Product Overview

Summary: This Maritime Transport Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step framework for safely planning, operating, and managing maritime transport activities in Australian waters. It helps organisations control critical risks associated with vessel movements, cargo handling, and marine operations while demonstrating compliance with Australian WHS and maritime safety obligations.

Maritime transport involves complex, high-risk activities including vessel navigation, berthing, cargo handling, refuelling, and interaction with port infrastructure and other vessels. This Maritime Transport Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured approach to managing these operations safely, from voyage planning and pre-departure checks through to docking, loading/unloading, and post-operation reviews. It provides clear guidance on the safe coordination of people, plant, and vessels in dynamic marine environments, addressing both routine activities and foreseeable emergencies.

Developed for the Australian context, this SOP supports businesses to align with WHS duties, maritime legislation, and port authority requirements. It helps you identify and control hazards such as vessel collisions, man overboard incidents, cargo shift, mooring line failures, and exposure to hazardous marine conditions. By formalising your maritime transport processes, you can lift safety performance, improve operational consistency across crews and shifts, and provide evidence of due diligence to regulators, clients, and insurers.

Key Benefits

• Ensure maritime transport activities are planned and executed in line with Australian WHS and maritime safety requirements.
• Reduce the likelihood of vessel collisions, groundings, and man overboard incidents through structured controls and checklists.
• Standardise safe practices for berthing, mooring, and cargo handling across all vessels, crews, and terminals.
• Improve incident preparedness with clear procedures for emergency response, communication, and escalation.
• Demonstrate robust safety governance to regulators, port authorities, clients, and insurers through documented, repeatable processes.

Who is this for?

• Marine Operations Managers
• Harbour Masters
• Vessel Masters and Skippers
• Marine Pilots
• Port and Terminal Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Marine Logistics Coordinators
• Deck Crew and Able Seafarers
• Stevedores and Wharf Workers
• Marine Maintenance Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Vessel collisions with other vessels, structures, or port infrastructure
• Grounding or loss of navigational control
• Man overboard incidents during transit or mooring operations
• Mooring line failure, snap-back zones, and crush injuries on deck
• Slips, trips, and falls on wet, uneven, or moving surfaces
• Cargo shift, load instability, and dropped objects during loading/unloading
• Exposure to extreme weather, rough seas, and reduced visibility
• Fatigue-related errors in navigation, watchkeeping, and deck operations
• Hazardous substance exposure during bunkering, refuelling, or handling dangerous goods
• Noise, vibration, and manual handling injuries on board and at the wharf
• Fire, explosion, or fuel spills in engine rooms or during transfer operations

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Application
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms (Vessels, Roles, and Equipment)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Authority (Master, Crew, WHS, Shore-based Staff)
• 4.0 Consultation, Communication and Coordination with Port Authorities and Other Vessels
• 5.0 Competency, Induction and Training Requirements for Maritime Personnel
• 6.0 Vessel and Equipment Requirements (Certification, Maintenance and Pre-use Checks)
• 7.0 Voyage Planning and Risk Assessment (Weather, Tides, Traffic and Route Selection)
• 8.0 Pre-Departure Safety Checks and Briefings
• 9.0 Safe Navigation and Watchkeeping Practices
• 10.0 Berthing, Unberthing and Mooring Operations (Including Snap-back Controls)
• 11.0 Cargo Handling, Loading and Unloading Procedures (Including Dangerous Goods)
• 12.0 Bunkering and Refuelling Safety Procedures
• 13.0 Working on Deck, Over Side and at Heights on Vessels
• 14.0 Fatigue Management for Masters, Crew and Shore-based Support
• 15.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements for Maritime Operations
• 16.0 Environmental Conditions Management (Weather, Sea State, Visibility)
• 17.0 Emergency Preparedness and Response (Man Overboard, Collision, Grounding, Fire, Spill)
• 18.0 Incident, Near Miss and Hazard Reporting and Investigation
• 19.0 Health, Hygiene and Welfare on Board (Remote and Isolated Work Considerations)
• 20.0 Documentation, Records and Logbook Requirements
• 21.0 Monitoring, Review and Continuous Improvement of Maritime Transport Safety

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and model WHS Regulations as implemented in relevant States and Territories
• Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (Cth)
• National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) – AMSA
• Marine Orders (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) relevant to vessel operations and safety management
• International Safety Management (ISM) Code (as applied to Australian operators)
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 4801:2001 Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still widely referenced)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing risks of plant in the workplace Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing risks of hazardous chemicals in the workplace Code of Practice
• Port authority and harbour master directions applicable to local operations