Marine Order 16 (Load lines) 2025

For a regulated Australian vessel to which the Load Lines Convention applies, or would apply if engaged on an international voyage, the appropriate load line is the load line marked on the vessel, in accordance with the Load Lines Convention, that applies to the season of the year and the zone in which the vessel is located.

For a foreign vessel, the appropriate load line is:

if the Load Lines Convention applies — the load line marked on the vessel, in accordance with the Load Lines Convention, that applies to the season of the year and the zone in which the vessel is located; or

if the Load Lines Convention does not apply:

if the vessel is marked in accordance with the Load Lines Convention — the load line that applies to the season of the year and the zone in which the vessel is located; or

if the vessel is marked in any other manner — the load line that is required by the Administration of the country where the vessel is registered or, if that load line cannot be ascertained, the lowest load line marked on the vessel.

For a passenger vessel, the appropriate subdivision load line is:

if only 1 subdivision load line is marked on the vessel — that subdivision load line; or

the lowest subdivision load line, if:

more than 1 subdivision load line is marked on each side of the vessel; and

passengers are at any time being carried in the spaces mentioned for a subdivision load line in a certificate, mentioned in subsection (5), for the vessel; or

the subdivision load line approved by:

for a regulated Australian vessel — an issuing body;

for a foreign vessel — the Administration of the country where the vessel is registered.

For a regulated Australian vessel not mentioned in subsection (1), the appropriate load line is the design waterline corresponding to the maximum full load displacement (in tonnes).

For subsection (3), the certificate is:

for a regulated Australian vessel — the passenger ship safety certificate or the certificate of survey for a passenger ship issued to the vessel in accordance with Marine Order 31 (SOLAS and non-SOLAS certification) 2019; or

for a foreign vessel to which SOLAS applies — the passenger ship safety certificate issued to the vessel in accordance with Regulation 12 of Chapter I of SOLAS.