Frequently asked questions from passenger vessel operators concerning the new requirements for Safety Management Plans

and qualified crew.

1. What is a passenger vessel?

A passenger vessel is one which is in survey to carry passengers. This includes all Class 1 vessels and some Class 2 vessels. 2. What are the requirements for Safety Management Plans?

Your crew must have access to and be familiar with an approved Safety Management Plan. The subject matter shall be specific to the vessel and shall include but not be limited to guidance on: 3. health and safety practices and responsibilities, and managing routine operations which are critical to the safety of the vessel, crewmembers, passengers, and the environment, and managing emergency responses. What are the requirements for qualified crew?

The term qualified crew refers to any person serving on the vessel who holds the qualifications of Elements of Shipboard Safety and Workplace Level 2 First Aid or equivalent. The manning requirement for qualified crew is to be based on the number of passengers being carried and take into account the layout of the vessel. Additional qualified crew may be necessary if the vessel has two or more passenger decks. The master must ensure that passenger numbers for all voyages are recorded and that an authorised person can gain immediate access to this information. Total number of qualified crew (including master, mate & engineer) Number of passengers onboard 1 - 40 41-100 101-180 passengers passengers passengers 2, or 1 if the 3, or all 4, or all Master is crew if the crew if the adequate the only adequate crew manning is manning is less than 3 less than 4

Vessel type Class 1 or Class 2 passenger vessel

>180 passengers As determined by the manning committee

4.

By what date do I need to comply with the requirements for a Safety Management Plan?

After October 1st 2004 it will be an offence to carry passengers aboard a commercial vessel without an approved Safety Management Plan, except if that plan has been submitted and is in the process of approval. 5. What should I do if I am unable to employ sufficient crew qualified in Elements of Shipboard Safety and Level 2 First Aid.

If a qualified crew member is unable to work and you are unable to find a qualified replacement, you can apply to MAST for a temporary permit for that crew member to serve. It would still be necessary for the replacement crew member to have been inducted to the vessel and the Safety Management Plan. The same provision may be applied to employ some one who has not yet gained these qualifications. Approval for exemption will be given on a case by case basis, taking into account factors such as relative isolation of the operator, availability of training courses, and other circumstances pertaining to the application for exemption. 6. What do I do now? a. Complete a Safety Management Registration form and forward it to MAST if you have not already done so. b. In consultation with the owner or owners representative the MAST Manager Commercial Vessel Safety will make a determination as to whether a level 1 or level 2 Safety Management Plan is required. c. Develop a Safety Management Manual with the crew. d. Submit a draft Safety Management Manual. MAST will assess the manual and check that all details have been addressed. e. If the Safety Management Manual is approved MAST will issue a letter of compliance. If insufficient, MAST will advise the responsible person of the areas which have not been adequately addressed. f. A MAST representative will visit the vessel within 1 month of issuing the Safety Management Manual compliance letter to check that the document is available for use. And to ensure that the information within the manual is understood and the instructions are followed by all personnel. 7. What are Level 1 and Level 2 Safety Management Plans?

A Level 1 Safety Management Plan is more comprehensive and is appropriate to more complex vessels and/or higher risk operations. A Level 2 Safety Management Plan is simpler and reflects smaller, lower complexity operations. Generally, a vessel that exceeds 12m in length or carries more than 12 passengers will be required to have a Level 1 SMP. 8. Is there a guide to help write a Safety Management Manual?

There are MAST guidelines for Level 1 and Level 2 Safety Management Plans. There are also sample Safety Management Manuals. These are available from the MAST Manager Commercial Vessel Safety.

9.

Do I have to comply with requirements for Safety Management Plans and qualified crew if I have a vessel in survey to carry passengers but I do not carry passengers?

MAST recommends that vessel operators utilise a Safety Management Plan and that crew are qualified in Elements of Shipboard Safety and Workplace Level 2 First Aid. Additional qualified crew and a Safety Management Plan are not mandatory if a vessel does not carry passengers. If you have a vessel that is in survey to carry passengers but you do not do so and you do not intend to submit a Safety Management Manual then please complete a Safety Management Manual Exemption Form and forward it to MAST. 10. Is the number of qualified crew required dependent on survey passenger numbers or actual passenger numbers?

The number of qualified crew required may be less if passenger numbers are reduced. For example, a vessel which is in survey to carry 150 passengers and has an adequate manning of 4 would be required to carry 4 qualified crew when the vessel has a full compliment. If 95 passengers were aboard 3 of the 4 crew would be required to have Elements of Shipboard Safety and Workplace Level 2 First Aid. For this reason and to address other safety issues it is necessary to maintain passenger number records. 11. How will MAST monitor if the Safety Management Plan is understood and in use?

Compliance with the Safety Management Plan will be audited by a MAST representative. These audits will occur on a random basis. In addition MAST may instigate an audit after complaints from the public, after a marine incident or after deficiences are noted in a periodic inspection. MAST will be looking to check the effectiveness of the Safety Management Plan. As a guide, it is MASTs intention to audit the Safety Management Plan twice in its first year of operation and between once and four times over the next two years. 12. What are the MAST fees for services associated with applying for Safety Management Plan approval?

Generally, operators who submit a Safety Management Plan to MAST for approval prior to September 30th 2004 will not be charged for the MAST assessment of the Safety Management Manual. A fee of $90 an hour will be charged if more than 2 hours are required to complete this task. This should only be necessary if the drafts were repeatedly insufficient. A fee of $10 for vessels up to 12m and $30 for vessels over 12m will be charged as an additional survey fee. This charge is for determining the adequacy of maintained

records at the periodic inspection. Other charges will be payable by vessel owners who apply for Safety Management Plan approval after September 30th 2004. 13. How long is a Safety Management Plan approval valid for?

For 5 years provided it is not found to have critical deficiencies during that time, in which case the approval would be revoked until the deficiencies were corrected. 14. Which regulations apply to Safety Management Plans and qualified crew for commercial passenger vessels operating in Tasmania?

Marine and Safety (Safe Operation) Regulations 2003. Statutory rules 2003, No. 167. These regulations are available without charge on line at www.thelaw.tas.gov.au . Alternatively, a copy can be purchased from the Printing Authority of Tasmania. 15. How will the public know if a vessel has an approved Safety Management Plan?

Vessels with an approved Safety Management Plan will be supplied a MAST Safety Management Plan Approved sticker for display. A certificate of approval will also be supplied for display ashore. Operators may wish to promote the business by advertising that the vessel has a MAST approved Safety Management Plan. All vessels with an approved Safety Management Plan will be listed on the MAST web site. 16. Do I have to comply with requirements for Safety Management Plans and qualified crew if the personnel I carry are not crew but are on board in connection with a special purpose of the vessel?

A vessel may carry personnel in connection with a special purpose such as pilots, technicians etc. These personnel are not considered to be passengers if they are capable of assisting the crew to operate the vessel. They must have knowledge of safety procedures and handling safety equipment. Additional qualified crew and a Safety Management Plan are not mandatory if the vessel does not carry passengers. However, MAST recommends that vessel operators utilise a Safety Management Plan and that crew are qualified in Elements of Shipboard Safety and Workplace Level 2 First Aid. If you have a vessel that is in survey to carry passengers but you do not do so and you do not intend to submit a Safety Management Manual please complete a Safety Management Manual Exemption Form and return it to MAST.