USL CODE Adopted by Commonwealth and all States & Northern Territory relating to Survey, Manning and Operation of Commercial Vessels in Australia Enforced through individual State Marine Legislation

As July 2013 the whole certification is coming under the Commonwealth All new certification is based on NSCV

Domestic Commercial Vessel Act New Commonwealth Act Domestic Commercial Vessel Act

USL CODE Adopted by States and Northern Territory more than 20 years ago (published 1979) Currently under review Being replaced by National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) NSCV - a common national standard for the design, construction, crewing and operation of vessels NSCV has been written to allow flexibility in application to achieve required outcomes

MARINE LEGISLATION 5 sections of the USL Code directly affect the seaworthiness and day-to-day operations of vessels - Sect 1: Definitions & general requirements Sect 10: Life Saving Appliances Sect 11: Fire Fighting Appliances Sect 13: Miscellaneous Equipment Sect 15: Emergency Procedures and Safety of Navigation

CLASSES OF VESSELS Class 1 - Passenger Vessels Class 2 - Non-passenger Vessels Class 3 - Fishing Vessels

AREAS OF OPERATION “A” - UNLIMITED - All overseas, ocean going and Australian coastal operations without limitations “B” - OFFSHORE - Within 200 miles off coast “C” - RESTRICTED OFFSHORE - Within 30 miles off coast

AREAS OF OPERATION “D” - PARTIALLY SMOOTH WATERS - Within specified geographical limits “E” - SMOOTH WATERS - Within specified geographical limits “F” - HIRE & DRIVE - as designated by the Authority

MARINE LEGISLATION Coxswain may- Command vessel less than 12 metres length, out to 15 nautical miles Go out to 30 N.Miles upon successful completion of M5 Coastal Navigation assessment

CERTIFICATES ON BOARD RELATING TO VESSEL Certificate of Survey Vessel Stability Booklet Ship Station Radio Licence Compass Deviation Card Life Raft Inspection Certificate Fire Fighting Inspection Certificate Load Line Certificate (where required) (Fishing Licence)

CERTIFICATES ON BOARD RELATING TO PERSONNEL Certificates of Competency (Coxswain/MED/Deckhand) Radio Operator (& endorsements) Any other certificates required by Survey Manning requirements

SURVEY STANDARDS All plans must be approved by Marine Authority prior to commencement of any construction Marine Surveyors ensure the following during construction: Materials used meet required standard Plans are being adhered to Workmanship complies with minimum best practice standards

VESSEL SURVEY Vessel equipment surveyed annually Various parts of vessel may be opened up for examination Surveyor issues list of repairs and deficiencies - to be complied with by owner/agent prior to being issued with a current certificate of survey

LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES (Section 10 USL Code) Vessels less than 25 metres Coastal Liferaft for 100% compliment 2 Lifebuoys - one with light, one with line (over 10 M) - One Lifebuoy with light (under 10M) Solas Lifejacket with light & whistle for each person 3 Parachute Flares, 2 Red Hand Flares, 1 Orange Hand Flare

FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES (Section 11 USL Code) Vessel less than 25 metres: Portable extinguishers for Galley & Accommodation Portable extinguishers for oil fires in machinery spaces (as per class of vessel) 2 x Buckets with lanyards (vessel over 10 metres length) 1 x Bucket with lanyard (vessel under 10 metres in length)

Why have OHS&W? To protect Employees from injuries and illnesses in the workplace To ensure a workplace creates no harm to the public or others To reduce national workplace accidents, deaths and associated costs Legal obligation

OHS&W Responsibilities EMPLOYERS Provide a Safe Working Environment Provide Safe Systems of Work - Protective equipment when required Maintain plant and substances in a safe condition Provide and maintain adequate facilities Provide adequate information, instruction, training and supervision

OHS&W Responsibilities EMPLOYEES Obey reasonable instructions Work safely and wear protective equipment when required Follow correct procedures Don’t put fellow workers (or public) at risk Report accidents and near-misses to your employer Don’t be affected by drugs or alcohol

MUSTER and DRILLS (Section 15 USL Code) Every 1 month - Crew emergency drill (Muster, Fire, Survival station) Every 2 months - Survival, Fire & Collision drills (passenger vessels) Every 3 months - Survival, Fire & Collision drills (non-passenger & fishing vessels) NOTE: All drills to be recorded in vessel log book

