Ports Crisis Management and Resilience Solutions

Maritime 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 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 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 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 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 Crisis Management

At Resilient Services, we offer a wide range of crisis management services that are relative to the maritime industry which include, but are not limited to:

  • Business continuity planning
  • Crisis and emergency management frameworks and documentation
  • Crisis and emergency management exercises and simulations
  • Resilience policy and planning development
  • Risk management
  • Safety reports
  • After-action reviews (to capture learnings and provide continuous improvement opportunities)

Enquire for services in the Maritime and Port Industry

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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