Continuing the Talk on Defence Seaworthiness

The Office of the Defence Seaworthiness Regulator (ODSwR) is changing its model for engaging with the Defence Seaworthiness Regulated and Defence Maritime Communities.

The messages and content intended for discussion at the Seaworthiness Symposium remain important and relevant to the success of maritime capability. 

While nothing can replace the networking opportunity that a large face-to-face event represents, Seaworthiness is a topic for discussion all year round rather than just once-a-year.

The Defence Seaworthiness Authority’s (DSwA) address to the Symposium remains as relevant today as the day it was recorded. We have released it on our website for viewing by the broader Defence Maritime Community, as it was intended. We encourage you not only to watch Vice Admiral Noonan’s address, but to consider the points raised and put forward some questions. The Office of the Regulator can seek answers from the Authority. These will be recorded and broadcast in November. 

The release of the DSwA video is the commencement of a new tempo and style of engagement. There will be a monthly tempo of Seaworthiness material released by the Office of the Defence Seaworthiness Regulator (ODSwR) for communication with the Defence Maritime Community, using ODSwR website as the central hub. Bookmark our website or send an This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. requesting to be added to our already 750-strong mailing list for a monthly notification of new Seaworthiness content.

Seaworthiness content on our website will follow specific longer term themes of approximately six month duration. ODSwR will continue with “The Role of The Regulated Community” as advertised for the 2021 Seaworthiness Symposium, utilising this theme through to April 2022 before moving to the next proposed theme, being “The centrality of the Capability Manager”.  The theme transition will be launched with our presence at the Australian Defence Sea Power Conference in May 2022.

The Role of the Regulated Community will start in November. It will be a glimpse into the work being undertaken with the Defence Seaworthiness Education Campaign, a joint Navy, Army and ODSwR endeavour to develop educational products. These products that will increase the knowledge and understanding of Seaworthiness across the Defence Maritime Community. Development of the concept and commencement of work was one of the first initiatives to be launched by RADM Richards on her appointment as the Defence Seaworthiness Regulator (DSwR) in early 2021.  The campaign will be formally released in November 21 and the DSwR will use the ODSwR monthly engagement schedule to provide clear regulatory expectations in early 2022. 

Our education intent is to provide useful information that will increase the overall Seaworthiness awareness and education level of the Defence Maritime Community. The education will cover broad Seaworthiness knowledge as well as targeting specific issues both observed and anticipated. The introduction of Seaworthiness as a common language and reference point, combined with an informed community, will allow identification and communication of Seaworthiness issues of concern. Every member has something to contribute, from the capability designer to the individual operator and every step in between from across the capability life cycle. The harnessing of expertise across Defence and more broadly into Defence Industry will directly support the generation and maintenance of Australian maritime capabilities. 

ODSwR is developing a number of simple education products to raise the level of Seaworthiness awareness. These will range from PowerPoint presentations with accompanying voice overs, basic lesson plans and supporting PowerPoint slides, and culminating in the release of web-based education modules that can be undertaken on both the Defence Protected Network and Internet. Our first product is a voice-over PowerPoint presentation detailing the Defence Seaworthiness Management System. This presentation is the first step for Seaworthiness education and is recommended for anyone who is new to Seaworthiness or just looking to refresh their knowledge after significant time away from the Defence maritime environment. 

We want to hear from you. If you have any questions on Seaworthiness in general, the part ODSwR plays in Defence Seaworthiness Management System, or to suggest some topics for our education and video products, visit the ODSwR website and contact us through our This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and advice lines 02-6266 4444.