The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) advice follows the grounding of the Sheng Neng I coal carrier this month on Douglas Shoal, outside the current mandatory reporting zone.
Expanding the reporting and tracking zone must be ratified by the International Maritime Organisation.
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Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday said the ratification process is required because 55 per cent of the proposed new coverage area is beyond Australia's territorial waters.
"In the meantime, AMSA in conjunction with Maritime Safety Queensland will begin rolling out the infrastructure necessary to support the reporting system, such as sensors, communications equipment and modified navigational software," he said in a statement.
"By beginning this work now, our authorities will be fully ready for the start of mandatory reporting in July 2011."
Mr Albanese also said maritime and environmental legislation will reviewed with the intention of toughening penalties.
