FACT SHEET

NAVIGATION ACT FACT SHEET 7

Offshore Support Vessels
Which offshore support vessels will
be subject to the Navigation Act 2012?
Offshore support vessels will be subject to the substantive
requirements of the Navigation Act 2012 if they are:

Foreign vessels conducting activities in Australian

waters. Under the Navigation Act 2012, AMSA
has substantial powers over foreign vessels within
Australias territorial sea, and some powers (relating
generally to safe navigation and pollution) over
foreign vessels within Australias Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ);
Australian vessels which go outside the EEZ, operate
entirely outside the EEZ or are for use on voyages
outside the EEZ; or
Australian vessels which maintain certification for
unrestricted operations under the Navigation Act
2012, irrespective of where they operate.

See Fact Sheet 2: Scope of the Navigation Act 2012 for

more information.

How does this compare to the current

arrangements?
State and Northern Territory marine safety law currently
covers vessels not engaged on interstate or overseas
voyages, including both domestic and foreign offshore
support vessels. As a result these vessels may currently
be under State or Northern Territory regulation and survey.
However, those vessels which currently hold Navigation
Act 8A declarations will be subject to the Navigation Act
1912.
In the future, current section 8A declarations will cease to

have effect for all vessels. All foreign vessels operating

in Australian waters and all Australian vessels which
undertake voyages beyond the EEZ, or which maintain
certification for unrestricted operations under the
Navigation Act 2012, will be subject to the Navigation
Act 2012.
All Australian commercial vessels (including offshore
support vessels) that operate domestically and which are
not regulated by the Navigation Act 2012 will be subject
to the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel)
National Law Act 2012. See the National System Fact
Sheets for more information.

Why are the arrangements changing?

The rewrite of the Navigation Act 1912 enables a clear
and coherent national approach to the regulation of
vessels to be established, which will continue to ensure
high levels of safety and reduce compliance costs. The
Navigation Act 2012 is not voyage-based and vessels will
no longer move between legislation depending on what
type of voyage they are undertaking.
See Fact Sheet 1: Overview for more information.

Is offshore petroleum industry

regulation affected?
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act
2006 will continue to apply to the vessels and operations
as it did previously. The rewrite of the Navigation Act will
have no impact on the interaction between the Navigation
Act and the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas
Storage Act 2006 or the jurisdiction of the National Offshore
Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management
Authority (NOPSEMA).

This fact sheet contains general information only. For additional information please contact AMSA www.amsa.gov.au

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia October 2012

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Fact Sheet Navigation Act Fact Sheet 7 - Impact on the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

Are the Navigation Act requirements

changing?
The provisions of the Navigation Act 1912 specific to
offshore industry vessels and offshore industry mobile
units are not included in the Navigation Act 2012.
However, the requirements contained in the Marine
Orders and standards will continue to apply. As a result,
the substantive requirements for these vessels subject
to the Navigation Act 1912 will not change under the
new Act.
The changes to the Navigation Act are designed to
improve clarity and increase flexibility. Under the
Navigation Act 2012, specific technical requirements are
only contained in the Marine Orders. Marine Orders and
other subordinate instruments can be more easily updated
to reflect changing technology, community expectations
or emerging safety or environmental concerns.

This fact sheet contains general information only. For additional information please contact AMSA www.amsa.gov.au

Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Canberra ACT Australia October 2012

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