Vessel Survey

Vessels subject to survey

Before a commercial vessel can operate in NSW waters, the vessel is required to have a valid Certificate of Survey (also known as a Vessel Permit) or a Certificate of Recognition (also known as a Temporary Permit) issued by NSW Maritime. A Certificate of Survey attests that the vessel complies with the Commercial Vessels Act 1979, and the Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code, or approved Classification Society Rules.

Vessels exempt from survey

A number of lower risk vessels are Exempt from compliance with certain aspects of the Act including the need to hold a Certificate of Survey provided alternate safety requirements are met.

Click here for a list of vessels that are EXEMPT from survey.

Types of Survey

Initial Survey

The survey process consists of an initial survey (inspection) which is undertaken on new vessels, or vessels being used in a manner requiring survey for the first time. Vessels are surveyed for compliance with applicable standards and regulations, primarily the Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code. There are five key elements for an initial survey:

Click here for an inital survey package

As part of the process to help vessel builders and designers to achieve design compliance with the USL Code, NSW Maritime has developed a series of vessel design compliance assessment aids. Click here to access the aids

Periodic Survey

Once an initial survey is complete the vessel is issued with a Certificate of Survey. This Certificate is normally issued for 12 months at a time. In order to renew the Certificate of Survey a vessel must undergo an annual inspection to assess that the vessel still complies with the USL Code or prescribed standard. This is known as Periodic Survey. A survey schedule is established for each vessel to ensure that the parts and components of the vessel are periodically checked. The Periodic Survey will focus on the following areas only:

Vessels temporarily in NSW

Before a commercial vessel, that has a Certificate of Survey issued by another authority, can operate in NSW waters it must have a Certificate of Recognition or Temporary Permit issued by NSW Maritime. The Certificate of Recognition or Temporary Permit will be issued to the expiry of the Certificate of Survey or for a maximum of 12 months whichever comes first. The Certificate of Recognition or Temporary Permit will remain valid as long as the Certificate of Survey issued interstate remains valid, that is not expired, suspended or cancelled. Any conditions applied to the Certificate of Survey by the issuing authority continue to apply. These vessels will be subject to a compliance audit by NSW Maritime which will focus on operational; environmental protection; crew and passenger safety matters pertinent to NSW waters and NSW Maritime policy. Minimum crewing levels and SMS requirements would apply to current NSW requirements. The audit will also examine items or systems that have been identified in the vessel’s Certificate of Survey as non-compliant with the requirements of the USLC/NSCV - to determine whether it is acceptable in NSW or not.

To apply for a Certificate of Recognition you will need to:

Click here for a Certificate of Recognition package

The vessel owner must apply for a NSW Certificate of Survey if the vessel will continue to operate commercially in NSW on expiry of the Certificate of Recognition. Vessels holding a recognised and current interstate Survey Certificate pay a lower initial survey fee. If the Certificate of Recognition has expired full NSW survey fees apply.

Click here for an Initial Survey package.

Vessels in Survey

New Vessels

Before the start of new commercial vessel construction (7.5 metres in length and over), a minimum of 2 sets of plans are to be forwarded to the Authority for approval, together with the prescribed fee.

The size and class of the vessel will determine the extent of plans and information required. In general plans are required for new vessel construction in the following cases:

Click here for a list of vessel classes.

Click here for a list of the details required on new vessel plans.

Existing Vessels

If you are going to use an existing vessel for commercial purposes then the survey requirements are the same as a new vessel.

Vessels less than 15 metres may be considered without formal plans if currently in survey in another state.

Survey during Construction

The Authority will inspect the vessel at various stages during construction in particular:

The owners/operators of commercial vessels should consult with NSW Maritime prior to construction begins to ascertain survey requirements.

Construction for new commercial vessels of certain sizes should not begin until drawings have been approved by NSW Maritime. If any construction is started before this approval is given, the owner accepts all responsibility for any remedial work which may be required as a consequence of the plan approval.

Information on vessel construction requirements

The fact sheets below provide information for vessel owners and builders:

Vessel design compliance assessment aids

As part of the process to help vessel builders and designers to achieve design compliance with the USL Code, NSW Maritime has developed a series of vessel design compliance assessment aids. Click here to access the aids.

Contact

For more information on survey requirements phone (02) 9563 8777 between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday or fax (02) 9563 8788.

NSW Maritime
Commercial Operations Branch
Locked Bag 5100
Camperdown NSW 1450