1. USL CODE
Adopted by Commonwealth and all States & Northern Territory relating to Survey, Manning and Operation of Commercial Vessels in Australia
Enforced through individual State Marine Legislation

2. As July 2013 the whole certification is coming under the Commonwealth
All new certification is based on NSCV

3. Domestic Commercial Vessel Act
New Commonwealth Act
Domestic Commercial Vessel Act

4. USL CODE
Adopted by States and Northern Territory more than 20 years ago (published 1979)
Currently under review
Being replaced by National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV)
NSCV - a common national standard for the design, construction, crewing and operation of vessels
NSCV has been written to allow flexibility in application to achieve required outcomes

5. MARINE LEGISLATION
5 sections of the USL Code directly affect the seaworthiness and day-to-day operations of vessels -
Sect 1: Definitions & general requirements
Sect 10: Life Saving Appliances
Sect 11: Fire Fighting Appliances
Sect 13: Miscellaneous Equipment
Sect 15: Emergency Procedures and Safety of Navigation

6. CLASSES OF VESSELS Class 1 - Passenger Vessels
Class 2 - Non-passenger Vessels
Class 3 - Fishing Vessels

7. AREAS OF OPERATION
“A” - UNLIMITED - All overseas, ocean going and Australian coastal operations without limitations
“B” - OFFSHORE - Within 200 miles off coast
“C” - RESTRICTED OFFSHORE - Within 30 miles off coast

8. AREAS OF OPERATION
“D” - PARTIALLY SMOOTH WATERS - Within specified geographical limits
“E” - SMOOTH WATERS - Within specified geographical limits
“F” - HIRE & DRIVE - as designated by the Authority

9. MARINE LEGISLATION Coxswain may-
Command vessel less than 12 metres length, out to 15 nautical miles
Go out to 30 N.Miles upon successful completion of M5 Coastal Navigation assessment

10. CERTIFICATES ON BOARD RELATING TO VESSEL Certificate of Survey
Vessel Stability Booklet
Ship Station Radio Licence
Compass Deviation Card
Life Raft Inspection Certificate
Fire Fighting Inspection Certificate
Load Line Certificate (where required)
(Fishing Licence)

11. CERTIFICATES ON BOARD RELATING TO PERSONNEL
Certificates of Competency (Coxswain/MED/Deckhand)
Radio Operator (& endorsements)
Any other certificates required by Survey Manning requirements

12. SURVEY STANDARDS
All plans must be approved by Marine Authority prior to commencement of any construction
Marine Surveyors ensure the following during construction:
Materials used meet required standard
Plans are being adhered to
Workmanship complies with minimum best practice standards

13. VESSEL SURVEY Vessel equipment surveyed annually
Various parts of vessel may be opened up for examination
Surveyor issues list of repairs and deficiencies - to be complied with by owner/agent prior to being issued with a current certificate of survey

14. LIFE SAVING APPLIANCES (Section 10 USL Code)
Vessels less than 25 metres
Coastal Liferaft for 100% compliment
2 Lifebuoys - one with light, one with line (over 10 M) - One Lifebuoy with light (under 10M)
Solas Lifejacket with light & whistle for each person
3 Parachute Flares, 2 Red Hand Flares, 1 Orange Hand Flare

15. FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES (Section 11 USL Code)
Vessel less than 25 metres:
Portable extinguishers for Galley & Accommodation
Portable extinguishers for oil fires in machinery spaces (as per class of vessel)
2 x Buckets with lanyards (vessel over 10 metres length)
1 x Bucket with lanyard (vessel under 10 metres in length)

16. Why have OHS&W?
To protect Employees from injuries and illnesses in the workplace
To ensure a workplace creates no harm to the public or others
To reduce national workplace accidents, deaths and associated costs
Legal obligation

17. OHS&W Responsibilities EMPLOYERS
Provide a Safe Working Environment
Provide Safe Systems of Work - Protective equipment when required
Maintain plant and substances in a safe condition
Provide and maintain adequate facilities
Provide adequate information, instruction, training and supervision

18. OHS&W Responsibilities EMPLOYEES
Obey reasonable instructions
Work safely and wear protective equipment when required
Follow correct procedures
Don’t put fellow workers (or public) at risk
Report accidents and near-misses to your employer
Don’t be affected by drugs or alcohol

19. MUSTER and DRILLS (Section 15 USL Code)
Every 1 month - Crew emergency drill (Muster, Fire, Survival station)
Every 2 months - Survival, Fire & Collision drills (passenger vessels)
Every 3 months - Survival, Fire & Collision drills (non-passenger & fishing vessels)
NOTE: All drills to be recorded in vessel log book

