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Australian Maritime Safety Authority - AMSA

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Australian Maritime Safety Authority - AMSA

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We are responsible for maritime safety, protection of the marine environment, and search and rescue. Thank you for being part of the AMSA community.

The account is run by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. This page is a place for news, updates, stories and discussions surrounding maritime safety. Feel free to like, share and comment on our posts - we welcome and encourage open discussion. However, we also ask you to be respectful of the views of others, even if they differ from your own. We will remove comments that:
- Harass, insult or abuse others
- Make defamatory, libellous, false or misleading statements
- Use obscene, insulting, racist, sexist or otherwise discriminatory or offensive language
- Share personal information
- Are off topic
- Resemble spam

We may also ban users who continue to post this type of content. Please be aware that if you are banned from AMSA’s page, you will be unable to view our posts. If this happens, you will need to obtain information updates from other sources including www.amsa.gov.au. This page is only monitored during business hours 9 am to 5 pm AEST, Monday to Friday (excluding national public holidays). To report an incident or safety concern or get help with a maritime or aviation search and rescue, see our contact us page: https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/contact-us. Read our terms of use here: https://www.amsa.gov.au/news-community/social-media/social-media-terms-use

View AMSA's copyright policy here: https://www.amsa.gov.au/copyright

04/11/2026

Could your vessel’s lithium-ion batteries be a fire risk? 🔋

Lithium-ion battery systems are becoming more common on domestic commercial vessels.

Damage, overheating, poor installation or charging issues can increase the risk of fire.

A safer battery setup helps keep your crew safe and your vessel running.

Know the risks before there’s a problem on board.

Read the guidance below ↓

03/11/2026

Our message to vessel operators is clear: excessive working hours breach the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), put crews and the marine environment at risk.

Falsifying these records in an attempt to mask these breaches led to the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Wooyang Venus to be banned from Australian ports for 90 days.

Operators who are denied access to Australian waters or ports can face millions of dollars in lost revenue, supply chain disruption and increased scrutiny in future inspections.

This action is a reminder that meeting MLC obligations means protecting crews, not just appearing compliant on paper

Read the media release for more information: https://media.amsa.gov.au/media-release/amsa-bans-vessel-over-repeatedly-falsifying-seafarer-hours-work-and-rest-records

01/11/2026

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀

We are consulting on proposed minor changes to Marine Order 70 (Seafarer certification) and Marine Order 505 (Certificates of competency — National law).

The changes:
🔹 support the issuing of digital certificates
🔹 involve removing photograph and signature requirements
🔹 do not change qualification or eligibility requirements.

There’s still time to read the key proposed changes and share your feedback.

29/10/2026

To mark 50 years of national search and rescue cooperation in Australia, we're sharing the stories, milestones and partnerships that helped shape the system that saves thousands of lives every year.

We begin with the MV Blythe Star.

On 12 October 1973, the 44-metre coastal freighter departed Hobart bound for King Island before capsizing and sinking off Tasmania’s southwest coast. Of the 10 crew, 7 survived after spending 12 days adrift in a life raft. Sadly, 3 lost their lives before help arrived.

The MV Blythe Star tragedy highlighted areas for improvement in Australia's search and rescue arrangements, driving reforms that strengthened vessel reporting and national search and rescue cooperation.

In 1976, search and rescue authorities from across Australia gathered in Melbourne for the first national search and rescue meeting. That landmark collaboration laid the foundations for a more coordinated national approach to saving lives and evolved into today's National Search and Rescue (NATSAR) Council.

Learn more about the MV Blythe Star and other events in Australia’s search and rescue history in the comments 👇

📸 MV Blythe Star | Image credit: National Archives of Australia

23/10/2026

Strong search and rescue partnerships start before the call for help 🛩️

Last week, South Australia Police officers stepped aboard an AMSA rescue jet during its visit to Adelaide airport to meet the crew and explore the technology that supports search and rescues across land and sea.

Combining AMSA’s long-range fixed-wing search and rescue capability with local knowledge and on-the-ground expertise helps bring the right resources together when every minute counts.

Check the video below and read more about the visit in the comments 👇

Leidos Australia

21/10/2026

Be part of the discussion shaping Australia’s maritime workforce. In-person registrations are now full, but you can still join us online.

The inaugural National Maritime Stakeholder Forum will bring together people from across the sector to discuss the issues affecting maritime now and into the future.

Register now to secure your virtual spot: https://bit.ly/3Vygchr

The forum will cover:
🎤 government and regulatory priorities
🎤 workforce challenges, opportunities and successes
🎤 safety and wellbeing at sea.

There will be opportunities to ask questions, share insights and hear perspectives from across the sector.

📅 Thursday 12 November 2026
🕘 9:00 am to 3:00 pm AEST

Online registrations are limited.

16/10/2026

🏆 Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Australian Search and Rescue Awards!

Last night, we were proud to partner with the Western Australia Police Force and search and rescue community to recognise the individuals, organisations and volunteers whose outstanding efforts have helped save lives and support search and rescue operations across Australia.

Each year, recipients are selected from nominations by the search and rescue community and members of the public across Australia.

Learn more about each recipient in the comments 👇

📸 2026 Australian Search and Rescue Award recipients.

15/10/2026

Getting ashore is only part of the journey.

The Seafarer Port Welfare Survey highlighted transport as a key barrier to accessing welfare services.

Seafarers told us that limited shuttle services, long distances between berths and port gates, and restricted access to taxis or rideshare services can make it difficult to reach seafarer centres and essential services.

These insights will help guide future work to improve practical access to welfare services in Australian ports.

Safe work. Fair conditions. No exceptions.

13/10/2026

Practical safety updates, industry news and guidance for domestic commercial vessel owners, operators and crew.

In this month’s AMSA Update, you can:
✅ have your say on proposed minor changes to the look of seafarer certificates
✅ see why checking the basics before every voyage matters
✅ find out what to expect if you’re contacted by an AMSA investigator
✅ see how industry feedback is shaping changes to certificate of survey requirements
✅ read how lifejackets and a registered EPIRB helped save 4 people
✅ check whether your battery setup could create a fire risk.

Read this edition of AMSA Update ➡ https://bit.ly/3Wntttq

Address

18 Marcus Clarke Street
Canberra Central, ACT
2601

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611800627484

Website

http://www.amsa.gov.au/, https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/contact-us/make-enquiry

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