INTERNATIONAL Marine News
Changes to the Australian domestic commercial sailing vessel regulations
Changes to domestic commercial sailing vessels regulations took place on 30 June 2025. Exemption 18 (Sail) and Exemption 33 (Sailing vessel with motor propulsion) expired. If you currently operate under these exemptions, you will need to hold a National Law certificate of competency to continue working on a commercial sailing vessel.
What you need to do
If you want to command and operate the engines of a sailing vessel, you will need a Sailing Master Coastal or Sailing Master Offshore certificate. To qualify, you must obtain a commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Certificate.
You must hold one of the following:
- Coastal (for Sailing Master Coastal) - Offshore or Ocean (for Sailing Master Offshore) Find more details on commercial endorsements at
www.rya.org.uk.
Marine radio licence (Issued by the Office of Maritime Communication) You must hold one of the following:
- Short range (for Sailing Master Coastal) - Long range (for Sailing Master Offshore) - Valid medical fitness certificate - Current first aid certificate
Additional qualification You must hold one of the following:
- Coxswain Grade 1 NC certificate of competency - Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 certificate of competency - MAR Maritime Training Package MARC037 Operate inboard and outboard motors or an equivalent MAR package course
- RYA Diesel Engine course and Australian Sailing Powerboat Handling course
- RYA Diesel Engine course and RYA Level 2 Powerboat course
If you are only performing the engineer role on a sailing vessel, you must hold a marine engine driver or a sailing certificate of competency. Ensure your qualifications are up to date.
For more information go to the AMSA website at
https://bit.ly/45EnPG9.
IMO agrees to start revision of outdated regulations for nuclear-powered ships The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has formally agreed to
start the revision of outdated regulations for nuclear-powered ships.
The 110th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee heard proposals from several member states and NGOs calling for a revision of the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships (Resolution A.491) and relevant parts of the SOLAS Convention.
A working group at MSC 110 prepared instructions for relevant sub- committees to initiate the revision. This Thursday, MSC 110 assigned this task to the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC), requesting SDC to start this work at the next session if possible. The next session of SDC is scheduled for January 2026.
A key part of the instructions for SDC when updating the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships (Resolution A.491(XII)) is to ensure it is not limited to designs of pressurised water reactors (PWRs) with direct steam cycle propulsion systems, but adequately address recent advances in new nuclear technologies and the all-electric-ship concept.
ABS opens smart training centre in Athens ABS has announced plans to create a new ship safety
centre in Athens harnessing the power of new immersive training techniques, game-based learning and virtual reality environments for the Greek shipping community. In particular, the Hellenic Ship Safety Centre is designed to prepare seafarers to handle a multi-dimensional industry with alternative fuels and emerging technologies, recognizing that decarbonization advances that do not prioritize safety are not sustainable.
"There is a lot of focus on technology readiness timelines but what we need to focus on is people readiness timelines," said Christopher J. Wiernicki, ABS Chairman and CEO.
The centre, which has the support of the Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Union of Greek Shipowners, will address critical emerging safety issues such as handling dynamic fuels, risks generated by cyber enabled systems, hybrid battery propulsion and other technological and decarbonization driven changes onboard.
14 | ISSUE 113 | SEP 2025 | THE REPORT Image credit: ABS
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