Masters of Australian registered vessels, or of foreign flag
vessels in Australian waters and other 'responsible persons' are
obliged, under the Transport Safety Investigation
Act and Regulations 2003, to report any accident (or 'immediately
reportable matter') as soon as practicable to the ATSB, by the
quickest means possible. Recognising the practical difficulties of
reporting to a number of separate authorities, the Regulations
consider a report to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
(AMSA), or to AusSAR in Canberra, to be a report to the ATSB,
although the ATSB is a separate organisation. On receipt of a
report of an incident, ATSB staff, who are on 24 hour call,
decide(s) what action will be taken.
Depending on the type and severity of the incident, this may
be:
- an investigation carried out by an ATSB or specially appointed
investigator, or
- more information sought from the owner, employer or other body,
or
- no further action taken
Incidents should be notified to
AMSA using forms found on the AMSA website. AMSA
forwards copies of the completed forms to the ATSB and these meet
reporting requirements.
Submission of information known by the reporter to be
false or misleading is a serious offence under section 137.1 of the
Criminal Code. Aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or urging
the submission of false or misleading information is also a serious
offence.
