Plain English on the Safety Management System (SMS) every commercial boat in Australia and New Zealand needs — and the fastest way to build one.
If you run a boat commercially — a charter boat, a fishing boat, a hire boat, a work boat, a dive boat or a passenger boat — you need a Safety Management System, or SMS. In Australia the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) requires it under Marine Order 504. In New Zealand, Maritime NZ requires it under Part 19 (MOSS). This page explains what an SMS for a boat actually is, what it has to contain, and how to build one that survives a survey.
Start your free boat SMS →A Safety Management System is the written description of how you operate your boat safely. It is not a one-off form. It is a living document containing your boat's details, your procedures, your risk assessments, your emergency response plans, your maintenance schedule, and your crew induction records. The principle is simple: what is written in the SMS must match what actually happens on the boat.
Recreational boats used purely for private pleasure do not need an SMS. The moment a boat earns money or carries paying passengers, it does.
| Section | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Boat details | Name, registration / AMSA number, dimensions, survey class, hull material, engines, tanks and equipment. |
| Operating area & limits | Service category, area of operation, and the weather and sea conditions the boat is rated for. |
| Roles & responsibilities | Owner, master / skipper, designated person and crew. |
| Operating procedures | Departure, voyage, arrival, anchoring, mooring, refuelling and passenger management. |
| Risk assessments | The specific hazards of your boat and how each is controlled, including a stability risk assessment. |
| Emergency response | Fire, flooding, person overboard, collision, grounding, medical and abandon-boat procedures. |
| Maintenance | Scheduled servicing, defect logging, engine and gear maintenance. |
| Crew induction & records | Sign-on, familiarisation, drills, incidents and near-misses — kept and retained. |
Three honest options:
The idea of an SMS is the same on both sides of the Tasman, but the rules differ. In Australia your boat SMS must meet AMSA's Marine Order 504 and reference the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV). In New Zealand it must meet Maritime NZ Part 19 under the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS). SMS Builder is built for both from day one, so you pick your country and it uses the right framework.
The written document and procedures that describe how your boat is operated safely. It is required for every commercial boat under AMSA Marine Order 504 in Australia and Maritime NZ Part 19 in New Zealand.
Any boat used commercially — charter, fishing, hire and drive, work, dive, tender and passenger boats. Recreational boats are exempt.
Yes. AMSA publishes free Word templates, and SMS Builder offers a free digital builder for one boat.
Yes, if it earns money. There is a simplified SMS pathway for smaller, lower-risk boats under the June 2025 AMSA changes, but the requirement still stands.