Port State Control In Australia - AMSA Publishes New Guidelines

On four occasions over the past nine months the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has exercised its powers under the Navigation Act 2012 (Act) to ban a foreign-flagged ship from using or entering an Australian port. AMSA has recently issued Marine Notice 03/2015 which provides important guidance as to the circumstances in which AMSA will ban a ship from using or entering an Australian port.

The role of AMSA in refusing access to Australian ports

• AMSA is responsible for the enforcement of Port State Control (PSC) measures in Australia. Section 246 of the Act provides that AMSA may, by notice given to the master or owner of a vessel, direct that a vessel must:
• not enter or use any port or specified port(s); and