Australian Maritime Safety Authority
 Offices in Canberra |
|
| Statutory authority overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1990 |
| Jurisdiction | Australian exclusive economic zone |
| Headquarters | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Minister responsible | |
| Website | www |
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is responsible, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, for the regulation and safety oversight of Australia's shipping fleet and management of Australia's international maritime obligations. AMSA is funded largely through levies on the shipping industry. The authority has a jurisdiction over Australia's exclusive economic zone which covers an area of 11,000,000 square kilometres (4,200,000 sq mi).
It was established in 1990, under the Australian Maritime Safety Act 1990. The authority belongs to the Department of Infrastructure and Transport. Directors are appointed by the minister. Other international treaties which AMSA administers include the Navigation Act 2012 and the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983.
In the 2010-2011 financial year, AMSA recorded expenses of just over $146 million, with revenue at just under $159 million, creating a surplus of more than $10 million.
Marine safety activities by AMSA:
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.
AMSA recently developed policy which led to the transfer of responsibility for the regulation of small commercial vessels from states and territories to the Commonwealth to deal with issues identified by the agency which affect hired canoes, row boats and pedalos and other small craft. The proposal is controversial in some jurisdictions due to lack of reliable information to support the initiative and due to increases in administrative costs borne by states and territories.
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