The international Cospas-Sarsat  satellite system ceased to process the 121.5 MHz frequency on 1 February 2009. From 1 February only the 406 MHz distress beacon frequency is processed by the Cospas-Sarsat system. This sees the culmination of eight years preparative work with many people in AMSA involved.

The impact of AMSA’s long running ‘Switch to 406’ campaign was quickly highlighted.

Within minutes of the switch off, AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre Australia detected two active 406 MHz distress beacons in the Great Barrier Reef region off the Queensland coast. The RCC coordinated the rescue of four fishermen after their fishing vessel had caught on fire and sunk.

This incident highlights not only the reach of the campaign in the community to switch to 406 but how important the carriage of a 406 is when it comes to saving lives. The 406 beacons digital technology provides AMSA with faster notification and more accurate location, enabling a quicker response to a distress situation.

406 MHz beacons must be registered with AMSA. Registration is free and can be done online at www.amsa.gov.au/beacons. AMSA has had a positive response to its online registration system. Below are some recent statistics and interesting facts about beacon registration.

		Prior to the introduction of online distress beacon registration in July 2008, an average of 42 beacons were registered each day. Since then, this number has increased more than eight-fold to an average of 360 per day.
		60% of all beacon registrations are done via AMSA’s online registry.
		A record 7775 digital distress beacons were registered in December 2008.
		To date, AMSA has received approximately 89,500 distress beacon registrations.
		A considerable number of users who have registered their beacons online have already re-accessed their online accounts to update or add additional information.

* Statistics correct as at 18 February 2009.

Although 121.5 MHz remains the aeronautical distress frequency that can be detected by some aircraft, 121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer effective distress alerting devices. If a signal is detected by aircraft, homing or locating the beacon may take many hours. In some cases the signal may never be heard.

It is essential that all 121.5 MHz distress beacons are withdrawn from the environment to alleviate false alerts that may potentially take valuable resources away from real distress incidents.

Authorities take a dim view of malicious activations of distress beacons and anyone found to be activating a distress beacon when not in a distress situation may be prosecuted.

In its ongoing public education campaign AMSA is also emphasising the importance of appropriate disposal of old analogue models. They should be disabled and disposed of responsibly so that they do not trigger false alarms. Battery World shops are providing free disposal for old beacons.

In mid-2009, Australian governments will decide whether to proceed with a single national maritime safety jurisdiction for all commercial vessels, administered by AMSA. This would replace the current system which is legislated and administered separately by each state/Northern Territory and to a smaller extent, AMSA.

The proposed single national system may lead to significant changes in the way that commercial vessels are managed in Australia. Governments are very keen to ensure that all stakeholders are given the chance to be involved in each stage of the consultation process.

A consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was released in September 2008 to provide information to stakeholders on perceived problems with the current regulatory arrangements, set out the objectives of reform, and provide options for addressing the problems.  This RIS formed the basis of an initial round of consultations which was held in capital cities and regional areas in September and early October 2008 to generate feedback about the costs and benefits of the options. Around 1,000 stakeholders attended the consultation sessions and over 50 submissions were received.

In response to issues raised at those workshops, a second round consultation RIS will be available to the public in early April 2009, providing information on the options for service delivery as well as the costs and benefits identified under a national maritime safety jurisdiction.

The National Approach to Maritime Safety Regulation (NAMSR) Secretariat and the respective state and territory maritime agency will visit capital cities across Australia during this time to meet with stakeholders and discuss the RIS. Stakeholders will also have the opportunity to make further written submissions to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Stakeholder comments will be incorporated into the final RIS that will be considered by the Commonwealth of Australian Governments meeting later in 2009.

While this reform may not directly affect you or your future relationship with AMSA, it may change AMSA’s broader role and we encourage you to keep informed of these processes.

For further information please visit www.amsa.gov.au/namsr.

In early January the commencement of AMSA's new fixed wing aerial dispersant capability contract was marked. Based on the concept of utilising large agricultural aircraft to apply oil spill dispersants, the capability is designed to complement informal dispersant spraying arrangements using helicopters, which are confined to close inshore work.

Following an open tender process the contract was awarded to Australian Maritime Resources Pty Ltd (AMR). The contract provides six aircraft strategically located throughout Australia. The new contract further enhances AMSA's capability to respond to marine oil pollution by introducing an aircraft into northern Australia, reducing aircraft response times, enhancing pilot safety and supporting AMSA and the National Response Team with an AMR Air Base Manager and AMR Dispersant Loading Crews.

Regional cooperation in the International Maritime Organization's initiatives for Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) was advanced earlier this month. Maritime safety representatives from Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands and New Zealand met with AMSA, Border Protection Command (BPC) and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) to progress the cooperative arrangements. AMSA's Manager of Vessel Tracking, Jillian Carson-Jackson, led the meeting, with assistance from Phil Burgess and BPC's Manager for the Australian Maritime Identification System Project, Tony Roulston.

Australia already operates a National Data Centre for the collection and distribution of LRIT information. The other three countries intend to accept an invitation to join with the Australian centre to create an LRIT Cooperative Data Centre (CDC). The meeting developed a draft arrangement document for agreement by Australia and then circulation to the nations concerned. It is intended that the CDC will be in place by mid-2009 to meet IMO requirements.

