Resources
Marine Order 504 (MO 504) Guides & Updates
Still managing MO 504 records in paper folders, spreadsheets or Word documents?SMS Marine brings your operational procedures, risk assessments, crew records, drills, maintenance, incident reporting and audit evidence into one cloud-based system built for Australian DCV operators.
Every domestic commercial vessel operating in Australia needs a safety management system that reflects how the vessel is actually run. A core part of that system is your operational procedures — the written instructions covering how each key vessel operation is carried out safely. Marine Order 504 sets out what those procedures must cover, who they apply to, and how often they must be reviewed. The checklist below summarises the cycle: assess the risk, write the procedure, use it on board, review it annually.
Marine Order 504 Guides & Updates
Commercial Vessel Maintenance Records: What to Keep Under MO 504
This guide sets out, in plain English, what the rules say, which records to keep, how long to keep them, and the mistakes we see most often.
Time To Review YOUR SMS?
Is your SMS still up to date? Use our free annual checklist to find out.
256 Incidents in Three Months: Is Your Safety Management System Working?
Domestic commercial vessel operators reported 256 incidents to AMSA in the April–June 2026 quarter. That included 35 serious incidents and one very serious incident.
What Must (and Can) Go in Your Vessel's Logbook Under Marine Order 504
What goes in your logbook, how to keep it, and how long to keep it. A plain-English guide to logbooks under Marine Order 504.
Certificate of Survey vs Certificate of Operation: What’s the Difference?
survey covers the boat. Operation covers you. Two AMSA certificates, two different jobs — and when you buy a vessel, only one of them comes with it. Visit mcmsnsw.com.au for more information and other resources.
Simplified SMS: Does Your Vessel Qualify Under Marine Order 504?
If you run a small commercial boat — a fishing vessel, a hire-and-drive tinny, or a modest non-passenger workboat you might qualify now for a simplified Safety Management System
How to Conduct a Risk Assessment for a Commercial Vessel
A risk assessment is the engine room of your safety management system. Here's AMSA's four-step process, in plain English, with a worked example you can adapt to your own operation.
Crew induction — Marine Order 504, Schedule 1, clause 9
Before anyone starts work, and as soon as practicable after they join the vessel, the owner must make sure every master and crew member gets three things:
Safety training, Induction into how the vessel actually operates and Emergency training.
Drug & Alcohol Policy Requirements for Commercial Vessels
AMSA now requires a drug and alcohol policy in every commercial vessel SMS. What it must cover, plus the NSW blood alcohol limits that apply on the water.
Emergency Procedures & Drills — Marine Order 504 (MO 504)
What your MO 504 emergency plan must cover — assembly stations, crew roles, passenger emergency info — and the drills you must run and record.
Procedures and Policies for Vessel Operations Under Marine Order 504 (MO 504)
The documented procedures and policies your SMS needs under Marine Order 504 (MO 504) — pre-start checks, mooring, lifejackets, passenger safety, refuelling, passage plans and a drug & alcohol policy.
Marine Incident Reporting: What You Must Report, and When
Who must report a marine incident to AMSA, what counts as reportable, the timeframes, and which forms to lodge — a plain-English guide for commercial vessel operators.
Passenger Manifest Requirements Under Marine Order 504: What Operators Actually Need to Keep
When does your vessel need a passenger manifest under Marine Order 504? The 12-hour threshold, required content, how manifests differ from passenger counts, and where records must be kept.
Crewing (Manning) Risk Assessment Under Marine Order 504
How to work out the right crew for your vessel under Marine Order 504 — what your risk assessment must cover, the factors you must weigh, and the 10-hour rest rule.
What is Marine Order 504? A Plain-English Guide
Marine Order 504 (MO504) explained in plain English — what it is, who it applies to, what your SMS must include, and what changed on 1 June 2025.
Fatigue Risk Management Under Marine Order 504
Since 1 June 2025, Marine Order 504 requires Class 1, 2 and 3 vessel owners to include a fatigue risk management plan in their SMS. What AMSA requires and how to comply.
myAMSA Is Now Open: Apply Online for Your Near Coastal Ticket
AMSA has launched myAMSA, letting seafarers apply for and track a near coastal certificate of competency online — anytime, without a trip to the post office.
Free Marine Order 504 Templates
Download and customise for your vessel — no sign-up required.
Free Marine Order 504 (MO 504) Passenger Manifest Template
Download a free, MO 504-compliant passenger manifest template for Australian commercial vessels — the required fields, the 12-hour rule, ready to print and use.
Free Marine Order 504 (MO 504) Fatigue Management Template
Download a free fatigue management template for Australian commercial vessels — identify and manage master and crew fatigue in your Marine Order 504 (MO 504) SMS.
Free Marine Order 504 (MO 504) Risk Assessment Template
Download a free risk assessment template for Australian commercial vessels — hazard register, risk matrix and the operational items Marine Order 504 (MO 504) requires.