{"id":"F2017L00753","name":"Marine Order 502 (Vessel identifiers — national law) 2017","slug":"marine-order-502-vessel-identifiers-national-law-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":96602,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L00753-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Marine Order 502 (Vessel identifiers — national law) 2017","content":"![The Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth is depicted in addition to agency name](image.001.png)\n\nMarine Order 502 (Vessel identifiers — national law) 2017\n\nmade under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law\n\nCompilation no. 1\n\nCompilation date: 1 September 2023\n\nThis compilation was prepared on 26 October 2023 taking into account amendments up to Marine Orders Amendment (Marine Order 501 — consequential changes) Order 2023.\n\nPrepared by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority\n\n1 Name of Order\n\n2 Application for unique identifier\n\n3 Criterion for issue of unique identifier\n\n4 Display of unique identifier\n\n5 Permitted removal or alteration of unique identifier\n\n6 Notification requirements\n\n1 Name of Order\n\nThis Order is Marine Order 502 (Vessel identifiers — national law) 2017.\n\n2 Application for unique identifier\n\nFor paragraph 76(1)(c) of the national law, an application for a unique identifier must be made in accordance with Marine Order 501 (Administration — national law) 2023.\n\n> Note 1 A fee may be charged — see section 9 of the National Law Act.\n\n> Note 2 For the definition of unique identifier see section 6 of the national law. National law and some other terms used in this Order are defined in Marine Order 501 (Administration — national law) 2023.\n\n> Note 3 An application for a unique identifier may be made at any time, including before or during the course of construction of a domestic commercial vessel.\n\n3 Criterion for issue of unique identifier\n\nFor paragraph 77(1)(a) of the national law, the criterion for issue of a unique identifier is that the National Regulator has not previously issued a unique identifier for the vessel.\n\n> Note The National Regulator may issue a unique identifier for a domestic commercial vessel that holds an old unique identifier as defined in subsection 14(1) of the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Regulation 2013. This is because old unique identifiers are not issued by the National Regulator but by an agency of a State or the Northern Territory before 1 July 2013.\n\n4 Display of unique identifier\n\n(1) For section 79 of the national law, a unique identifier must be displayed clearly and prominently on the vessel.\n\n(2) The unique identifier must be displayed within 21 days of being issued.\n\n(3) However, if application was made for the unique identifier before or during the course of construction of the vessel, the unique identifier must be displayed before the vessel is launched.\n\n5 Permitted removal or alteration of unique identifier\n\nA unique identifier may only be removed or altered if:\n\n(a) the owner has notified the National Regulator in writing that the vessel has ceased to be a domestic commercial vessel; or\n\n(b) an exemption from a requirement to display a unique identifier is in effect for the vessel.\n\n6 Notification requirements\n\n(1) For paragraph 78(c) of the national law, the owner of a domestic commercial vessel that has a unique identifier must tell the National Regulator within 14 days of any of the following events:\n\n(a) transfer of ownership of the vessel;\n\n(b) sinking or scrapping of the vessel;\n\n(c) the vessel ceases to be a domestic commercial vessel.\n\nPenalty: 50 penalty units.\n\n(2) An offence against subsection (1) is a strict liability offence.\n\nNote If a form is approved for the notification, the approved form must be used and is available on the AMSA website at http://www.amsa.gov.au — see Marine Order 501 (Administration — national law) 2023.\n\n> Notes to Marine Order 502 (Vessel identifiers — national law) 2017\n\n> Note 1\n\n> Note: Marine Order 502 (Vessel identifiers — national law) 2017 (in force under subsection 163(1) of the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law) as shown in this compilation comprises Marine Order 502 (Vessel identifiers — national law) 2017 amended as indicated in the following tables.\n\n> Note: > Note: Table of\n> \n> Orders\n\n| Year and number | Registration date | FRLI number | Commencement date | Application, saving or transitional provisions |\n| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |\n| Marine Order (MO 2017/3) | 26 June 2017 | F2017L00753 | 1 July 2017 | – |\n| Marine Orders Amendment (Marine Order 501—consequential changes) Order 2023 (MO 2023/4) | 8 August 2023 | F2023L01067 | 1 September 2023 | – |\n\n> Note: > Note: Table of amendments\n\n```html\n

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted

Provision affected

How affected

s.1A.................

rep. Legislation Act 2003, s.48D

s.1B.................

rep. Legislation Act 2003, s.48C

s.2..................

am. MO 2023/4

s.6..................

am. MO 2023/4

\n```","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The compilation incorporates amendments up to 1 September 2023 (MO 2023/4). Sections 2 and 6 were amended, updating the application mechanics to reference Marine Order 501 (Administration — national law) 2023 and modifying notification-related provisions. The Order's functional scope—setting issuance, display, removal and notification rules for unique vessel identifiers—remains the same, while procedural and cross-referential details were updated."},"complexity_factors":["Short, focused instrument with few provisions (ss.2–6)","Cross-references to the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law and to Marine Order 501 for application/administration mechanics (s.2; notes)","Issuance condition depends on regulator history (no prior identifier issued) rather than technical criteria (s.3)","Timing rules for display tied to issuance or vessel launch (s.4(2)–(3)) creating operational compliance steps","Limits on removal/alteration tied to owner notice or an exemption (s.5) — creates administrative gatekeeping by the regulator","Notification duty with a quantified penalty and strict liability status increases compliance risk for owners (s.6(1)–(2))","References to approved forms and external guidance (AMSA website / Marine Order 501) mean practical compliance depends on material outside this Order (note to s.6)"],"plain_english_summary":"Requires owners of domestic commercial vessels to apply for, be issued, display and notify the regulator about a national unique identifier. It sets when the regulator may issue an identifier and when it must be displayed, when it may be removed or altered, and the timeframes for owner notifications. This affects vessel owners/operators and the National Regulator by creating specific administrative duties, a possible application fee, and a 50‑penalty‑unit sanction for late notification."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow purpose: establishing procedural rules for vessel unique identifiers under the National Law. The 2023 amendment was purely consequential — updating references to the renumbered Marine Order 501 — without expanding substantive obligations or coverage."},"complexity_factors":["Only 6 operative sections covering discrete, sequential topics (application, criteria, display, removal, notification)","Minimal defined terms — relies on definitions in parent legislation (National Law) and Marine Order 501","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond simple 'if/then' timing rules (21 days vs before launch)","Single cross-reference to Marine Order 501 for application procedures and definitions","Straightforward penalty structure with one strict liability offence","Legislative history table shows only one substantive amendment (2023) updating references to Marine Order 501"],"plain_english_summary":"This Marine Order requires owners of domestic commercial vessels to obtain and prominently display a single AMSA-issued unique identifier (usable even if applied for during construction). Owners must fix the number within 21 days of issue and notify AMSA within 14 days of sale, loss, scrapping or conversion from commercial use.\n\nFailure to comply (including unauthorised removal) attracts strict‑liability penalties (50 penalty units). The rule ensures consistent, traceable IDs for safety, response and enforcement."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/marine-order-502-vessel-identifiers-national-law-2017","history":"/api/acts/marine-order-502-vessel-identifiers-national-law-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/marine-order-502-vessel-identifiers-national-law-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/marine-order-502-vessel-identifiers-national-law-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/marine-order-502-vessel-identifiers-national-law-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/marine-order-502-vessel-identifiers-national-law-2017/documents"}}