Consultation feedback report now available: Changes to safety management system requirements

A new report has been released about changes to Marine Order 504, which deals with the safety rules for domestic commercial vessels (DCVs). These rules cover the safety management systems (SMS) and certificates of operation for boats in Australia.

From May to July 2024, people involved in the industry were asked to share their thoughts on the proposed changes. Overall, most of the feedback was supportive of the changes. The government will now make final adjustments to the marine order based on the feedback. Only a few small changes will be made before the new rules are put in place.

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The goal of these new changes is to make the safety rules easier to understand and more practical for different types of boats. Some of the key changes include:

1. Simplifying Safety Rules: Smaller boats or those with simpler operations will have easier safety rules to follow.
2. Improving Fatigue Management: There will be stricter guidelines to help boat operators avoid getting too tired while working.
3. Tackling Drug and Alcohol Risks: Clearer steps will be included to manage risks related to drug and alcohol use.
4. Defining Roles and Responsibilities: It will be clearer who is responsible for what on a boat, ensuring everyone knows their job.
5. Updating Emergency Procedures: The rules for emergency stations and how to prepare for emergencies will be updated to make them easier to follow.
6. Addressing Boat Stability Risks: There will be changes to make sure boats remain stable and safe in all conditions.
7. Simplifying Certificate Renewals: Renewing certificates of operation will become less complicated, reducing paperwork for boat owners.

Along with these main changes, the new marine order will have some smaller updates to improve clarity. The final version of Marine Order 504 is set to be released later this year and will officially take effect on June 1, 2025. This gives boat owners and operators plenty of time to adjust to the new rules.

Boat owners and others in the industry are encouraged to stay informed and prepare for the new SMS requirements when the final order and guidelines come out later this year.