First single national standards for seafarers and vessels’ safe operation
New national standards for domestic commercial vessels covering crew competencies and operationshave been unanimously agreed by the Australian Standing Council of Transport and Infrastructure.The Council consists of Transport, Infrastructure and Planning Ministers from the Commonwealth, Statesand Territories.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Chief Executive Officer Graham Peachey said theoutcomes were historic and a major achievement for the new National System for Domestic CommercialVessels, which will come into effect on July 1.”For the first time there will be single national standards for competency for seafarers and safe operationof vessels operating in near-coastal waters, and the ability to implement these standards nationally,” MrPeachey said.
“In addition, the Council also agreed another ground breaking initiative: new national accreditationarrangements for marine surveyors. For the first time in Australia, domestic commercial vessel surveyorswill operate under a single consistent arrangement.”
“The new standards move us from eight different systems to one whilst maintaining a strong safetyculture.”
The new arrangements for crew competencies under Part D of the National Standards for CommercialVessels (NSCV) will include competency based training to ensure candidates have greater exposure topractical on-board skills.Seafarers will be able to use their new national certificates to work anywhere in Australia without needingto have them reassessed by state and territory maritime jurisdictions, cutting out unnecessary red tape.
Regulation of crewing requirements will now be covered by Part E of the NSCV. Under new enhancedregulatory obligations, vessel operators will be responsible for addressing risk through implementingsafety management plans and practical guidelines, which will be rigorously overseen by AMSA.
The unanimous agreement follows three years of extensive national consultation through industryreference groups involving representatives from the oil and gas industry, the fishing and ferry industries,seafarer trade unions, aquaculture representatives and cargo operators.
Source: AMSA