AMSA marine order covering safety of navigation and radio equipment to come into effect in January 2024

Following public consultation earlier this year, a revised Marine Order 27 relating to navigation safety measures and equipment, radio equipment, and safety, urgency and distress communication will take effect on January 1, 2024, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said on Tuesday, December 19.

AMSA ran a public consultation to seek feedback on the proposed changes to Marine Order 27 between September and October 2023. Four submissions were received and are outlined in the consultation feedback report, along with AMSA's response.

The new marine order contains the following key changes:

• Incorporating amendments to SOLAS Chapter IV "Radiocommunications" from IMO Resolution MSC.496(105), noting there are no resulting changes to carriage requirements
• Incorporating amendments to SOLAS Chapter V "Safety of Navigation" from IMO Resolution MSC.496(105), noting there are no resulting changes to carriage requirements
• Updating SOLAS requirements, including their application to regulated Australian vessels and foreign flagged vessels
  removing Schedule 2 IMO Resolutions
• Minor updates to Schedule 3 GMDSS equipment for vessels to which Chapter IV of SOLAS does not apply
• Removing Schedule 4 Station frequencies for GMDSS distress and safety communications
• Including mandatory registration of EPIRBs on regulated Australian vessels (RAVs)
• Including penalty units for turning off some equipment, including Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT)
• Updating definitions, including EPIRB, qualified compass adjuster and NAVAREA X
• Updating Division 4 to improve consistency with the Radio Regulations and remove duplication
• Revision of formatting and terminology to reflect current drafting practice.

The new Marine Order 27 can be read here.