{"id":"F2016L01187","name":"Marine Order 30 (Prevention of collisions) 2016","slug":"marine-order-30-prevention-of-collisions-2016","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":438892,"registerId":"F2016L01187-fast-fetch-1775955126316","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Marine Order 30 (Prevention of collisions) 2016","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nAMSA MO 2016/12\n\nMarine Order 30 (Prevention of collisions) 2016\n\nI, Gary Prosser, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, make this Order under subsection 342(1) of the Navigation Act 2012.\n\n14 July 2016\n\nGary Prosser\n\nActing Chief Executive Officer\n\n1 Name of Order\n\n1A Commencement\n\n1B Repeal of Marine Order 30 (Prevention of collisions) 2009\n\n2 Purpose\n\n3 Power\n\n4 Definitions\n\n5 Application\n\n6 Exemptions\n\n7 Review of decisions\n\n8 Approvals\n\n9 Requirements of International Regulations\n\n\n\n\n1 Name of Order\n\n  This Order is Marine Order 30 (Prevention of collisions) 2016.\n\n1A Commencement\n\n  This Order commences on 1 August 2016.\n\n1B Repeal of Marine Order 30 (Prevention of collisions) 2009\n\n  Marine Order 30 (Prevention of collisions) 2009 is repealed.\n\n2 Purpose\n\n  This Order gives effect to the Prevention of Collisions Convention, which sets out, for the prevention of collisions, internationally agreed measures for the navigation, management and working of a vessel, and the lights and signals to be provided and used on a vessel.\n\n3 Power\n\n (1) The following provisions of the Navigation Act provide for this Order to be made:\n\n(a) subsection 176(1) which provides that the regulations may provide for requirements for the prevention of collisions, and for provision and use of lights and signals on vessels;\n\n(b) subsection 176(2) and paragraph 340(1)(b) which provide that the regulations may give effect to the Prevention of Collisions Convention.\n\n (2) Subsection 339(1) of the Navigation Act provides for regulations to be made prescribing matters required or permitted to be prescribed, or that are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.\n\n (3) Subsection 342(1) of the Navigation Act provides that AMSA may make a Marine Order about matters that can be provided for by regulation.\n\n4 Definitions\n\n  In this Order:\n\nInternational Regulations means the Rules and Annexes constituting the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, attached to the Prevention of Collisions Convention, as in force from time to time.\n\nNote 1   Some terms used in this Order are defined in Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013, including:\n\n- IMO.\n\n\nNote 2   Other terms used in this Order are defined in the Navigation Act, including:\n\n- AMSA\n- issuing body\n- Marine Order\n- master\n- owner\n- Prevention of Collisions Convention\n- regulated Australian vessel.\n\n\nNote 3 Information on obtaining copies of any IMO Resolution, IMO document or other document that is mentioned in this Order is available from the AMSA website Marine Orders link at http://www.amsa.gov.au.\n\nNote 4   For delegation of AMSA’s powers under this Order — see the AMSA website Marine Orders link at http://www.amsa.gov.au.\n\n5 Application\n\n (1) This Order applies to each of the vessels mentioned in section 175 of the Navigation Act in the areas mentioned in section 175 for the vessel.\n\n (2) However, sections 6 and 8 do not apply to a foreign vessel.\n\n6 Exemptions\n\n (1) A person may apply to AMSA, in accordance with the application process set out in Division 3 of Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013, for an exemption of a vessel from a requirement of section 9 of this Order for the matters mentioned in paragraphs (c) or (h), or subparagraph (d)(i) of Rule 38 of the International Regulations.\n\n (2) AMSA may give the exemption only if satisfied that giving the exemption would not contravene the International Regulations.\n\nNote   Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013 deals with the following matters about exemptions and equivalents:\n\n- making an application\n- seeking further information about an application\n- the time allowed for consideration of an application\n- imposing conditions on approval of an application\n- notification of a decision on an application\n- review of decisions.\n\n\n7 Review of decisions\n\n  The following are reviewable decisions for section 17 of Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013:\n\n(a) a decision not to give, or a decision to revoke, an approval under section 8;\n\n(b) a determination made under subsection 9(6).\n\nNote   A decision not to give an exemption under section 6 is also a reviewable decision for section 17 of Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013 because it is mentioned in section 15 of the Order.\n\n8 Approvals\n\n (1) A person may apply to an issuing body for an approval mentioned in the International Regulations in:\n\n(a) paragraph 14 of Annex I; or\n\n(b) paragraph 3 of Annex III.