Australia has received high marks for its compliance with international shipping standards.

I have today released the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) audit of Australia’s implementation and administration of mandatory ship safety and environment protection treaties.

The voluntary audit identified several areas of innovative good practice, including:

•  The risk based decision making processes adopted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA);


•  The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s ‘no blame’ casualty investigation system; and


•   Initiatives designed to maintain a strong maritime safety culture.

The audit found two minor areas of non-conformity, namely the existing legislative requirements for the provision of port facilities for ship wastes.

While all Australia’s major ports provide access to waste removal services, AMSA will raise the IMO’s concerns with the state and territory authorities responsible for port operations.

A full copy of the IMO audit can be downloaded from: www.amsa.gov.au.

The IMO’s Voluntary Member State Audit Scheme allows the organisation’s 168 member nations to demonstrate their consistent and effective implementation of international maritime treaties.

The IMO – of which Australia is a founding and active member – is the United Nations’ specialised agency responsible for international ship safety and environmental standards.