6 October 2021
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise that we have adjusted the proposed changes to qualification requirements for marine surveyors to be accredited under the Accredited Grain Survey Assurance (AGSA) scheme proposed to commence in December 2021.
Summary of changes and key points
- Changes to the proposed qualification requirements for marine surveyors reflect feedback received from preliminary consultation conducted by the department and detailed in IAN 2021-44. We have:
- changed ‘12 months in the capacity of Master’ to ‘6 months in the capacity of Chief Officer’ to minimise the risk of the disqualification of existing marine surveyors and to reflect the most relevant experience for the purpose of marine surveying practices.
- removed reference to vessel size and instead referenced bulk vessels. A bulk vessel for the purpose of the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Rules 2021 is ‘a vessel that is designed to be used to transport prescribed plants or plant products in bulk from Australian territory to a final overseas destination’
- We are now proposing the following accreditation:
Option 1:- hold or have held a Master grade Certificate of Competency as outlined under Schedule 1 of Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014 made under the Navigation Act 2021
and - have served 12 months on a bulk vessel with at least 6 months in the capacity of Chief Officer.
OR
- hold a Diploma of Marine Surveying with successful completion of a module on Dry Bulk Cargoes and a module on Grain Operations
and - have at least 3 years’ marine survey experience.
- hold or have held a Master grade Certificate of Competency as outlined under Schedule 1 of Marine Order 71 (Masters and deck officers) 2014 made under the Navigation Act 2021
- In addition, to be accredited marine surveyors must still have performed at least
- 10 bulk vessel surveys within a period of 2 years, accompanied by another person who is or was at the time an accredited marine surveyor (or who was qualified under the Plant Rules prior to the proposed AGSA scheme commencing)
- 3 bulk vessel surveys in the most recent 3-year period.
- All other proposed changes to improve bulk vessel survey and inspection practices remain unchanged at this time.
- A formal 30-day public consultation period will commence in October 2021 and further details will be provided closer to the date.
Background
We are proposing regulatory changes to improve export bulk vessel survey and inspection practices. The proposed changes will provide greater assurance to us, the shipping industry and Australia’s grain exporters that bulk vessels comply with agricultural export legislation.
We have been collaborating on these changes with the Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors, and representatives of Australia’s shipping and grain export industries.
Details on the proposed changes and what the proposed qualification requirements mean for marine surveyors are available on our website.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email Plant Export Regulation Reform Program.
David Ironside
Assistant Secretary
Plant Export Operations Branch