What is the AGSA Scheme?

The Accredited Grain Surveyor Assurance (AGSA) Scheme is an Australian government-mandated program, that commenced on 1 July 2023. It requires marine surveyors to be accredited by the Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors (AIMS) to survey and certify bulk grain vessels in accordance with agricultural export legislation and the Standard for Empty Bulk Vessel Surveys. The Scheme replaces older, less structured arrangements, ensuring better oversight of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Bulk Vessel Inspection Authorised Officers (BVI AOs) who maintain the standard for Australia’s grain exports.

Key Aspects of the AGSA Scheme:

• Purpose: The AGSA Scheme ensures surveyors have appropriate qualifications and experience to survey and certify a vessel as suitable to load dry bulk export products.
• The Scheme allows the AIMS to verify and confirm that a marine surveyor qualifications and experience are such that they are sufficiently qualified to certify vessels as “fit to load” grain and that they can provide high-quality, standardised, and compliant surveys to confirm a bulk vessels suitability to carry grain.
• Administration: The surveyor accreditation component of the Scheme is administered by AIMS and overseen by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
• Requirements: Surveyors must be on the official list of accredited grain surveyors on the AIMS website in order to conduct surveys and issue a valid Fitness to Load Certificate.
• Standards for Survey: Accredited surveyors must conduct their work in accordance with a mandatory Code of Conduct and the Standard for Empty Bulk Vessel Surveys.
• Costs & Insurance: Accreditation requires an application fee and an annual fee, as outlined on the AIMS website as well as the requirement for the surveyor to hold current professional indemnity insurance.

Usage Examples (When the Scheme Applies):

• Bulk Vessel Surveys: A surveyor uses the Scheme to certify that a vessel’s holds are clean enough to load grain and issue a Fitness to Load Certificate, which is necessary for the vessel to be approved by the BVI AO.
• Compliance Verification: Shipping agents and exporters verify the accreditation status of a surveyor on the AIMS website before appointing them. This ensures that the “fitness to load” certificate is valid.
• Authorised Officer – BVI AO: use the Scheme to verify that the appointed surveyor is accredited to perform the survey. A BVI AO is prohibited from accepting “Fitness to Load” certificates from any surveyor who is not on the official list of accredited grain surveyors.