EXPLANATORY NOTES
Marine Orders, Part 10
(Medical first aid on ships)
Issue 4
Order No 13 of 2001
Authority
1. Section 425(1) of the Navigation Act 1912 (the Act) empowers the Governor-General to make regulations necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
2. Section 425 (1AA) of the Act allows the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to make orders with respect to matters in Parts II,V and VA of the Act in relation to which provision may be made by regulations.
3. Marine Orders, Part 10, Issue 4 was made pursuant to section 425(1AA).
Gazette
4. Arrangements have been made for this Issue to be gazetted in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Government Notices, Wednesday 19 December 2001.
Purpose
5. Marine Orders Part 10:
- makes provision for medical supplies that must be provided on ships and provides instructions for their dispensing and use.
6. Marine Orders Part 10, Issue 4:
- repeals Issue 3;
- introduces performance-based legislation.
Consultation
7. A copy of the draft text of this issue was placed on the AMSA web site for public comment.
8. The Therapeutic Goods Authority, who had been provided with the draft text for comment, considered it to be comprehensive and appropriate for an emergency medical supply on a ship.
Overview
9. This issue requires a ship operator to ensure that appropriate medical supplies are available on board a ship in accordance with the particular operations of the vessel and its risk management strategies.
10. The Guidance Notes on medical facilities aboard ships provides guidance on the appropriate medical supplies to be carried on ships.
Contents of the Order
11. Provision 1 indicates the purpose for which this Order has been made.
12. Provision 2 provides definitions of words and phrases and Provision 3 provides interpretations both of which are necessary for proper understanding of the Order.
13. Provision 4 specifies the ships to which this Part applies.
14. Provision 5 specifies the requirement for an adequate medical supply and a Controlled Drug Register to be aboard a ship and specifies the duties of a ship operator, master and crew members in relation to this requirement. Provision 5 is for the most part a penal provision.
15. The Guidance notes on medical facilities aboard ships (Appendix) provides guidance on the storage, labelling, packaging, and use of medical supplies, and provides publication information that may assist compliance with Part 10. Annex 1 of these notes provides appropriate scales of medical supplies that detail quantities recommended for ships. The medical supply list has been arranged in categories that are relative to particular treatments rather than alphabetical order as in the previous issue.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
December 2001