Australia – Pilot Transfer Arrangements for all Vessels calling Australia

03/2022—Pilot transfer arrangements

This Marine Notice reminds shipowners, operators, masters, crews, recognised organisations, marine pilots and pilotage providers of the obligation to provide safe pilot transfer arrangements.

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Background

AMSA notes with concern that since November 2017 several pilots’ lives have been placed at risk, in six separate incidents where man ropes have parted, or its securing point has failed. In addition, AMSA regularly receives reports and complaints about non-compliant pilot transfer arrangements

Shipowners, operators, masters and crews are reminded that pilot transfer arrangements, including pilot ladders, must comply with Marine Order 21 (Safety and emergency arrangements) 2016 (MO21).

MO21 implements Australia’s obligations under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter V Regulation 23 (SOLAS V/23).

This notice supersedes 03/2019

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Pilot transfer arrangement standards

Whenever a pilot or other person embarks or disembarks from a ship by ladder, they entrust their safety to the pilot transfer arrangements provided by the ship and the pilot boat crew.

The requirements in SOLAS V/23 are the minimum standards for equipment installed and arrangements for pilot transfers on ships on or after 1 July 2012.

The IMO standards can be found in:

• IMO Resolution A.1045(27) – Pilot transfer arrangements, and
• IMO Resolution A.1108(29) – Amendments to the Recommendations on Pilot Transfer Arrangements (Resolution A.1045(27)).

SOLAS V/23.2.3 also states a pilot ladder shall be certified by the manufacturer as complying with SOLAS V/23 or “with an international standard acceptable to the Organization” and refers to ISO 799:2019 “Ships and marine technology – pilot ladders”.

Compliance with this particular provision of SOLAS V/23 can be met when a manufacturer has certified the pilot ladder complies with either of the above standards, noting they are not identical.

Paragraph 10.1 of Part A of the International Safety Management Code (ISM) requires vessel operators establish procedures to ensure a ship is maintained in conformity with the relevant rules and regulations, including pilot transfer arrangements.

Such procedures should include regular inspections of the pilot transfer arrangement and storage of such equipment when not in use.

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Further details information about this notice can be found on https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/032022-pilot-transfer-arrangements

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For any specific questions, please contact our Australia head office:

https://www.benlineagencies.com/contact_category/brisbane/

Australia – Mandatory Biofouling Management Requirements for International Vessels.

New requirements for managing biofouling on international vessels arriving in Australia will begin on 15 June 2022.

Operators of all vessels subject to biosecurity control will be required to provide information on how biofouling has been managed prior to arriving in Australian territorial seas. This information will need to be reported through the department’s Maritime Arrivals Reporting System (MARS).

The department will use the information to target vessel interventions. This will allow more efficient use of resources and statutory powers to assess and inspect vessels, and more effective response to unacceptable biosecurity risks associated with biofouling.

Vessel operators will receive less intervention for biofouling if they comply with one of the following three accepted biofouling management practices:

1.           Implementation of an effective biofouling management plan; or

2.           Cleaned all biofouling within 30 days prior to arriving in Australian territory; or

3.           Implementation of an alternative biofouling management method pre-approved by the department.

Further information on the accepted biofouling management practices will be available on this page soon. https://www.awe.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/aircraft-vessels-military/vessels/marine-pest-biosecurity/biofouling

A vessel operator that has not applied one of the three accepted biofouling management practices will be subject to further questions and assessment of the biosecurity risk associated with biofouling on the vessel.

This new policy approach was approved by the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia and is consistent with the direction of the International Maritime Organization’s 2011 Guidelines for the Control and Management of Ships’ biofouling to Minimize the Transfer of Invasive Aquatic Species. The policy is also informed by the Review of National Marine Pest Biosecurity 2015 and the Australian biofouling management requirements for international vessel arrivals consultation regulation impact statement.

Timeframe for implementing the new requirements : The department will phase the introduction of new requirements. From 15 June 2022 to 15 December 2023 an education first approach will be taken for the Australian biofouling management requirements. However, powers under the Biosecurity Act 2015 will continue to be used to manage unacceptable biosecurity risk associated with biofouling.

For any specific questions, please contact our Australia head office:

https://www.benlineagencies.com/contact_category/brisbane/