PFATraining

New National System
The National System for domestic commercial vessel safety aims to simplify commercial vessel safety requirements by replacing existing state and territory laws with a common National Law. The new system will be in force across Australia on 1 July 2013; Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will be the National Regulator of domestic commercial vessels and RMS its NSW delegate. As a delegate, RMS will continue to provide the functions and services that it used to provide for domestic commercial vessels and you will continue to deal with RMS for your commercial vessel licensing needs in NSW. For most customers, it will be business as usual.

Most certificates will be nationally recognised, meaning that customers will be able to move from state to state. Locally issued certificates remain valid until they are due for renewal, at which time the national system certificates will be issued. There will be some changes to vessel and crew certificates and their duration. Following are the major changes.

• A national certificate of operation will replace the NSW hire and drive licence
• A national certificate of operation will replace the NSW commercial vessel registration certificate.
• Any national certificate may be issued for up to a five-year period
• Frequency of fee payment, surveys and safety audits may vary in some cases –
• There will be new crew certificate grades, changes to certifcate names and qualifying sea service requirements
• Changed arrangements may apply for crewing of vessels
• A new standard for safety equipment will be progressively introduced by 2016 (NSCV C7A)

If you need more information at this stage, please contact the commercial vessels section on (02) 95638400. You may also contact AMSA for your operations outside NSW through the national system website link below, or by telephoning their info line on 1300 517 246.

Further information on the National System

• Purpose of the reform
• Background to the reform
• Legal arrangements
• Scope of the National Law
• Areas under State law
• Service delivery arrangements
• Delegation arrangements
• Vessel certification
• Certificates of competency
• Exemption arrangements
• Treatment of existing operators
• National standards
• Fees and charges
• Consultation on the National System

Other Regulatory Requirements for Commercial Vessels and Crew in NSW

The following list includes areas not covered under the National System, and NSW retains regulatory responsibility for.

• Local Waterway Management- This includes management of ports, harbours and moorings, waterway access matters, bar crossings, local knowledge requirements, speed limits, drugs and alcohol, traffic management plans, designation of waters, regulation or prohibition of the operation of certain vessels or classes of vessels in specified areas, aquatic licences
• Carriage of Dangerous goods
• Emergency management and response
• Pollution – This includes oil pollution, sewage and garbage management
• Workplace health and safety

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/cv/comm_home.html

Approved Registered Training Organisations

To obtain a Certificate of Competency you must complete a training course provided by a Training Organisation approved by the National Regulator.

Training provided by the Registered Training Organisations listed below is approved by RMS on behalf of the National Regulator and will be recognised for issuing National Certificates of Competency.