EXPLANATORY NOTES
Marine Orders, Part 60
(Floating Offshore facilities)
Issue 2
Order No 11 of 2001
Authority
1. Section 425(1) of the Navigation Act 1912 (the Navigation 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 Navigation Act allows the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to make orders with respect to matters in Part VB of the Act in relation to which provision may be made by regulations.
3. Marine Orders, Part 60, Issue 2, Order No 11 of 2001, 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 60, for the purposes of the Navigation Act, prescribes appropriate standards and generally makes provision for the safe navigation and operation of Floating Production, Storage and Offtake Facilities (FPSOs) and Floating Storage Units (FSUs).
6. This issue repeals Issue 1.
Consultation
7. The draft text has been circulated to industry, unions and other government authorities for comment, and takes on board changes resulting from this consultation. The draft text was also placed on the AMSA website for public comment.
Overview
8. Part 60 provides for the continuation and updating of the existing national and international regulatory requirements for FPSOs and FSUs. This Part specifies requirements additional to those specified in other parts of marine orders, with which FPSOs and FSUs must comply.
9. Issue 2 of Marine Orders Part 60 repeals Issue 1 and allows the Chief Marine Surveyor to permit in-water surveys in lieu of dry-docking.
10. This issue also introduces a new provision in relation to minimum safe manning.
11. The opportunity has also been taken to update definitions, the modifications & exemption provision and the review of decisions provision. Provisions concerned with operational matters in relation to the transfer of material, appliances or personnel have been made penal provisions. Each provision that is a penal provision has now been individually specified.
Contents of the Order
12. Provision 1 indicates the purpose for which this Order has been made.
13. Provision 2 provides definitions and Provision 3 provides interpretations both of which are necessary for proper understanding of the Order.
14. Provision 4 specifies the FPSO or FSU to which this Part applies and provides for this provision to prevail over provisions in other Parts in the case of an inconsistency.
15. Provision 5 provides for the acceptance of a modification or variation of the requirement for a particular fitting, material, appliance or apparatus that is, at least, effective as that required under this Part. This provision also provides for an FPSO or FSU to be exempted from compliance with a provision of this Part.
16. Provision 6 provides for an internal review by the General Manager of a decision made by the Chief Marine Surveyor or Manager and provides for a review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of specified decisions made under this Part, together with the provision of a statement of reasons.
17. Provision 7 specifies survey, certification and reporting requirements in relation to an FPSO and FSU.
18. Provision 8 provides requirements in relation to a Certificate of Compliance.
19. Provision 9 specifies the procedure for obtaining a safe manning document.
20. Provision 10 provides for transfer operations of materials, appliances and personnel, and additionally, procedures in respect of helicopter transfers.
21. The Appendix provides for certain requirements in respect of FPSOs and FSUs. These include on-board helicopter facilities, fire detection and extinction procedures; radiocommunication equipment for helicopter operations, and the requirement for an operating manual as part of a ship’s Safety Management System as required by the International Safety Management Code.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
November 2001