Learn about the requirements for reporting ferry safety incidents in NSW.
Ferry safety in NSW
The NSW Passenger Transport Act 1990 allows OTSI to investigate any safety occurrence involving a ferry (vessel) seating more than 8 adults, and operating a public passenger service for a fare.
OTSI assesses all ferry incident reports received to determine if any action needs to be taken. We also review ferry operator investigation reports to identify systemic safety risks and issues. We provide feedback to support operators in improving the quality of their investigations.
For more information, see Investigation process.
Reportable occurrences
The Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law 2013 requires that the owner/master of a vessel report incidents to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) .
In NSW, the Marine Safety Act 1998 requires the owner/master of a vessel to report:
- injury or loss of life to any person on board the vessel
- the loss of a person from the vessel
- the loss of life or injury to a person that is caused by the vessel
- the loss, or presumed loss, of the vessel (including the sinking or abandonment of the vessel)
- the capsizing, grounding or flooding of the vessel
- the collision of the vessel with another vessel or with any object
- the vessel being disabled at sea (in any case in which it requires assistance)
- any fire on board the vessel
- any damage being caused to the vessel (including any structural failure)
- any damage to the environment caused by the vessel or by any substance on, or discharged from, the vessel
- any incident that causes danger of any of the above.
The NSW Minister for Transport may ask for further information from the owner or master of the vessel. This is to determine whether an investigation needs to be conducted.
How reports are made
Ferry operators
Operators can submit vessel incident reports online to AMSA and Transport for NSW.
CSIRS reports
If you are a transport employee and there is a safety concern within your workplace that you have been unable to resolve internally, or you feel may warrant additional investigation and/or review by OTSI, you can make a report using the Confidential Safety Information Reporting Scheme (CSIRS).
Members of the public
Members of the public can report a ferry incident, or raise safety concerns and complaints directly to Transport for NSW by:
Phone: 131 500
Or online using the Transport for NSW feedback form .
The benefits of reporting
AMSA and Transport for NSW provide operator occurrence data to OTSI. Information obtained from reported incidents enables us to help improve safety by identifying issues, patterns and trends.
OTSI analyses data from incident reports to develop strategies and practical advice for operators to help avoid similar incidents in the future.
This is vital to making the network safer for all.