By
Rebecca Gibson |
Australia’s Navigation Act 2012 and the Marine Safety Domestic Commercial Vessel National Law Act 2012 both came into force on 1 July, introducing new requirements for commercial seafarers and vessels visiting the country.
Administered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA), the Navigation Act 2012 – which replaces the 1912 Act – provides a modern, transparent and flexible maritime safety regime.
While the fundamental requirements for ships to be seaworthy remain unchanged, the new act also highlights the need for ships to be operated and navigated by competent seafarers who have decent working and living conditions.
The Navigation Act also provides a range of new measures to ensure compliance with safety and environmental requirements. These include increased financial penalties for non-compliant vessels, the ability to exclude vessels with poor inspection histories from Australian ports and the ability to issue immediate infringement notices for marine order offences.
“The Navigation Act 2012 sees Australia’s maritime laws reflect the expectations of a modern shipping industry,” said AMSA’s CEO Graham Peachey. “AMSA recognises that the majority of the shipping industry seeks to ensure that ships are operated safely and with no damage to the environment.”
AMSA also became the national regulator of the Marine Safety Domestic Commercial Vessel National Law Act 2012 on 1 July.
Developed as part of the Council of Australian Governments strategy to create a single set of national marine safety regulations, the act will replace the existing 50 pieces of legislation in the seven state and Northern Territory jurisdictions.
“Having one set of rules cuts red tape and reduces the administrative burden for businesses in the maritime industry and allows industry to operate across state and territory borders freely,” said Peachey.
AMSA will work cooperatively with each of the states and Northern Territory maritime regulators to implement the new standards and enable the safe movement of domestic commercial vessels and crew around the country.