EXPLANATORY NOTES
Marine Orders, Part 28
(Operations standards & procedures)
Issue 2
Order No 9 of 1997
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 certain matters, in relation to which, provision may be made by regulations.
3. Marine Orders, Part 28 Issue 2, was made under Section 425(1AA).
Purpose
4. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, was revised in 1995 and the revised convention (STCW 1995) and associated STCW Code came into force internationally on 1 February 1997. The STCW Code contains standards and guidance for watchkeeping on ships and Marine Orders Part 28 gives effect to these aspects of the Code.
Overview
5. The safe navigation and operation of ships relies heavily on the competence of watchkeeping crew and the procedures they implement. The STCW Code contains standards of good watchkeeping practice, supplemented by detailed guidance. Marine Orders Part 28 gives effect to these elements of the Code.
Contents of the Order
6. Provision 1 provides definitions and interpretations necessary for proper understanding of the Order.
7. Provision 2 indicates the purpose and application for which this Order has been made and its relationship to the requirements of the STCW Convention and the STCW Code.
8. Provision 3 specifies the responsibilities of companies, masters and crew members in relation to the obligations of the STCW Code for the safe operation of a ship.
9. Provision 4 specifies the mandatory hours of rest for persons undertaking watch keeping duties. It also provides for the keeping of watch schedules and record of work and rest periods.
10. Provision 5 provides for companies, masters, chief engineers and all persons engaged in watch keeping duties to observe the standards as prescribed in the STCW Code.
11. Appendix 1 gives effect to Section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code and sets out the arrangements and principles to be observed by those keeping watch on board ship.
12. Appendix 2 gives effect to Section B-VIII/2 of the STCW Code which provides additional guidance on watchkeeping arrangements.
13. Appendixes 3 and 4 contain a rearrangement of Appendixes 1 and 2 separated into the responsibilities of officers undertaking navigational watchkeeping and those undertaking engineering watchkeeping. This rearrangement has been requested by industry representatives to make the information easier to read and implement.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority
October 1997