The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published its 2026–27 National Compliance Plan.
The plan helps industry understand the areas AMSA will focus on during the year and prepare for inspections.
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.
For the domestic fleet (including fishing vessels) priority focus will be on electrical safety, watchkeeping, lookout practices, and fatigue management.
AMSA’s compliance priorities for 2026–27 include:
- inspections of foreign flagged and regulated Australian vessels, including risk-based targeting, OHS(MI) inspections, ISM audits, concentrated inspection campaigns and exhaust gas cleaning systems
- Maritime Labour Convention compliance, with a focus on crewing and fatigue on foreign-flagged vessels
- domestic commercial vessel safety, including inspection targeting, safety management system implementation, watchkeeping and lookout practices, electrical safety, fatigue management, and safe vessel operations in the Torres Strait and Top End.
Compliance activities will be supported by targeted communication, education and guidance initiatives to improve understanding of regulatory obligations, promote voluntary compliance and support safer operations across the maritime industry.
The National Compliance Plan 2026-27 is available for viewing on the AMSA website.