Australian Maritime Safety Authority

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Australian Maritime Safety Authority
File:AMSA on Northbourne ave.jpg
Offices in Canberra
Statutory authority overview
Formed 1990
Jurisdiction Australian exclusive economic zone
Headquarters Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Minister responsible
Website www.amsa.gov.au
File:Australian Maritime Safety Authority Dornier 328-110 Essendon Vabre.jpg
Dornier 328-110 at Essendon Airport, 2007

Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is responsible, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, for the regulation and safety oversight of Australia's shipping fleet and management of Australia's international maritime obligations.[1] AMSA is funded largely through levies on the shipping industry. The authority has a jurisdiction over Australia's exclusive economic zone which covers an area of 11,000,000 square kilometres (4,200,000 sq mi).[2]

It was established in 1990,[3] under the Australian Maritime Safety Act 1990.[4] The authority belongs to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport.[1] Directors are appointed by the minister.[4] Other international treaties which AMSA administers include the Navigation Act 2012 and the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.[2]

In the 2010-2011 financial year, AMSA recorded expenses of just over $146 million, with revenue at just under $159 million, creating a surplus of more than $10 million.[5]

Functions

Marine safety activities by AMSA:

  1. the provision, operation and maintenance of a network of marine aids to navigation, for example, lighthouses;
  2. ensuring the seaworthiness and safe operation of Australian and foreign vessels in Australian waters, including the enforcement of compulsory pilotage;[2]
  3. administering the certification of seafarers;
  4. the provision of a |maritime distress and safety communications network;
  5. the operation of Australia's Rescue Coordination Centre and coordination of search and rescue (SAR) operations for civilian aircraft and vessels in distress;[6] and
  6. the development of a maritime safety commercial vessel legislative framework and operating system.

AMSA aims to protect the marine environment by administering programs to prevent and respond to the threat of ship-sourced marine pollution; and together with the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre, managing Australia's National Plan to combat pollution of the sea by oil and other noxious and hazardous substances.

It is responsible for administering MARPOL 73/78,[4] an international marine environmental convention designed to minimize pollution of the seas. AMSA can instigate prosecutions itself, but mainly works with states and territories during investigations and enforcement activities such as vessel inspections.[4] A recent major AMSA project involved the rewrite of the Navigation Act 1912, the agency's governing statute.

New responsibilities

Regulation of pedalos is a new AMSA responsibility

AMSA recently[when?] developed policy which led to the transfer of responsibility for the regulation of small commercial vessels from states and territories to the Commonwealth to deal with issues identified by the agency which affect hired canoes, row boats and pedalos and other small craft. The proposal is controversial in some jurisdictions due to lack of reliable information to support the initiative and due to increases in administrative costs borne by states and territories.[7]

Publications

The Authority publishes a range of materials in relation to maritime safety.[8]As of 2011 its maritime survival manual Survival at Sea: A Training and Instruction Manual is in its 6th edition.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ See Parliamentary debate in Victoria in relation to that State's Marine (Domestic Commercial Vessel National Law Application) Bill 2013.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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