Following public consultation, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a revised Marine Order 12 (Construction — subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations) which is effective from 1 January 2024.
Marine order 12 implements internationally consistent standards for construction of vessels in relation to subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations, and additional requirements for Regulated Australian Vessels that are offshore supply vessels.
International vessels visiting Australian ports may be subject to a port State control inspection to ensure they meet these standards. According to AMSA, the new marine order contains the following key changes:
– New requirement to have ship-specific towing and mooring arrangements plans and keep them on board for the Master’s reference.
– New requirement for regulated Australian vessels that are under 24m in Load Line Length and constructed on, or after 1 January 2024, to comply with watertight and weathertight integrity standards in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels.
– Updated references to provisions of SOLAS relating to openings in watertight bulkheads.
– Reformatting to reflect current drafting style and updated definitions.
