Marine safety and distress

National maritime distress and safety arrangements

Distress and safety services conducted via HF radio channels are provided by the Commonwealth through the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and State and Northern Territory governments under new arrangements. An integrated network of nine HF stations operated around Australia by State and Northern Territory Governments located at Gladstone, Cairns, Darwin, Perth, Port Hedland, Adelaide, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney maintain a listening watch on distress and calling frequencies 4125, 6215 and 8291Khz 24 hours a day. These stations also provide regular broadcasts of navigation warnings on 8176 kHz. All GMDSS services (HF DSC monitoring and follow-on communications), other than the monitoring of 2187.5 kHz, are provided by AMSA.

National marine safety agencies

• Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)
• Australia and New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group
• Surf Life Saving Australia
• Royal Life Saving
• Australian Water Safety Council
• Australian Communication and Media Authority

State & territory marine safety agencies

• NSW: Roads and Maritime Services
• VIC: Maritime Safety Victoria
• QLD: Maritime Safety Queensland
• WA: Department of Transport
• SA: Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure
• TAS: Marine and Safety Tasmania
• NT: Northern Territory Government Marine