Australian Maritime Safety Authority - Functions

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;
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 operations for civilian aircraft and vessels in distress; 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, 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. A recent major AMSA project involved the rewrite of the Navigation Act 1912, the agency's governing statute. The agency also led policy and regulatory aspects of a pending transfer of responsibility for the regulation of small commercial vessels from states and territories to deal with major cross border safety problems affecting hired canoes, row boats and pedal boats.