\n\n (2) An issuing body may give an approval mentioned in paragraph 14 of Annex I only if satisfied that the construction of lights and shapes and the installation of lights on board the vessel are in accordance with the International Regulations.\n\n (3) An issuing body may give an approval mentioned in paragraph 3 of Annex III only if satisfied that the construction of sound signal appliances, their performance and their installation on board the vessel are in accordance with the International Regulations.\n\n (4) An issuing body may revoke an approval given under subsection (2) or (3) only if it is no longer satisfied as mentioned in the subsection under which the approval was given.\n\n9 Requirements of International Regulations\n\n (1) The measures required by the International Regulations in the navigation, management and working of a vessel for the prevention of collisions must be observed in the operation of a vessel.\n\nNote   It is an offence for the owner or master of a vessel to operate a vessel or cause or permit another person to operate a vessel, in contravention of regulations made for section 176 of the Navigation Act — see sections 177 and 178 of the Navigation Act.\n\n (2) The lights and signals required by the International Regulations must be provided and used on a vessel.\n\n (3) Navigation lights, navigation light controllers and associated equipment, installed after 30 November 2009 on the following vessels, must conform to performance standards at least equal to those mentioned in the Annex to IMO Resolution MSC.253(83) Adoption of the performance standards for navigation lights, navigation light controllers and associated equipment, as in force from time to time:\n\n(a) a regulated Australian vessel;\n\n(b) a domestic commercial vessel;\n\n(c) a recreational vessel that has Australian nationality.\n\n (4) The traffic separation schemes mentioned in the latest edition of the IMO publication Ships’ Routeing are taken to be traffic separation schemes adopted by the IMO for the International Regulations.\n\nNote   As at 1 August 2016, the latest edition of Ships’Routeing was the 2015 edition.\n\n (5) The areas designated in the latest edition of the IMO publication Ships’ Routeing as inshore traffic zones are taken to be inshore traffic zones for the International Regulations.\n\n (6) AMSA may make a determination for a vessel under Rule l(e) of the International Regulations including about the closest possible compliance for the vessel with the International Regulations.\n\nNote   In exercising its power to make a determination, AMSA will take into account MSC/Circ.1144 Additional guidance for the uniform application of Rule 1(e) of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended. That Circular invites member governments to take into account problems posed to other vessels and to grant an exemption only in extraordinary circumstances.\n\n \n\nNote\n\n1. All legislative instruments and compilations of legislative instruments are registered on the Federal Register of Legislation under the Legislation Act 2003. See https://www.legislation.gov.au.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Re-enacts and updates the collision prevention requirements previously in Marine Order 30 (2009), with updated references to IMO standards and publications. No significant change in legal obligations."},"complexity_factors":["Incorporates the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea by reference, requiring external documents to understand precise obligations.","Specifies technical performance standards for navigation lights and sound signal appliances through IMO resolutions.","Provides exemption and approval mechanisms that rely on satisfying international criteria under the COLREGS.","Adopts IMO traffic separation schemes and inshore traffic zones as amended from time to time, which may change without immediate public notification in this instrument."],"plain_english_summary":"This Marine Order makes the COLREGS legally enforceable for Australian vessels and foreign vessels in Australian waters, effectively replacing the 2009 order without major changes. It affects owners, masters and operators and requires compliance with international navigation rules, IMO routeing schemes and specified performance standards for navigation lights and related equipment installed after 30 Nov 2009.\n\nExemptions or closest-possible compliance can be sought from AMSA for limited circumstances, approvals for light/sound equipment come from issuing bodies, and non‑compliance is an offence."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Order continues the same statutory purpose: to give effect to the Prevention of Collisions Convention (s2) and applies to the classes of vessels specified in section 175 of the Navigation Act (s5(1)). It repeals the 2009 Marine Order (s1B) and updates technical standards, approvals/exemption procedures and external references (s9(3)–(6), s8, s6), but does not alter the statutory coverage of vessels under the Navigation Act."