AMSA

AMSA

AMSA are Australia’s national agency responsible for maritime safety, protection of the marine environment, and maritime aviation search and rescue.

Australia’s maritime safety and protection of the sea laws implement international and national standards. These relate to ship construction, equipment, crew and vessel safety and seafarer employment.

AMSA is Australia’s national agency responsible for maritime safety, protection of the environment, and maritime aviation search and rescue. AMSA are the agency who oversee things like vessel surveys, certificates of operation, skipper and crew qualifications, incident reporting and safety management systems( SMS)

Wild catch and aquaculture vessels and operations are considered ‘workplaces’ under each State and Territory. WHS laws also apply to these operations. More information is on the Work health Safety Government Agencies tab.

https://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/domestic-commercial-vessels/work-health-and-safety-domestic-commercial-vessels

There is more information about SMS and templates provided if you click the SMS template button on the home page.

SMS Templates

Marine Incident reporting

All vessels involved in a marine incident in Australian waters need to make a report. 

Incident Reporting

What is a Marine Incident?

Marine incidents are defined by relevant Australian laws and include a number of different types of incidents.

A marine incident may include the following:

  • Death of, or injury to, a person associated with the operation or navigation of a vessel
  • The loss or presumed loss of a vessel
  • Collision of a vessel with another vessel
  • Collision by a vessel with an object
  • The grounding, sinking, flooding or capsizing of a vessel
  • Fire on board a vessel
  • Loss of stability of a vessel that affects the safety of the vessel
  • The structural failure of a vessel
  • A close quarters situation
  • A dangerous occurrence, which is an occurrence that could have caused the death of, or serious personal injury to, any person on the vessel

It can also include:

  • An event that results in, or could have resulted in:
    • the death of, or injury to, a person on board a vessel
    • the loss of a person from a vessel
    • a vessel becoming disabled and requiring assistance
  • The fouling or damaging by a vessel of:
    • any pipeline or submarine cable
    • any aid to navigation
  • Other incidents that are prescribed by the regulations include but are not limited to:
    • failure in operation of a component of material handling equipment, whether or not a person is injured because of the failure
    • loss of cargo of a vessel
    • significant damage to a vessel
    • a seafarer is injured or contracts an illness that incapacitates them from the performance of their duty
  • Any serious danger to navigation on or near the course of the vessel.

How to report?

There are two steps for any vessels involved in a marine incident in Australian waters

Submit an incident alert as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of the incident.

As soon as reasonably practicable* after becoming aware of the incident, you must either:

  • complete the incident alert form 18 and submit to us online, or
  • download form 18 and email the completed form to reports@amsa.gov.au.


Domestic commercial vessels can provide this alert by any means such as:

  • Using incident alert form 18
  • email reports@amsa.gov.au
  • phone
  • in person at your local AMSA office.

Within 72 hours after becoming aware of the incident, complete an incident report either online or download Form 19 and complete

https://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/incident-reporting/report-marine-incident