Edition 87, April 2011

AMSA update

AMSA updateThe Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) provides an update on its activities to develop a national system for marine safety and regulation of the maritime industry.

The National System for Commercial Vessel Safety will have a focus on operational safety and will assist seafarers, boat builders and vessel operators working across all states and territories.

The Commonwealth, states and territories are currently working on the core activities for the National System, which include:
• modernisation of the Navigation Act 1912;
• the development of a new Maritime Safety (National Law) Act;
• complementary state legislation to apply the new Commonwealth Act;
• new national standards under the auspices of the National Marine Safety Committee;
• updating Marine Orders Part 3 - Seafarer Qualifications (the 'Tinny to Tanker' project) to implement a new system of national marine qualifications; and
• revising Marine Orders in general and other instruments.

The Australian Transport Council is currently in the process of finalising the elements of the National System, including vessels subject to the new system, relative legislative coverage between the Commonwealth and state and territory authorities, transitional arrangements and how the national function will be delivered by the different authorities.

It is expected that governance and financial arrangements of the national safety authority are expected to be formalised by COAG in an Inter-Governmental Agreement later this year. During this time a cost review and consultations with state and territory safety authorities are underway to identify the most efficient and effective means to deliver the National System.

The standards development unit develops the national maritime safety standards which are the basic foundation of the new National System, and is undertaking a number of new standards and research projects around the National Standards for Commercial Vessels to support the National System.

For further information on the national System for Commercial Vessel Safety visit: www.amsa.gov.au/NationalSystem/

This page was generated on 15 April, 2011