Keeping seafarers safe is central to Australia’s maritime compliance priorities, with the National Compliance Plan 2026–27 setting out how the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will target risk, strengthen standards and support a safer, more accountable maritime industry.
The plan focuses AMSA’s compliance effort on high-risk areas, including a minimum of 2,400 Port State Control inspections on foreign-flagged vessels and 2,300 inspections on domestic commercial vessels.
In 2025, 46 serious crew injuries were reported across regulated Australian vessels and foreign-flagged vessels. While this was fewer than in 2024, the continued occurrence of serious injuries shows the need for targeted action on occupational health and safety, crew fatigue management, safety management system implementation and electrical safety, supported by education and focused inspection campaigns. AMSA has committed this year, and for the first time, to conducting 15 inspections under the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 (OHS(MI) Act).
AMSA recently participated in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ consultation on reforming the OHS(MI) Act, reflecting its role as an inspectorate and the need to ensure 30-year-old maritime workplace health and safety laws meet modern standards. AMSA supports the principle that Australian seafarers working on foreign-flagged vessels in Australian waters should have access to appropriate workplace health and safety protections, including the protections afforded under the OHS(MI) Act where applicable.
AMSA say their focus for 2026-27 is clear: safer vessels, safer operations and safer working conditions for the people who keep Australia’s maritime industry moving; reinforcing AMSA’s zero tolerance for breaches under the Maritime Labour Convention for seafarer health, safety and welfare standards and ensuring that maritime employers meet their obligations under Australian and international law.
About the plan
The National Compliance Plan 2026–27 outlines AMSA’s priority compliance activities from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
The plan helps industry and compliance partners understand the areas AMSA will focus on during the year. These priorities are informed by inspection data, marine incident trends, investigations, audits, search and rescue activity, subject matter expert input and ongoing compliance monitoring.
In 2026–27, AMSA’s compliance work will focus on improving maritime safety, seafarer welfare and environmental protection through targeted inspections, education, compliance checks, data collection and engagement with industry.
A key feature of this year’s plan includes a dedicated inspection program under the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 (OHS(MI) Act), targeting regulated Australian vessels and applicable foreign-flagged vessels. The program supports the reform of the OHS(MI) Act currently underway. It also reinforces AMSA’s zero tolerance for breaches under the Maritime Labour Convention for seafarer health, safety and welfare standards, ensuring that maritime operators meet their obligations under Australian and international law.
2026–27 focus area highlights
Risk-based inspections of foreign and Australian flagged vessels, focusing on navigational safety, pollution prevention, and cargo securing and stowage practices
Seafarer safety and welfare under the Maritime Labour Convention, including occupational health and safety, and hours of work and rest.
Domestic vessel safety, with priorities on electrical safety, watchkeeping, lookout practices, and fatigue management.
Pollution prevention through checks on exhaust gas cleaning systems and supporting safe environmental practices.
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander operators to strengthen safety management system (SMS) implementation and safe operations.
Click here to read the full National Compliance Plan
