EAPL is an independent environmental consultancy specialising in the surveying, identification and analysis of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) and deliver impartial trusted advice and professional services to our clients both national and international.

Asbestos Prohibition in Offshore & Maritime Structures

There is a common misapprehension that a worldwide ban of asbestos exists and that modern marine vessels and offshore facilitates are “Asbestos Free” workplaces. In fact, asbestos use and installation of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) within Offshore & Maritime structures is still widespread throughout the world.

Offshore & Maritime structures operating in or visiting Australian Territorial Waters must not import asbestos as part of their fabric and function as safe workplaces under existing Australian Work, Health and Safety legislation. The Australian maritime industry (the “Seacare jurisdiction”) is regulated by specific legislation, which proscribes the importation and use of asbestos.

These reflect the national ban on the use of all forms of asbestos on and from 31 December 2003 and place specific duties upon owners, operators, charterers and manning agents of Offshore & Maritime structures operating in or visiting Australian Territorial Waters.

Meeting obligations under WHS & OHS Law and Customs Regulations

There are two pertinent Regulations on the proscription of the importation and use of asbestos, which makes it illegal to import, store, supply, sell, install or otherwise use (except in limited circumstances) any Asbestos Containing Materials in workplaces in the Seacare jurisdiction. These Regulations are:

Importation of asbestos regulated by:

  • Regulation 4C to the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (the Regulations)

Use of asbestos regulated by:

  • Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) (National Standards) Regulations 2003 (the Regulations), which commenced on 31 December 2003, made under the Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 (OHS(MI) Act)

Two statutory bodies are mandated to ensure that owners, operators, charterers and manning agents meet their obligations under the Regulations when bringing Offshore & Maritime structures into Australian Territorial Waters:

Importation of asbestos is enforced by:

  • Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) and its operational and enforcement arm the Australian Border Force (ABF)

Use of asbestos is enforced by:

  • Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and its enforcement arm the Seacare Authority

The Australian Border Force concerns itself with preventing the importation of asbestos while the Seacare Authority deals with the occupational health and safety prohibition on the use of asbestos in the Australian Maritime Industry (“Seacare jurisdiction”).

What is a Compliant Marine Vessel Asbestos Register?

The Australian Border Force refuses entry of Offshore & Maritime structures into Australian ports, or quarantines them when they arrive, if not satisfied that compliance with Regulation 4C of Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 has been carried out.

The ABF requires evidence that no Asbestos Containing Materials have been used in the construction (or installation during refurbishment or refit) of Offshore & Maritime structures operating or visiting Australian Territorial Waters.

The ABF do not regard an “Asbestos Free” Certificate (commonly issued as part of a vessel’s build and registration documents) as sufficient and insist upon an inspection report carried out by competent persons whose results, observations and conclusions are traceable to relevant International Standards (ISO). These standards are:

  • ISO 17020 (Inspection)
  • ISO 17025 (Testing)

In Australia, the accreditation authority for International Standards (ISO) is NATA.

A NATA endorsed inspection report provides the ABF with a high level of confidence that an Offshore & Maritime structure complies with the Amended Customs (Prohibited Import) Regulations 1956, Regulation 4c.

Therefore, to avoid delays and possible quarantine it is prudent to ensure that Offshore & Maritime structures are prepared for entry into Australian Territorial Waters. EAPL can help to do this.

Why Choose Emission Assessments (EAPL) to prepare your Marine Vessel Asbestos Register?

  • EAPL is a NATA accredited TYPE A Inspection Body
  • EAPL’s Asbestos Surveys, Asbestos Registers and Asbestos Management Plans are NATA endorsed
  • EAPL’s Asbestos Surveys, Asbestos Registers and Asbestos Management Plans comply with the national Code of Practice and Chapter 8 of the model Work, Health and Safety Regulations (2011)
  • EAPL’s NATA endorsed inspection reports satisfy requirements of IMO SOLAS II-1, Regulation 3-5, Occupational Health and Safety (Maritime Industry) Act 1993 and the Amended Customs (Prohibited Import) Regulations 1956, Regulation 4c
  • EAPL’s teams of experienced maritime inspectors routinely carry out NATA endorsed inspections of Offshore & Maritime structures in Australian waters as well as in ports, shipyards and installations around the world, services include:
    • Progressive assessment and certification during “new build” projects
    • Auditing suppliers and their quality and procurement processes
    • Training in Asbestos awareness and asbestos removal techniques
    • Project Management of friable asbestos removal works
    • Deployment of NATA accredited Field Laboratory for quick turnaround of sample results
  • EAPL delivers NATA endorsed Asbestos Surveys and Asbestos Management Plans as well as robust noise and occupational hygiene assessments and remediation advice
  • EAPL has a wealth of experience and knowledge in the worldwide Asbestos industry and provides Clients with the best advice and service possible
  • EAPL’s reports are presented in easily understood format
  • EAPL is a NATA accredited testing facility for Asbestos Fibre Counting and Asbestos Fibre Identification in materials, dusts and soil
  • EAPL holds $10m of professional indemnity insurance & $20m of public liability insurance

To organise a Marine Vessel Asbestos Survey Contact EAPL on:
08 94942958.

Assurance of Quality

For the purposes of inspection, EAPL is a Type A Inspection Body: i.e. not linked to any party directly involved in design, manufacture, ownership, use or maintenance of the establishments it surveys.

As an additional assurance of service quality, as well as NATA accreditation to ISO 17025 & 17020, EAPL’s Integrated Management System is also accredited to the following Australian and international standards:

  • Quality: AS/NZS ISO 9001: 2008
  • Health and Safety: AS/NZS 4801: 2001 and OHSAS 18001: 2007
  • Environmental: AS/NZS ISO 14001: 2004

Accredited for compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020