The Use of Non-approved Charts

Recently the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has detained a number of vessels under the Navigation Act 2012 for failing to carry relevant nautical charts and publications and/or failing to prepare a voyage plan taking into account the Designated Shipping Area (DSA) of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

All vessels are required to prepare a berth to berth passage plan, consistent with STCW A-VIII/2.3, IMO resolution A.893(21) and SOLAS Ch V, Regulation 34.

AMSA officers boarded vessels for the purpose of carrying out Port State Control Inspections and in the process, have discovered scanned or photocopied nautical charts being used.

In an effort to avoid possible delays and port state detentions, Members should ensure that their vessels possess all appropriate nautical charts for the intended voyage. If a vessel does not possess all the appropriate charts before entering Australian waters, ships agents may upon request, provide the vessel with up to date charts so that the passage plan and port entry can be prepared in advance of the pilot boarding.

Further information can be obtained in AMSA’s Marine Notice 16/2009 – Expected Actions of Bridge Teams in Australian Pilotage Waters and is available here.