A Safety Management System (SMS) is a systematic approach to managing safety and reducing risks in the operation of a commercial vessel. The objective of an SMS is to identify and manage risk on board vessels by encouraging the development and maintenance of an ongoing safety culture.
All commercial vessel operating in Australian waters must have an SMS that complies with the regulations set out by AMSA. The SMS should provide guidance on several key elements including how to operate the vessel safely, what training and qualifications are required of the crew, OH&S requirements, Maintenance of the vessel and procedures in case of an emergency. Think of it as a site management system on a building site or other workplace.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is the governing authority and may inspect your SMS at anytime.
AMSA may request to verify and ensure your compliance with general safety duties (i.e inline with your SMS);
- at the time you apply for your Certificate of Operation; Or
- when they undertake an inspection of your vessel.
The AMSA safety management systems involve the following categories:
- vessel and operation
- Contact details
- Risk assessment
- Maintenance of vessel and equipment
- people
- Responsibility and designated person
- Resources and personnel
- Appropriate crewing
- procedures
- Onboard operations
- Emergency preparedness
- Hazardous occurrences and non-conformances
- Documentation
- Review and evaluate
Each safety management system is going to be unique to the area of operation, type of vessel and whether there are crew on a Charter Service or if it is a Hire & Drive rental. You will come across some additional requirements for Hire & Drive vessels when completing the SMS template.
You can read how to develop a safety management system here:-
How to develop a safety management system (amsa.gov.au)
AMSA has produced 15 Word documents that need to be completed and printed to create your Safety Management System. There are a few documents that won’t be relevant to your operation so just complete the ones that are. You need to keep your Safety Management System onboard the vessel and ensure your crew and Mates have read and understood it. This should be done during any onboarding of your mates etc. When onboarding your mates you should use a check list to ensure you cover off on your emergency procedures and safety equipment.
AMSA has produced a template for a safety management system which can be found here:- Templates for a safety management system (amsa.gov.au)
Once you have competed your SMS you can use the Verification tools provided by AMSA to check that you have everything covered. If you are unsure you can engage a Marine Surveyor or a MSI to assist you in the development of your SMS. The verification tool is located here:- Verification tool for safety management systems (amsa.gov.au)
The SMS should be continually reviewed and updated regularly to ensure its ongoing effectiveness. Lessons from incidents and near-misses can be used to make changes to the SMS and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
A Safety Management System is an essential tool for ensuring the safe operation of a vessel in Australian waters. It provides a structured approach to managing risks and promotes a culture of safety on board your vessel. By implementing an effective SMS, vessels can reduce the likelihood of incidents and protect the safety of crew members, passengers and the marine environment.
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