},"complexity_factors":["Dependence on external instruments and technical publications (International Regulations; IMO Resolution MSC.253(83); Ships’ Routeing) — see s4, s9(3)–(5) and Notes.","Cross‑references to primary legislation and other Marine Orders (Navigation Act provisions and Marine Order 1) that drive application, process and review rights — see s3, s4 Notes, s6 and s7.","Delegated administrative discretion for AMSA and issuing bodies to grant, condition, revoke or refuse approvals and exemptions, and to make determinations under Rule 1(e) — see s6(2), s8(2)–(4), s9(6).","Technical performance and temporal requirements for equipment (navigation lights/controllers) tied to a specific post‑2009 installation date and an external IMO standard — see s9(3).","Differential application and exclusions (order applies to vessels in s175 areas but sections on exemptions/approvals do not apply to foreign vessels) — see s5(1)–(2).","Procedural complexity around applications, conditions, notification and internal review directed to processes in Marine Order 1 (application/appeal mechanics are outsourced to another instrument) — see s6 Note and s7.","Offence linkage to the Navigation Act (operation contrary to regulations) rather than direct offence provisions in this Order, requiring readers to consult other statutes for penalties — see s9(1) and accompanying Note.","Repeal and replacement of prior Marine Order with updated references; users must track version history and current external publications for precise compliance — see s1A and s1B."],"plain_english_summary":"This Marine Order implements the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea by requiring vessels covered by the Navigation Act to follow agreed rules for navigation, management, and use of lights and signals. Owners and masters must equip and operate vessels to those standards; AMSA and recognised issuing bodies grant approvals, exemptions and determinations, and non‑compliance can attract offences under the Navigation Act."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow purpose: giving domestic legal effect to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs). The 2016 version updates the 2009 predecessor but does not expand beyond collision prevention, navigation lights, and sound signals. The incorporation of modern IMO performance standards for navigation equipment (post-2009 installations) represents technical updating rather than scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument — only 9 operative sections plus administrative provisions","Minimal defined terms (4 explicit definitions, with others imported by reference from Marine Order 1 and the Navigation Act)","Heavy reliance on external documents — the 'International Regulations' (COLREGs) are incorporated by reference without being reproduced, along with IMO Resolution MSC.253(83) and the IMO Ships' Routeing publication","Simple conditional structure — primarily direct obligations ('must') with limited exceptions (exemptions in section 6, foreign vessel exclusion in section 5(2))","No nested exceptions or complex cross-referencing within the Order itself — most complexity is delegated to the incorporated international instruments"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets the rules for preventing ships from crashing into each other in Australian waters. It essentially adopts international maritime safety standards (the 'COLREGs') and makes them legally binding here.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Requires all vessels to follow international navigation rules — things like which lights to display at night, what sound signals to use in fog, and who has right of way when two ships approach each other\n- Mandates specific technical standards for navigation lights and equipment on Australian-registered ships and domestic commercial vessels\n- Recognises international shipping lanes ('traffic separation schemes') and coastal zones where special rules apply\n- Allows ship owners to apply for exemptions from certain technical requirements if they can prove they won't compromise safety\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Ship masters and owners** — they must ensure their vessels comply with navigation and lighting rules\n- **Australian-registered vessels** — must meet equipment standards\n- **Foreign ships in Australian waters** — must follow navigation rules but can't seek exemptions from this Order\n- **Issuing bodies** (like surveyors) — approve navigation light and sound signal installations\n\n**Why it matters:**\nCollisions at sea can cause deaths, oil spills, and environmental disasters. This law ensures Australian shipping operates under the same safety rules as the rest of the world, so vessels from different countries can predict each other's movements and avoid crashes."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/marine-order-30-prevention-of-collisions-2016","history":"/api/acts/marine-order-30-prevention-of-collisions-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/marine-order-30-prevention-of-collisions-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/marine-order-30-prevention-of-collisions-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/marine-order-30-prevention-of-collisions-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/marine-order-30-prevention-of-collisions-2016/documents"}}