Marine, Port & Maritime Risk Management

Maritime, Port & Marine Industry in Australia and New Zealand

The maritime industry encompasses all trade, agriculture, transport, and tourism that occur within or within relation to the sea, as well as all vessels, ports, resources, and equipment involved in these activities. The industry involves sea transport, commercial passenger charters and aquaculture. Annually, the maritime industry adds over $2 billion to the Australian economy, with average revenue for the industry being upwards of $6 billion annually. The maritime industry in Australia is responsible for the transport of over 95% of Australia’s exports, with a large amount of domestic freight transport also relying on shipping. The economic prosperity of Australia relies heavily on maritime transport and ensuring that all maritime businesses are compliant with any relevant legislation and are prepared for any potential crisis or emergency will help reduce any negative impacts on the Australian economy if such an event were to occur. Australian maritime regulations are governed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is an international treaty that outlines the rights and responsibilities of nations and their adjacent seas. Some terms of the UNCLOS regarding activities and business in international waters may be applicable to your circumstances.

Australian Maritime, Port & Marine industry legislation

Some Australian federal legislation that may be applicable to your maritime business may include, but may not be limited to:

Admiralty Act 1988
Aquaculture Reform (Repeals and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004
Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990
Crimes (Ships and Fixed Platforms) Act 1992
Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991
Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Act 1989
Marine Navigation Levy Act 1989
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012
Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act 2003
Navigation Act 2012
Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006

Protection of the Sea (Shipping Levy) Act 1981
Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992
Shipping Registration Act 1981
Emergency Management Act 2013 (VIC)
Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA)
State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (NSW)
Disaster Management Act 2003 (QLD)
Emergency Management Act 2004 (SA)
Emergency Management Act 2006 (TAS)
Emergency Management Act 2013 (NT)

New Zealand Maritime, Port & Marine industry legislation

Some New Zealand legislation that may apply to your business may include, but may not be limited to:

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Maritime Security Act 2004
Marine Transport Act 1994Ship Registration Act 1992

These lists are not exhaustive, and there may be additional legislation that is applicable to your circumstances, particularly if your business conducts a trade or other activities in international waters.

Maritime, Port & Marine Emergency Response

The turbulent nature of oceans and weather across the globe combined with the geographically isolated nature of many offshore sites and vessels, any emergency events that occur offshore must be responded to efficiently and effectively. Organisations and the relevant emergency services must be prepared to respond to any offshore emergencies with minimal delays, and onsite services must be able to manage the emergency until their arrival. With many vessels being located hundreds to thousands of kilometres from the nearest landmass at some points during their journey, if an evacuation is necessary, the vessel must have suitable crafts to manage an evacuation and must be able to ensure the safety of all personnel at all times. The actions taken on an offshore vessel or site must be efficient in order to minimise the impacts of an emergency.

Maritime, Port & Marine Risk Management

The maritime industry must consider a variety of risks when conducting business. Risks in the maritime industry can include extreme weather, turbulent waters, piracy attacks and I.T losses, including cyber-attacks and equipment failure. These kinds of events can lead to business disruptions, delayed travel time, security breaches, damage to goods, the sinking of the vessel, injuries, and the death of personnel. If such risks are not appropriately identified and managed before any problems occurring, they can threaten the safety of a vessel, as well as put the goods and personnel onboard in harm’s way.

Maritime, Port & Marine Crisis Management

At Resilient Services, we understand the unique challenges faced by the maritime industry. Ports, shipping operations, and marine infrastructure operate in complex, high-risk environments where even minor disruptions can have significant operational, financial, and reputational impacts. That’s why effective crisis management and resilience planning are essential to keep your operations safe, compliant, and efficient.

We offer a comprehensive range of crisis management services tailored specifically to the maritime, port, and marine sectors, including, but not limited to:

Business Continuity Planning: Ensuring your maritime operations can maintain critical functions during disruptions, from port congestion and shipping delays to natural disasters and security incidents.
Crisis and Emergency Management Frameworks and Documentation: Developing structured plans, procedures, and policies that clearly define roles, responsibilities, and processes in the event of a crisis.
Crisis and Emergency Management Exercises and Simulations: Running realistic drills and tabletop exercises to test your team’s response capabilities, identify gaps, and build confidence under pressure.
Resilience Policy and Planning Development: Creating long-term strategies and policies that embed resilience into every aspect of your maritime operations, from leadership to frontline teams.
Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and prioritising potential hazards, from operational risks like equipment failures to external threats such as cyberattacks or extreme weather events.
Safety Reports: Providing detailed assessments and recommendations to strengthen safety measures across your operations, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and best practices.
After-Action Reviews: Capturing lessons learned from real or simulated incidents, identifying improvement opportunities, and implementing changes to continuously enhance your crisis preparedness.

By combining industry-specific expertise with a proactive, structured approach to crisis management, Resilient Services helps maritime organisations minimise disruptions, protect people and assets, and maintain operational continuity in the face of uncertainty.

Whether you’re managing a busy commercial port, shipping fleet, or marine infrastructure, our team works closely with you to build resilience strategies that are practical, actionable, and tailored to your specific needs.

Contact Us Now

Want to discover how we can assist your department with our services?

Want to discover how we can help your maritime business prepare for a potential emergency and remain compliant with current legislation? Fill out an enquiry form or call us on 0439 005 271 to find out more and to see how we can help your business prepare for the unknown.

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What our clients are saying

“It was thoroughly enjoyable to work with the team at Resilient Services. Clearly, this team is enthusiastic, enjoys what they do, and is proud of what they produce.”

Head of Corporate Risk.
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Marine, Port & Maritime Risk Management