You will require this licence if you intend to carry passengers or cargo between interstate ports in Australia.
There are three types of coastal trading licences:
- General Licence: for Australian General Shipping Register vessels and provides unrestricted access to engage in coastal trading in Australian waters
- Temporary Licence: provides access for foreign-flagged vessels to engage in coastal trading in Australian waters and is limited to the voyages authorised by the licence
- Emergency Licence: provides access to engage in coastal trading in Australian waters in identified emergency situations.
The following kinds of vessels are exempt from the requirements for this licence:
- a vessel belonging to or operated by the Australian Defence Force or the defence forces of a country other than Australia
- a Commonwealth vessel that is used wholly or primarily for non-commercial activities
- a fishing vessel or fishing fleet support vessel
- an inland waterways vessel
- an offshore industry vessel
- a recreational vessel
- a salvage vessel
- a tugboat.