20. EMERGENCY SIGNALS EMERGENCY STATION signal (7 Short & 1 Long)
FIRE STATION signal
(Continuous ringing of BELL)
ABANDON SHIP signal
(1 Short & 1 Long, sounded at least 3 times)

21. MARINE CASUALTIES What is a Marine Casualty?
Vessel is lost, abandoned, stranded, grounded, materially damaged, involved in collision
Loss of life or injury due to an accident on board

22. MARINE CASUALTIES Entries to be made in Vessel Log
Report to Authority within 48 hours (when in port, or after arriving in port)
(Check individual State requirements, i.e. in Tasmania time period = 24 hours)

23. DISTRESS, URGENCY & SAFETY
DISTRESS MESSAGE - “MAYDAY” - on receipt Master legally bound to assist, except where safety of own ship/personnel at risk - ENTER DETAILS IN VESSEL LOG
URGENCY MESSAGE - “PAN PAN”
SAFETY MESSAGE - “SECURITE”

24. MARINE POLLUTION
Controlled by “MARPOL 73/78” (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973/1978)
MARPOL 73/78 specifies WHEN, WHERE and HOW a pollutant can be discharged into the sea

25. MARINE POLLUTION PENALTIES
Failure to comply with Australian MARPOL 73/78 legislation can result in penalties of up to $200,000 for an Individual, or $1,000,000 for Companies

26. MARINE POLLUTION MARPOL law is based on 2 principles:
No Plastics may be disposed of into the sea
No other Garbage may be discharged within 3 n.miles of the nearest land

27. MARINE POLLUTION
NO PLASTICS
& NO GARBAGE

28. MARINE POLLUTION Packing materials Paints Wood products Wire
GARBAGE includes ?
Food wastes
Paper products
Rags
Glass
Metal
Crockery
Fishing gear/bait boxes
Packing materials
Paints
Wood products
Wire
Cargo residues

29. DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE No discharge of plastics anywhere
No garbage within 3nm of coast
Processed garbage (25mm) beyond 3nm OK
No unprocessed garbage within 12nm of coast

30. DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE NO PLASTICS ANYWHERE Coast  3 NM = No Garbage
= Processed
Garbage
12 NM  = Unprocessed Garbage
25 NM  = Cargo
Packaging Material
NO PLASTICS ANYWHERE

31. DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE
Vessels over 12 metres must display placard setting out garbage disposal requirements of MARPOL 73/78

32. Special Protection for GREAT BARRIER REEF
No discharge of any type permitted
Distance may be as much as 150 nm off Qld coast
Legislated discharge distances off coast measured from outer edge of reef

33. MARINE POLLUTION
Specific Oil Pollution Regulations for “Large” Vessels ( Gross Tons, and over 400 Gross Tons)
Oily bilges must be discharged into a mobile or shore based pump-out facility, otherwise observe the “large vessel” guidelines for discharging at sea

34. REFUELLING PRECAUTIONS
Secure vessel properly alongside
Hoist Bravo flag
Motors off
Gas off
No smoking
Portable tanks out of vessel
Block deck scuppers
Provide earth connection

35. REFUELLING PRECAUTIONS (cont)
Keep fuel nozzle in contact with filler pipe
Make sure fuel goes into correct tank
Maintain constant watch
Consider stability when filling wing tanks
Fill slowly towards end
Clean up any spill immediately
Keep vessel well ventilated

36. REFUELLING PRECAUTIONS
Sources of ignition?
Electrostatic electricity
Naked flame
Faulty electrical equipment

37. OIL SPILL IN HARBOUR STOP REFUELLING CONTAIN SPILL
TAKE FIRE PRECAUTIONS
ADVISE AUTHORITIES
CARRY OUT ON-BOARD CLEAN UP
ONLY USE DISPERSANTS AS ADVISED BY AUTHORITIES

38. AUSREP Australian Ship Reporting System
Mandatory for “suitably equipped small craft on passage of 200nm or more between different ports”
Must have necessary approved D.O.T. communications aboard
Must lodge sail plan with R.C.C. Canberra

39. SUBMARINE CABLES and PIPELINES
Marked on chart
Avoid anchoring & trawling
High voltages
IF VESSEL FOULS CABLE OR PIPELINE, THE ANCHOR OR GEAR SHOULD BE SLIPPED AND ABANDONED

40. SUBMARINE CABLES and PIPELINES
Offence to damage submarine cable either deliberately or through culpable negligence
HOWEVER,
Compensation can be sought if gear was sacrificed to avoid damaging cable or pipeline

41. END LEGISLATION