---
title: "Marine incident alert (AMSA Form 18) and incident report (AMSA Form 19)"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/precedents/maritime-shipping-and-transport/marine-incident-alert-and-report"
type: "precedent"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "a37-marine-incident-alert-and-report"
area_id: "A37"
kind: "form"
ai_level: "yellow"
version: 1
law_stated_as_at: "2026-10-17"
---

# Marine incident alert (AMSA Form 18) and incident report (AMSA Form 19)

> Guide to AMSA's marine incident alert (Form 18, within 4 hours for regulated Australian and foreign vessels) and incident report (Form 19, within 72 hours), with the statutory duties behind them and how to keep…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/precedents/maritime-shipping-and-transport/marine-incident-alert-and-report  
Law stated as at: 2026-10-17

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

Guide to AMSA's marine incident alert (Form 18, within 4 hours for regulated Australian and foreign vessels) and incident report (Form 19, within 72 hours), with the statutory duties behind them and how to keep statements accurate.

## Key facts

- Kind: Form. A form to complete, or a guide to completing an official one.
- Practice area: [Maritime, Shipping & Transport](https://ailawframework.com/precedents/maritime-shipping-and-transport.md)
- Jurisdictions: Australia, Commonwealth
- AI level: Yellow. AI can help in set ways. A lawyer checks specific points before use.
- Law stated as at: 2026-10-17
- Status: Maintained. Checked on 2026-10-17 against the official form at amsa.gov.au and the 2 authorities it cites, for Australia and Commonwealth.

## When to use it

Use when a vessel the client owns, operates or masters is involved in a marine incident in Australian waters, or a regulated Australian vessel anywhere. Use AMSA's current online forms. Do not use as a substitute for notifying other authorities (police, ATSB, port, environmental).

## How AI may be used

AI may organise logbook extracts and crew accounts into a chronology for checking, but every statement in the report must be verified against logs and first-hand accounts because reports can be used in investigations and claims.

**AI may:**

- Build a timeline from deck and engine logs, VDR or ECDIS exports and crew statements, citing each source.
- Check a draft report for internal inconsistencies with the chronology.
- Prepare a list of information the forms require that is still missing.

**AI must not:**

- Must not draft statements about cause, fault or crew conduct.
- Must not fill gaps in the timeline with assumptions.
- Must not submit the form or communicate with AMSA.

**The lawyer checks:**

- The deadlines (4 hours for Form 18 where required, 72 hours for Form 19, and 'as soon as reasonably practicable' for serious DCV incidents) are met.
- Facts are stated, not opinions on cause or liability, and each is supported by a log or witness.
- Notifications to P&I club, hull insurers, ATSB, port authority and others have been considered.

## Authorities

- [Navigation Act 2012 (Cth) ss 185, 186 (reporting of marine incidents to AMSA by owner and master)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2012A00128/latest/text)
- [Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 (Cth) Sch 1 ss 88, 89 (reporting of marine incidents by owner and master of a domestic commercial vessel; written report within 72 hours)](https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2012A00121/latest/text)

## Official form

[Official form](https://www.amsa.gov.au/forms/incident-alert-form-18)

## Where this comes from

The official form is published by amsa.gov.au; this page is a completion guide. Last checked on 2026-10-17.

## Full text and drafting notes

The full text and the drafting notes are not part of this public page. Signed-in firm accounts can read them at https://ailawframework.com/precedents/maritime-shipping-and-transport/marine-incident-alert-and-report and through the signed-in MCP connector https://ailawframework.com/mcp/firm.

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*