AMSA's Role

Highlights 2002 -2003

Chairman's report

Board members

Corporate structure

Financial snapshot and performance summary

Outcomes and outputs 2002 - 2003

Chairman's report

AMSA has again recorded a busy and successful year in 2002-2003 in pursuing its safety and environment protection mandate. AMSA's program of organisational reform and upgrading of management systems has resulted in ongoing improvement in the delivery of AMSA services, in line with the Government's policy for public sector reform. This has involved AMSA finding the right balance between internally and externally provided services. It also has required AMSA successfully negotiating and managing a number of commercial contracts for delivery of safety and communications services that have enabled AMSA to demonstrate ongoing efficiency improvements.

These are reflected in another ten per cent reduction from 1 July 2003 in AMSA's Marine Navigation Levy - the eleventh since AMSA commenced operations in 1991. It also is reflected in the performance audit released in June 2003 by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) of AMSA's administration of the aids to navigation network. Aspects of AMSA's management of this function were cited as an example of better practice in the public sector and the report found no areas requiring major improvements in AMSA's administration. AMSA also participated in the ANAO's audit of public sector management of risk and insurance and was in the top ranking agencies under each of the five performance criteria examined by this audit.

AMSA maintained its active role in the International Maritime Organization's consideration of ship safety and environment protection issues relevant to Australia's interests. AMSA officers contributed to major advances in international standards in a range of areas, which are detailed in this report. A major focus has been on the safety standards of tankers in light of the serious pollution incident following the sinking of the fully laden oil tanker, Prestige, off the Spanish coast in November 2002. This has had repercussions in the IMO and closer to home in Australia, with the potential for older, single-hull tankers, banned by some European countries, being transferred to the Asia-Pacific region.

In December 2002, the Board endorsed AMSA upgrading its port State control target inspection rate for higher risk tankers over 15 years old from 80 to 100 per cent and targeting all single-hull tankers, irrespective of their age. The Board also commended AMSA's continued monitoring of tanker operations in Australian waters to further tighten the port State control regime, if warranted.

The Board has approved AMSA examining options to strengthen cooperation with industry in discriminating against substandard shipping. We are seeking to encourage cargo owners and ship charterers to recognise their interest in the standard of ships carrying their goods and to avoid being associated with unsafe and potentially polluting ships.

The Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait has continued to receive special attention by AMSA in its participation in the Minister's Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait Shipping Management Group, which is overseeing implementation of recommendations from the Great Barrier Reef Review of Ship Safety and Pollution Prevention Measures. AMSA is continuing to give attention to the upgrade of the mandatory Ship Reporting System for the region, strengthening coastal pilotage regulation, and promoting IMO recognition of the Torres Strait as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.

The Board has supported AMSA's search and rescue services in seeking to enhance external relations with other search and rescue agencies, both nationally and internationally. A range of measures are being pursued to foster cooperation with State and Territory Police services, which have responsibility for search and rescue within their jurisdictions. AMSA also is working with these agencies to improve small craft safety and promote greater personal responsibility for safety within the recreational boating community. At the international level, AMSA is seeking to contribute to raising regional search and rescue capabilities by sharing expertise and undertaking cooperative exercises with our regional neighbours bordering Australia's extensive search and rescue region.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of AMSA's Advisory Committee, comprising senior executives from our major stakeholder interests. AMSA highly values the Advisory Committee's role in providing feedback both formally and informally about our performance. The Advisory Committee has assisted the Board in setting the broad policy framework for AMSA and provides us with insight at the highest level on future developments in the maritime industry. On behalf of the Board, I wish to express our appreciation of the time and personal involvement of the Advisory Committee members over the last decade and look forward to their continuing input into our strategic planning processes.

I also am indebted to my fellow Board members for their support during the year and especially Mrs Sarina Bratton in her tireless role as Deputy Chair of the Board and Chair of the Board Audit Committee. Board members have continued taking an active interest in all facets of AMSA's work and we regularly hold Board meetings in selected regional ports to gain perspective on AMSA's performance from local participants in the maritime industry. The Board closely monitors developments in best practice corporate governance as detailed in our Report of Operations in this report.

AMSA's success is reliant on the strong morale and dedication of its staff and the Board again records its appreciation of their work and, in many cases, consistent contributions beyond their normal duties. The past year has been both challenging and rewarding for AMSA and we aim to keep building on the proven results of continuous improvement in our organisational structure, management systems and external relations.

Signature
Ken Moss
Chairman
September 2003

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