Does Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV) apply to maritime and ports?
A computed answer from the Rules Mate applicability engine, with the exact condition, the outcome for every structure and size, and the primary source.
Short answer: Yes
Yes. This obligation applies to maritime and ports whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: Industry: Maritime & ports.
The obligation in brief
Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV). Under the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law, every domestic commercial vessel must hold a certificate of survey issued by AMSA unless an exemption covers it. The certificate states the service categories the vessel may operate in and the number of crew, passengers and special personnel it may carry.
Trigger: Operating a vessel commercially; a new certificate is needed if the vessel has never held one, has not held one for the past two years, or a condition is to be removed or changed.
Why maritime & ports get a different answer
Rules Mate runs its applicability engine across 9 business structures and 6 size bands for each of the 35 industries it maps. For 34 of those industries the answer for "Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV)" is no. Maritime & ports is one of the 1 where the answer is different: yes.
The deciding fact for maritime and ports: Industry: Maritime & ports.
About the industry: Domestic commercial vessel operators under AMSA jurisdiction.
Compare a professional services (general) business with 6–19 employees structured as a Pty Ltd company: the obligation does not apply (Requires industry: Maritime & ports).
Answer by business structure and size
Each cell is the engine's outcome for a business in maritime & ports with that structure and size, assuming it sells to consumers and small businesses and holds customer contact details. "Check" means the obligation turns on a fact the industry does not settle.
| Structure | No employees | 1–5 employees | 6–19 employees | 20–99 employees | 100–499 employees | 500+ employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sole trader | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Partnership | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Trust | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pty Ltd company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Not-for-profit (unregistered) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered charity | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Super fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Foreign company | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What the obligation requires
- When due
- Before commercial operation; renewal before the five-year certificate expires (AMSA sends a reminder 90 days before expiry), and periodic surveys on the dates in the survey schedule. If the certificate lapses, the vessel must stop operating until it is renewed or temporary operation is approved under Exemption 7.
- Evidence to keep
- Current certificate of survey and survey schedule; accredited surveyor reports; any load line certificate; records of equipment servicing; the application (form 521) and any approved extension to a survey date.
- Maximum penalty
- It is an offence under the National Law to operate a vessel in breach of a condition on its certificate of survey. AMSA can also suspend or revoke a certificate on its own initiative
- Regulator
- AMSA
- Jurisdiction
- Commonwealth (national)
Other obligations where maritime & ports differ from the norm
Questions
- Does Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV) apply to maritime and ports?
- Yes. This obligation applies to maritime and ports whatever their structure or size. The deciding fact: Industry: Maritime & ports.
- Is the answer the same for every industry?
- No. For 34 of the 35 industries Rules Mate maps, the answer is no. Maritime & ports is one of 1 industries with a different answer.
Related
Sources
Computed by the Rules Mate applicability engine from the published obligation corpus; facts last checked 3 October 2026. Rules Mate is not a law firm and this is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your position with the regulator source or a qualified adviser before acting.