Australian Shipping Industry Reforms

The recent shipping industry reforms proposed by the Australian Government commenced operation on 1 July 2012.

The reforms are an attempt to revitalise the Australian shipping industry which has been in decline for some time despite increasing resource exports. There has been an ever falling number of vessels operating under the Australian flag and this has had a flow on effect within the industry with greater reliance on overseas shipping interests. There has also been concern in some sections of the industry that Australia's coastal trade was being accessed unfairly under the permit system.

The reforms include:

1. The creation of an Australian International Shipping Register (International Register) – The International Register will allow Australian owned trading vessels or vessels on demise charter to Australian based operators to be registered on a new register in order to provide certain benefits to a ship owner when trading internationally. The Seafarers Reh