Who must comply with Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV)?
The applicability test for Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV) (AMSA), computed across 35 industries, 9 business structures and 6 size bands.
Short answer: Some businesses
Applies when the business has industry: Maritime & ports.
What the obligation is
AMSA-administered Marine Order 503 requires periodic survey and certification of commercial vessels.
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. Certificates are normally valid for five years; the vessel is surveyed at each renewal, and some vessels must also be surveyed periodically during the life of the certificate according to a schedule issued with it. Surveys are carried out by accredited marine surveyors. The holder must comply with the certificate's conditions at all times, including keeping the vessel to the standards that apply to it. A vessel may need a load line certificate even where it is exempt from survey.
The applicability test
Applies when the business has industry: Maritime & ports.
How the regulator frames it: Owners and operators of domestic commercial vessels in Australian waters. Exemptions can cover small vessels in sheltered waters carrying few passengers, human-powered vessels, small sailing vessels, recreational training vessels, volunteer rescue and fire service vessels, vessels up to 12 metres in specified near-shore open waters, tenders, and existing vessels not required to have a certificate on 30 June 2013.
What triggers it: 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.
Jurisdiction: Commonwealth law, so the test is the same in every state and territory.
Which industries are in or out
Outcome across the 35 industries Rules Mate maps (1 of 35: yes; 34 of 35: no).
| Industry | Answer |
|---|---|
| Maritime & ports | Yes |
| No | 34 other industries |
Business structure and size
Structure does not change the answer in maritime & ports: for every structure the answer is "yes".
Size does not change the answer in maritime & ports: at every size band the answer is "yes".
Worked examples
Each line is one run of the Rules Mate applicability engine for a single business profile, with the reason the engine gives:
- Pty Ltd company in maritime & ports with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M: applies. Industry: Maritime & ports.
- Pty Ltd company in real estate agents with 6–19 employees, turnover $1M–$3M: does not apply. Requires industry: Maritime & ports.
What you must do, and when
- 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.
- Frequency
- Ongoing
- 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.
- Status
- Current
- Priority
- High
Penalty for not complying
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.
Audit or assurance level
Rules Mate has not yet classified the audit or assurance level for this obligation. Any audit, review or certification requirement is set by the regulator source listed below.
Obligations with the same applicability test
If this obligation applies to you, so does this one: the engine uses the same rule for each.
Where it sits in the corpus
Rules Mate tracks 2 published obligations tagged "maritime", 1 of them rated critical. For a professional services Pty Ltd company with 6–19 employees operating in every state, 0 of those apply outright. This obligation is rated high priority, and is an ongoing duty.
Regulator, legislation and tools
Regulated by Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
AMSA: Maritime safety and ship registration regulator.
Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012: Federal regulation of domestic commercial vessels.
Free tools that help with this obligation:
Questions
- Who must comply with Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV)?
- Applies when the business has industry: Maritime & ports.
- Does Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV) apply to sole traders?
- Yes. Looking in maritime & ports and every size band, the engine's answer for a sole trader is: yes.
- Does Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV) apply to businesses with 1–5 employees?
- Yes (1–5 employees, turnover $100K–$1M).
- When is "Survey + certify Domestic Commercial Vessels (DCV)" 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.
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.