EMERGENCY SIGNALS EMERGENCY STATION signal (7 Short & 1 Long) FIRE STATION signal (Continuous ringing of BELL) ABANDON SHIP signal (1 Short & 1 Long, sounded at least 3 times)

MARINE CASUALTIES What is a Marine Casualty? Vessel is lost, abandoned, stranded, grounded, materially damaged, involved in collision Loss of life or injury due to an accident on board

MARINE CASUALTIES Entries to be made in Vessel Log Report to Authority within 48 hours (when in port, or after arriving in port) (Check individual State requirements, i.e. in Tasmania time period = 24 hours)

DISTRESS, URGENCY & SAFETY DISTRESS MESSAGE - “MAYDAY” - on receipt Master legally bound to assist, except where safety of own ship/personnel at risk - ENTER DETAILS IN VESSEL LOG URGENCY MESSAGE - “PAN PAN” SAFETY MESSAGE - “SECURITE”

MARINE POLLUTION Controlled by “MARPOL 73/78” (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973/1978) MARPOL 73/78 specifies WHEN, WHERE and HOW a pollutant can be discharged into the sea

MARINE POLLUTION PENALTIES Failure to comply with Australian MARPOL 73/78 legislation can result in penalties of up to $200,000 for an Individual, or $1,000,000 for Companies

MARINE POLLUTION MARPOL law is based on 2 principles: No Plastics may be disposed of into the sea No other Garbage may be discharged within 3 n.miles of the nearest land

MARINE POLLUTION NO PLASTICS & NO GARBAGE

MARINE POLLUTION Packing materials Paints Wood products Wire GARBAGE includes ? Food wastes Paper products Rags Glass Metal Crockery Fishing gear/bait boxes Packing materials Paints Wood products Wire Cargo residues

DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE No discharge of plastics anywhere No garbage within 3nm of coast Processed garbage (25mm) beyond 3nm OK No unprocessed garbage within 12nm of coast

DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE NO PLASTICS ANYWHERE Coast  3 NM = No Garbage = Processed Garbage 12 NM  = Unprocessed Garbage 25 NM  = Cargo Packaging Material NO PLASTICS ANYWHERE

DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE Vessels over 12 metres must display placard setting out garbage disposal requirements of MARPOL 73/78

Special Protection for GREAT BARRIER REEF No discharge of any type permitted Distance may be as much as 150 nm off Qld coast Legislated discharge distances off coast measured from outer edge of reef

MARINE POLLUTION Specific Oil Pollution Regulations for “Large” Vessels (150 -400 Gross Tons, and over 400 Gross Tons) Oily bilges must be discharged into a mobile or shore based pump-out facility, otherwise observe the “large vessel” guidelines for discharging at sea

REFUELLING PRECAUTIONS Secure vessel properly alongside Hoist Bravo flag Motors off Gas off No smoking Portable tanks out of vessel Block deck scuppers Provide earth connection

REFUELLING PRECAUTIONS (cont) Keep fuel nozzle in contact with filler pipe Make sure fuel goes into correct tank Maintain constant watch Consider stability when filling wing tanks Fill slowly towards end Clean up any spill immediately Keep vessel well ventilated

REFUELLING PRECAUTIONS Sources of ignition? Electrostatic electricity Naked flame Faulty electrical equipment

OIL SPILL IN HARBOUR STOP REFUELLING CONTAIN SPILL TAKE FIRE PRECAUTIONS ADVISE AUTHORITIES CARRY OUT ON-BOARD CLEAN UP ONLY USE DISPERSANTS AS ADVISED BY AUTHORITIES

AUSREP Australian Ship Reporting System Mandatory for “suitably equipped small craft on passage of 200nm or more between different ports” Must have necessary approved D.O.T. communications aboard Must lodge sail plan with R.C.C. Canberra

SUBMARINE CABLES and PIPELINES Marked on chart Avoid anchoring & trawling High voltages IF VESSEL FOULS CABLE OR PIPELINE, THE ANCHOR OR GEAR SHOULD BE SLIPPED AND ABANDONED

SUBMARINE CABLES and PIPELINES Offence to damage submarine cable either deliberately or through culpable negligence HOWEVER, Compensation can be sought if gear was sacrificed to avoid damaging cable or pipeline

END LEGISLATION