Media release

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Response Centre has been officially recognised as a Commonwealth Emergency Service Facility under the Telecommunications (Intercept and Access) Act 1979.

The formal accreditation recognises the processes and systems AMSA has embedded into the Response Centre – which operates a national search and rescue service for the Australian maritime and aviation sectors – in accordance with legislative requirements. 

Australia has provided marine oil spill response support to Sri Lanka following the sinking of the Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl container ship off the coast of Colombo last June.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority supplied more than three tonnes of spill response equipment to Sri Lanka, which was recently delivered through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). 

The  Australian  Maritime  Safety  Authority (AMSA) is inviting  feedback  from the domestic commercial  vessel  industry on aproposal  to  mandate  lifejacket wear on  some  domestic commercial vessels.

Informed  by  safety  data, AMSA  is exploring  options  to  increase  lifejacket  wear  across  the domestic commercial vessel sector, focusing on sectors of the fleet with the greatest risk of a fatality following a person overboard incident.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) would like to congratulate the recipients of this year's National Search and Rescue Council’s (NATSAR) Australian Search and Rescue Awards. 

The awards are presented by the NATSAR Council in recognition of outstanding contribution to search and rescue within the Australian region. 

AMSA Executive Director Response, Mr Mark Morrow, said it was a great honour to be able to recognise the brave actions of the recipients.  

“The actions of these recipients cannot be understated,” Mr Morrow said. 

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has today banned the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier Western Callao from Australian ports for six months.

AMSA inspected the ship at Port Adelaide in South Australia on Monday 6 September 2021 after receiving a complaint regarding the underpayment of seafarers and repatriation issues. 

Today, on World Maritime Day, Australia joins other nations in highlighting the vital role seafarers play in our lives.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is pleased to have partnered with the Australian New Zealand Safe Education Boating Group (ANZSBEG) on this important initiative.  National Safe Boating Week takes place from the 2nd to the 8th of October and is an opportunity for governments, industry leaders, and casual and professional seafarers alike to highlight the importance of safe boating across Australia and New Zealand.  

A search and rescue exercise (SAREX) between Australia and Indonesia was held today to further strengthen relationships between the two nations and improve overall transport safety and assistance in Indonesia.

The annual SAREX, involving the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) as well as Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue body (BASARNAS) and the Kupang SAR Office (RSC), was held via video teleconference due to current COVID restrictions.

Byron Bay’s iconic Cape Byron lighthouse has been named the 2021 Heritage Lighthouse of the Year by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA).