Accredited Marine Surveyor Application

Background

From 1 July 2023, it is a requirement that anyone intending to carry out surveys of Bulk Vessels under the Export Control Laws in Australia, be accredited by AIMS under the Accredited Grain Surveyor Assurance (AGSA) Scheme.

The AGSA Scheme aims to provide increased assurance that marine surveyors performing these Bulk Vessel Surveys are qualified and are performing activities as a marine surveyor in accordance with all relevant legislation, standards and policies in force from time to time.

Marine surveyors seeking to become accredited must submit an application to AIMS in accordance with the AGSA Accreditation Policy, including by completing this form. 

Eligibility

A person is eligible to apply for accreditation under the AGSA Scheme only if they meet all of the following criteria:

1.            They are a natural person (not a corporation or other legal entity).

AND

2.            The person has either:

(a)         at least twelve months’ experience serving on a bulk vessel, with at least six months of that experience being service as the Chief Officer of a bulk vessel; or

 (b)         at least three years’ experience as a marine surveyor of bulk vessels.

AND

3.            The person holds (or, if applicable, has held) either:
(a)         a Master Class 1 (Unrestricted) Certificate within the meaning of the Uniform Shippings Laws Code 2008 (Cth); or
(b)         a master graduates Certificate of Competency as outlined in Schedule 1 of the Marine Orders 71 (Masters and Deck Officers) 2014 (Cth) made under the Navigations Act 2021 (Cth); or
(c)          an Advanced Diploma of Maritime Operations (Master Unlimited); or
(d)        a Diploma or Advanced Diploma of Marine Surveying with having completed the modules for dry bulk cargo and grain operations; or

(e)         a Diploma of Maritime Operations (Watchkeeper Deck) with having completed the modules for dry bulk cargo and grain operations.

AND

4.            The person:
(a)         does not, at the time of submitting the Accreditation Application, have their Accreditation suspended under rule 8.1 of the AGSA Complaint Handling and Investigation Policy; and
(b)         is not, at the time of submitting the Accreditation Application, prohibited from applying for Accreditation under rule 8.3 of the AGSA Complaint Handling and Investigation Policy.

 If a person does not satisfy the above criteria, they are not eligible for accreditation and are not able to apply for accreditation.

Applications

Eligible persons may apply for accreditation by AIMS under the AGSA Scheme by:

1.            paying the applicable fees to AIMS; and

2.            completing this form and submitting it to AIMS; and 

3.            providing copies of the required supporting documents to AIMS.

AIMS encourages you to read the AGSA Accreditation Policy and ensure that you are familiar with the application process and the terms and conditions of accreditation under the AGSA Scheme.

 

Payment of Fees
You are required to pay a fee to AIMS prior to submitting this form. The fees you are required to pay depend on your current accreditation status.

New Applications

If you are not currently, and have not been at any time during the last 12 months, an Accredited Marine Surveyor under the AGSA Scheme, you are required to pay $400.00 (inclusive of GST).

This amount comprises an initial application fee of $150.00 and an annual accreditation fee of $250.00.

Renewal Applications

If you are currently, or have been at any time during the last 12 months, an Accredited Marine Surveyor under the AGSA Scheme, you are required to pay $250.00 (inclusive of GST).

This amount is the annual accreditation fee.

Payment

You are required to pay the applicable fee to AIMS prior to submitting this form by direct deposit to the following account:

               Account Name:                 AIMS

               BSB:                                  032-719

               Account Number:             543029

 

Please reference your deposit with the first letter of your given name together with your full surname so that AIMS is able to confirm payment and process your application (for example, John Smith must use the reference JSmith).

You are required to provide a receipt or other document evidencing payment of these fees as part of this application.

You may not recover the full amount of the fees paid if this application is withdrawn by you or if the application is taken to be withdrawn by operation of the AGSA Accreditation Policy.

Completion of this form

Please complete this form with all the requested information.

In the event that AIMS is unable to understand or read the information included in this form, AIMS may be unable to process your application. For this reason, please ensure that this form is completed in a manner that is able to be clearly read and understood by AIMS.

You are required to certify at the end of this form that the information you have provided is accurate and true. For this reason, please ensure that you provide honest responses and provide correct and complete information.  

If you have any questions in relation to the completion of this application form, please contact AIMS.

 

Certification of Documents

AIMS requests that you provide certified copies of some documents in support of your application (including your photo identification documents).

Documents can be certified in Australia by a Justice of the Peace, a solicitor or a barrister. To have a document certified, you need to show the certifier the original document as well as a copy of the document, so that they can certify that the copy is a true copy of the original document.

You can often find a Justice of the Peace in a courthouse, a police station or a public library.

 

In the event that you are unable to obtain certified copies of your documents, you may instead complete a Statutory Declaration by completing and signing the following form before a qualified witness: https://www.ag.gov.au/legal-system/publications/commonwealth-statutory-declaration-form 

 

In your Statutory Declaration, you must make a statement to the following effect (provided that such a statement is true to the best of your knowledge and belief):

1.      The following documents provided by me in support of my application for accreditation by AIMS under the AGSA Scheme (together, the Provided Documents) are true, complete and accurate copies of the original documents held by me:

(a)   [List documents provided in sufficient detail that those documents can be identified (eg. NSW Driver’s Licence Number 34567890]

2.      The Provided Documents are my own documents, and are accurate records of my identity, experience and qualifications.

3.      I am able to produce for inspection by any person the original Provided Documents upon request.

4.      I understand that a person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence under section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth) and I believe that the statements in this declaration are true in every particular.

 

Your Privacy

Your privacy is very important to AIMS. Once this application is received, AIMS will store the application (together with all supporting documents) securely in accordance with its obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Your personal information will be stored for a period of three years after the expiry or cancellation of your accreditation.

Photo ID Requirements

A photo of the applicant is required for your Grain Accreditation Identification Card.
Poor quality photos will not be accepted.
Images must show a full front view of your head and shoulders.
If you normally wear glasses they should have untinted lenses in the photograph.
The photo must have a plain light coloured background.
The photo must be in sharp focus and clear.

Please note: publication of all details other than surveyors name is optional but inclusion assists shipping industries, exporters and authorised officers verifying the currency of a surveyor’s accreditation.

Certification and Warranty

By submitting this form, you certify and warrant that:

 

1.      All of the information provided by you in this form is true, correct and complete.

2.      All of the documents provided by you in support of your application for accreditation are true, correct and complete, and all of the information set out in those documents is accurate.

3.      In the event that AIMS requests further information or documents from you in support of your application for accreditation, you will provide AIMS with information and documents that are true, correct, complete and accurate.

 

You acknowledge that AIMS is entitled to and will rely upon the information and documents you have provided and the certifications and warranties you have provided in relation to that information and those documents.

Terms of Accreditation

By submitting this form, you confirm that you understand and agree to the following terms:

 

1.      AIMS will process this application in accordance with the AGSA Accreditation Policy, and you agree to participate in that process as necessary in good faith and in a manner that will enable AIMS to efficiently process and determine your application.

2.      If granted, your accreditation under the AGSA Scheme will continue until it automatically expires on the next occurring 30 June. If you wish to renew your accreditation beyond the expiry date, you must submit a further application for accreditation in accordance with the AGSA Accreditation Policy.  

3.      AIMS may provide your personal information to third parties in accordance with the Privacy Act and as otherwise required or compelled by law.

4.      AIMS will handle and investigate any complaints made in relation to any Accredited Marine Surveyor in accordance with the AGSA Complaint Handling and Investigation Policy.

5.      Where a decision by AIMS is able to be reviewed, that review will be conducted in accordance with the processes set out in the AGSA Complaint Handling and Investigation Policy.

6.      Whilst you are an Accredited Marine Surveyor, you will:

a.      comply with all policies enacted in respect of the AGSA Scheme from time to time;

b.      comply with all laws relevant to the performance of Bulk Vessel Surveys and other activities engaged in by you as a marine surveyor;

c.      hold and maintain for the term of your accreditation a professional indemnity insurance policy in respect of your work as a marine surveyor, taken out with a reputable insurer and with a limit of no less than $1,000,000.00;

d.      promptly inform AIMS in writing of any changes to your:

                                                    i.     personal information;

                                                   ii.     employment details or arrangements;

                                                  iii.     professional indemnity insurance;

                                                  iv.     eligibility for accreditation under the AGSA Scheme; and

e.      conduct your work in a diligent, responsible and professional manner and will not engage in any conduct which may bring the marine surveying industry or AIMS into disrepute.

7.      AIMS is not responsible for your work as a marine surveyor, and your accreditation does not create an employment (or similar) relationship between you and AIMS. AIMS is not responsible for your conduct and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are competently and properly carrying out your work and duties as a marine surveyor, including in performing bulk vessel surveys, in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations.

8.      You indemnify, and will keep indemnified, AIMS against all claims (including any action, claim, proceeding, expense including legal costs, demand or damages, whether prospective or realised, and whether arising before, while or after you are an Accredited Marine Surveyor under the AGSA) made against AIMS which arise from or in connection with:

a.      Your eligibility to make this application, and any representation made by you in relation to that eligibility;

b.      Any act or omission (whether or not negligent) done or omitted to be done by you in the course of, or in connection with (whether directly or indirectly) your work as a marine surveyor, including but not limited to the performance of bulk vessel surveys; and

c.      any representation (whether or not fraudulent) made by you in relation to your qualifications, identity, or accreditation status.