial vessels are required to have a national law certificate of survey unless an exemption applies.

AMSA, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and regulator, has announced that from 1 July 2018 all domestic commercial vessels that are required to have a certificate of survey will need to be surveyed in accordance with the frequency and requirements in the new marine order 503, and Part 2 of the Marine Surveyor Manual. This includes ‘grandfathered’ vessels, which to date have been surveyed in accordance with the National Standards for the Administration of Marine Safety (NSAMS) 4, the USL Code, or other survey processes.

So what does this mean in practice?

These changes implement the outcomes of the Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) under the National System for Domestic Continue reading “AMSA takes control of domestic commercial vessels”

AMSA notifies changes in its certification and accreditation services from 2017

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA notifies changes in its certification and accreditation services from 2017
AMSA notifies changes in its certification and accreditation services from 2017

AMSA has issued new edition of its publication ‘ Working Boats’ including information regarding changes in its certification and accreditation services.

Currently, even though AMSA is responsible for regulating domestic commercial vessels (DCVs) across Australia, the way you get your services — such as certificates and vessel IDs, undertaking surveys and the fees associated with these services — is not the same around the country. Those services are currently delivered by each state and territory, which sets its own procedures and fees for these services.

Continue reading “AMSA notifies changes in its certification and accreditation services from 2017”

AMSA issues marine notice on international delivery of domestic commercial vessels

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA Logo
AMSA Logo

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued a marine notice about the international delivery of domestic commercial vessels and near coastal vessels operating overseas in order to provide general guidance to owners and/or operators of domestic commercial vessels.

All Australian commercial vessels 24 metres or more in tonnage length, and any Australian vessel (including domestic commercial vessels and recreational craft) in international waters are required to be registered in accordance with the Shipping Registration Act 1981 (unless a specific exemption applies). All Australian vessels which operate in international waters fall within the definition of a Regulated Australian Vessel (RAV) as a result of s15 of the Navigation Act 2012 (Navigation Act).

Continue reading “AMSA issues marine notice on international delivery of domestic commercial vessels”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details Hide details

Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details Hide details
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance (opens in a new tab)