Vessel Compliance & Survey
Whether your vessel operates under AMSA's domestic framework or carries international Class certification, compliance is non-negotiable — and getting it wrong is expensive. Swan Marine provides practical compliance guidance and coordination for both worlds, helping buyers, sellers, and operators navigate the process with confidence.
Commercial vessel compliance sits at the heart of every transaction Swan Marine handles. A vessel's survey status, certification history, and regulatory standing directly affect its value, its insurability, and the speed at which a transaction can settle.
We work across two distinct compliance environments: the AMSA National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) framework that governs Australian domestic commercial vessels, and the international Classification society framework that applies to larger or internationally trading vessels. Both require careful management and an experienced hand.
This page covers both. If you have questions about where your vessel sits, or what a transfer or change of ownership will involve, speak to us directly before you commit.
Domestic (AMSA / NSCV)
What Is a Domestic Commercial Vessel?
A Domestic Commercial Vessel (DCV) is any vessel used in connection with a commercial activity in Australian waters that is not regulated by a state or territory as a recreational vessel. This includes fishing vessels, charter and tourism vessels, workboats, ferries, offshore support craft, and research vessels operating under Australian jurisdiction.
All DCVs are regulated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) under the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV). AMSA is responsible for the safety of DCVs across all Australian states and territories, having assumed this role from state marine authorities under national harmonisation reforms.
Enquire about this service →NSCV Survey Classes
The NSCV classifies domestic commercial vessels by vessel type and operational trading area. Understanding which survey class applies to your vessel determines your certification requirements, crewing obligations, and the forms relevant to any transfer or compliance process.
Your compliance requirements are affected by the service category of your vessel. Use the tables below to work out your vessel's service category — for example, a passenger vessel carrying 30 people and operating out to 15 nautical miles has a service category of 1C.
| Vessel use | Indicated by |
|---|---|
| Passenger vessel (13 or more passengers) | 1 |
| Non-passenger vessel (up to 12 passengers) | 2 |
| Fishing vessel | 3 |
| Hire and drive vessel used by the hirer only for recreational purposes | 4 |
| Operational area | Indicated by |
|---|---|
| Unlimited domestic operations (no longer available to domestic commercial vessels). Vessels operating in A waters must be Australian regulated vessels under the Navigation Act 2012. | A |
| Extended offshore operations (beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmania, a recognised island but within the exclusive economic zone) | B Extended |
| Offshore operations (within 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmania, a recognised island but within the exclusive economic zone) | B |
| Restricted offshore operations (within 30 nautical miles from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmania, a recognised island; within 50 nautical miles of the baseline of Queensland, within the Great Barrier Reef Region or the Torres Strait Zone; whilst remaining within the exclusive economic zone) | C |
| Restricted offshore operations — specified areas | C Restricted |
| Partially smooth water operations | D |
| Smooth water operations | E |
Transferring a Domestic Commercial Vessel: Step by Step
Getting the survey class right matters enormously in a purchase context. Swan Marine can assist with putting these survey classes into context for your operation and provide guidance in the process of transferring a vessel between survey classes.
Transferring a DCV involves three separate obligations, each with its own form and timeline. The seller and buyer have distinct responsibilities, and both must act within the required timeframes to avoid the vessel operating outside its certification. Swan Marine's team will assist with each of these processes for both Seller and Purchaser.
Seller's Obligation — Notify AMSA of the Sale (Form AMSA 758): If you sell a domestic commercial vessel, you are required to notify AMSA within 14 days. Form AMSA 758 should include the purchaser's details.
Buyer's Obligation 1 — Transfer the Certificate of Survey (Form AMSA 1780): The certificate of survey (or non-survey permit) must be formally transferred to the new operator. Form AMSA 1780 should be submitted with proof of purchase attached, such as a bill of sale, which Swan Marine will provide at settlement.
Buyer's Obligation 2 — Apply for a New Certificate of Operation (Form AMSA 504): A certificate of operation cannot be transferred between ownership. The new operator will need to apply for a new certificate in their name. This is a separate process to the survey transfer and must be completed independently.
International / Class
International / Class Vessels
Commercially trading vessels operating under international Classification society certification represent a more complex transaction environment than domestic commercial vessels. Class certification, flag state obligations, and the legal requirements embedded in international sales contracts all need to be carefully managed across every stage of the transaction, well beyond the point of settlement.
Swan Marine has experience handling the transfer of ownership for internationally classed vessels and understands what is required of both parties to meet their legal obligations under the sales contract. We support buyers and sellers through the entire transfer process, ensuring continuity of operations, maintaining Class certification, and keeping all parties informed and compliant from the moment a deal is agreed through to the vessel entering service under its new ownership.
Enquire about this service →What This Means in Practice
A completed settlement is not the end of the process for an internationally classed vessel. Survey obligations, Class notifications, flag state requirements, statutory certificate transfers, and operational handover all continue after the ink is dry. Gaps in this process can disrupt operations, affect insurance cover, and create legal exposure for one or both parties.
Swan Marine manages this post-settlement period with the same rigour we bring to the transaction itself. Whether you are the seller ensuring your obligations under the contract are fully discharged, or the buyer ensuring the vessel enters service in full compliance and without interruption, we remain actively involved until the transfer is genuinely complete.
We work with vessels classed by all major Classification societies, including Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, DNV, ABS, and ClassNK, and coordinate with the relevant Class society, flag state administrators, and specialist advisers as required for each transaction.
Enquire about this service →Australian Shipping Register (ASR): Registration & Deregistration Support
Swan Marine provides practical support for vessels moving on and off the Australian Shipping Register, whether that involves registering an incoming vessel under the ASR or deregistering one that is being sold internationally and transferring to a foreign flag.
For vessels being registered on the ASR, we assist buyers and new owners with the documentation and process required to bring a vessel onto the register, whether it is an Australian-built vessel entering service, a foreign-flagged vessel being re-flagged to Australia, or a vessel transferring between owners within the ASR framework.
For vessels being deregistered from the ASR, we manage the full deletion and closure process for sellers, including the preparation of deletion certificates, closure letters, bills of sale, and all associated documentation required by the ASR and the receiving flag state. Getting this sequenced correctly is essential to a clean settlement and to ensuring the vessel can be registered under its new flag without delay.
Both processes have their own documentation requirements and timelines. Swan Marine's experience across both sides of the ASR means we can advise early, prepare accurately, and keep the registration or deregistration process from becoming a bottleneck in your transaction.
Enquire about this service →Every engagement begins with a conversation. No obligation — just clarity on how we can help you move forward.