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Posted by Allen Newton
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13 July, 2026
THE AUSTRALIAN Maritime Safety Authority is to strengthen standards to support a more accountable maritime industry with a new National Compliance Plan.
AMSA said the 2026-27 plan sets out how it will “target risk, strengthen standards and support a safer, more accountable maritime industry”.
The plan focuses AMSA’s compliance effort on high-risk areas, including a minimum of 2400 Port State Control inspections on foreign-flagged vessels and 2300 inspections on domestic commercial vessels.
An AMSA media release said that In 2025, 46 serious crew injuries were reported across regulated Australian vessels and foreign-flagged vessels.
“While this was fewer than in 2024, the continued occurrence of serious injuries shows the need for targeted action on occupational health and safety, crew fatigue management, safety management system implementation and electrical safety, supported by education and focused inspection campaigns,” the release said. “AMSA has committed this year, and for the first time, to conducting 15 inspections under the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 (OHS(MI) Act).”
AMSA recently participated in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ consultation on reforming the OHS(MI) Act, reflecting its role as an inspectorate and the need to ensure 30-year-old maritime workplace health and safety laws meet modern standards.
“AMSA supports the principle that Australian seafarers working on foreign-flagged vessels in Australian waters should have access to appropriate workplace health and safety protections, including the protections afforded under the OHS(MI) Act where applicable.
“Our focus for 2026-27 is clear: safer vessels, safer operations and safer working conditions for the people who keep Australia’s maritime industry moving; reinforcing AMSA's zero tolerance for breaches under the Maritime Labour Convention for seafarer health, safety and welfare standards and ensuring that maritime employers meet their obligations under Australian and international law.”
