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History
The NMSC was established in late 1996 as part of a strategic response to a report on national marine safety undertaken for the Australian Transport Group by Thompson Clarke. This report identified a number of deficiencies in the administration of marine safety by States and the Northern Territory. Most significantly the report highlighted the lack of consistency between the jurisdictions in the application and administration of standards for commercial vessels, and the lack of marine safety data.
In June 1996 the ATC endorsed a Draft National Marine Safety Strategy and agreed to the formation of the NMSC to implement the strategy. Implementation commenced in April 1997 with the establishment of the NMSC Secretariat. The NMSC was formalised by an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) signed on the 7th of November 1997 by the Prime Minister, State Premiers and the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, allowing for an initial 2-year operating period until April 1999.
In March 1999 a project-based approach was adopted to facilitate and implement the National Marine Safety Strategy. The project-based approach resulted in the formation of more than 20 separate projects across 4 program areas. The program areas being addressed are:
Program 1 -Mutual Recognition and National Consistency
Program 2 -Commercial Vessels Safety – Technical
Program 3 -Commercial Vessels Safety – Operations and Training
Program 4 -Recreational Boat Safety
