The complete service category system for Domestic Commercial Vessels, taken directly from AMSA's National Standard for Commercial Vessels Part B (Edition 2.6, commenced 1 September 2025).
Under the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part B, every Domestic Commercial Vessel is assigned a service category that combines two things:
The service category is written as the word "Class" followed by the use-category number and the operational-area letter — for example, Class 1C means a passenger vessel for use up to and including restricted offshore operations.
| Number | Kind of vessel |
|---|---|
| 1 | Passenger vessel |
| 2 | Non-passenger vessel |
| 3 | Fishing vessel |
| 4 | Hire and drive vessel |
A hire and drive vessel used for any purpose other than wholly recreational, or where the master is not a hirer of the vessel, may be assigned a different vessel use category by the National Regulator based on its intended use (NSCV Part B, clause 2.1(2)).
| Code | Operational area |
|---|---|
| A | Unlimited domestic operations |
| B extended | Extended offshore operations |
| B | Offshore operations |
| C | Restricted offshore operations |
| C restricted | Restricted offshore operations — specified areas |
| D | Partially smooth water operations |
| E | Smooth water operations |
The NSCV Part B Dictionary defines the boundaries. The key definitions, word-for-word:
These definitions are taken word-for-word from NSCV Part B Edition 2.6, clause 2.4.
| Service category | Description |
|---|---|
| Class 1A | Seagoing passenger vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including unlimited domestic operations |
| Class 1B extended | Seagoing passenger vessel for use beyond 200 nm from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmanian mainland, or a recognised island, but in waters to the outer limits of the EEZ; and that complies with NSCV requirements for passenger vessels in unlimited domestic operations |
| Class 1B | Seagoing passenger vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including offshore operations |
| Class 1C | Seagoing passenger vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including restricted offshore operations |
| Class 1D | Sheltered waters passenger vessel for operations in partially smooth and smooth waters only |
| Class 1E | Sheltered waters passenger vessel for use in smooth waters only |
| Service category | Description |
|---|---|
| Class 2A | Seagoing non-passenger vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including unlimited domestic operations |
| Class 2B extended | Seagoing non-passenger vessel for use beyond 200 nm from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmanian mainland, or a recognised island, but in waters to the outer limits of the EEZ; and that complies with NSCV requirements for non-passenger vessels in unlimited domestic operations |
| Class 2B | Seagoing non-passenger vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including offshore operations |
| Class 2C | Seagoing non-passenger vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including restricted offshore operations |
| Class 2C restricted | Seagoing non-passenger vessel for use in smooth waters, partially smooth waters, or a specified area determined by the National Regulator |
| Class 2D | Sheltered waters non-passenger vessel for operations in partially smooth and smooth waters only |
| Class 2E | Sheltered waters non-passenger vessel for use in smooth waters only |
| Service category | Description |
|---|---|
| Class 3A | Seagoing fishing vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including unlimited domestic operations |
| Class 3B extended | Seagoing fishing vessel for use beyond 200 nm from the baseline of the Australian mainland, Tasmanian mainland, or a recognised island, but in waters to the outer limits of the EEZ; and that complies with NSCV requirements for fishing vessels in unlimited domestic operations |
| Class 3B | Seagoing fishing vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including offshore operations |
| Class 3C | Seagoing fishing vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including restricted offshore operations |
| Class 3C restricted | Seagoing fishing vessel for use in smooth waters, partially smooth waters, or a specified area determined by the National Regulator |
| Class 3D | Sheltered waters fishing vessel for operations in partially smooth and smooth waters only |
| Class 3E | Sheltered waters fishing vessel for use in smooth waters only |
| Service category | Description |
|---|---|
| Class 4C | Seagoing hire and drive vessel for use in all operational areas up to and including restricted offshore operations |
| Class 4D | Sheltered waters hire and drive vessel for operations in partially smooth and smooth waters only |
| Class 4E | Sheltered waters hire and drive vessel for use in smooth waters only |
A vessel may be assigned service category Class 1A, Class 1B extended, Class 1B or Class 1C only if it is at least 10 m long (measured length, as defined in the NSCV Part B Dictionary).
A vessel may be assigned more than one service category if its operations are not adequately described by one. In that case the vessel must comply with the requirements of the highest of those service categories, plus any additional requirements of the other assigned categories.
A vessel that operates in restricted offshore operations because it must stay within 30 nm of its parent vessel must have arrangements in place for the recovery of persons on board and the securing of the vessel to the parent vessel, and may only operate in sea and weather conditions consistent with its service category.
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