The meeting was hosted by Professor Martin Tsamenyi of ANCORS at its new premises in the Innovation Campus of the University of Wollongong. ANCORS contributed substantially to the success of the meeting, not only by its professional contribution to consideration of the international legal issues and to compilation of the draft report, but also through the excellent organisation of the venue, local travel and accommodation.

Coordination of safety outcomes in the offshore petroleum sector was further improved in February with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AMSA and the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) by Mr Graham Peachey (CEO AMSA) and Mr John Clegg (CEO NOPSA).

The MOU provides for the cooperation of both parties in the administration of their respective commitments including audits, inspections and incident investigations of offshore facilities. It will help deliver a consistent and comprehensive regulatory regime in offshore waters and avoid duplication in respect of ships and facilities where the two organisations have regulatory obligations.

The MOU amends the previous MOU between the two agencies to reflect recent changes to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and developments in the offshore industry relating to occupational health and safety.

Under the revised MOU, AMSA and NOPSA have agreed to further joint inspections of floating facilities, a combined workshop with industry on cyclone preparedness and a joint approach to dealing with asbestos in the industry.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority met with a delegation of senior officials from the China Classification Society (CCS) on two separate occasions during December 2008 to consolidate arrangements for a training program planned for 2009 that will familiarise CCS auditors with Australia’s ISM audit planning processes and methods of audit and data analysis. The meetings were  conducted under the MOU that was signed in November 2008.

During the meeting, AMSA’s Chairman and CEO met with the seven CCS delegates to welcome them to the Canberra office and introduce them to other members of AMSA’s executive team. The group was also given a brief tour of the Rescue Coordination Centre and search and rescue facilities.

CCS delegates also met with AMSA representatives in Sydney to firm up the details and arrangements for the CCS auditor training and discuss the exchange of letters governing how those activities would take place. To facilitate closer links to industry, a workshop was held with senior representatives of Australian and Chinese shipping companies, Ports Australia, and Rightship, a Ship Vetting & Risk Management Service company. All participants agreed that the meeting was a significant first step in facilitating a close working relationship with Australian and Chinese industry that is critical for maintaining the highest standards of safety and environmental protection for ships trading raw materials and goods between Australia and China.

In November 2008, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Chief Executive Officer, Graham Peachey, signed an agreement formalising a closer relationship with AMSA’s counterpart organisation in the People’s Republic of China. The China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) and AMSA have agreed to closer cooperation and information sharing in areas of common interest including training, port state control, international issues and search and rescue. AMSA has strong ties in the Asia Pacific region and is actively engaging with regional agencies.

China is an important partner in the region and AMSA has developed a strong and beneficial relationship with the MSA. The recent visit of 25 MSA SAR training candidates to AMSA’s Canberra Office is one of the activities under the MOU, and China MSA will be an active participant when AMSA hosts the 10th meeting of the Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies this year in June.

Mr Peachey signed the MOU with Captain Liu, Head of China MSA, and also had a short meeting with the Vice Minister for Communications (the Department which includes MSA).

The 85th Session of IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 85) was held in London from 28 November to 5 December 2008. At this session the new International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code) as well as the new Intact Stability (2008 IS Code) were adopted. Australia has been actively involved in the development of both these codes and it is pleasing to see them reach finalisation. Amendments to the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code) were also adopted which should particularly provide clarity in terms of timing of internal audits.

Approved at this session was the E-Navigation strategy which places a framework in place to further the work on this important item. This is an area that Australia has been contributing significantly to and once again it was pleasing to see that new SOLAS regulations for the mandatory use of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) were approved at this session for adoption at MSC 86.

The Office of Transport Security formed part of the Australian delegation and chaired and participated in the Maritime Security Working Group where guidelines on security for vessels not required to comply with the International Ships and Port Security Code were developed. As well as plenary the AMSA delegates participated in the Goal Based Standards Working Group, the Drafting Group on Mandatory Instruments and the Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) Working Group.

On the 22 January 2009, the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) - Australia coordinated the successful rescue of two French yachtsmen in the Southern Ocean, 630km west of Tasmania. French authorities contacted the RCC indicating that French yacht Austral, with one man and one woman on board, had struck bad weather and had possibly capsized.

RCC tasked the AMSA dedicated Dornier search and rescue aircraft out of Essendon and a Defence P3 Orion to assist with locating the yacht. Container ship Maersk Decatur was also diverted to the location of the yacht. The P3 Orion located the vessel at last light on 22 January.

At approximately 10.00am the following day the crew of the yacht were successfully transferred to the container ship which continued to Melbourne.

To view a video of this rescue, click here.

Seafarer training has always been competency based and aligns naturally with DEST/AQTF/TLISC competency based training (CBT) philosophies. Part of these competencies are gained through and during seatime itself, while others are supported by that underlying seagoing experience. It follows that the time at sea must be relevant, quality time, and in today's training environment must be no longer than necessary. There must also be no unnecessary restrictions on sea service and AMSA policy recognises the diversity of present day shipping - progressively over the last few years recognising sea service on smaller vessels, RAN warships, Australian Customs boats, superyachts, and fishing vessels.

These philosophies have been effected by AMSA in working with industry on the successive drafts of the TLISC Maritime Training Package (MTP), NSCV Part D, and Marine Orders Part 3 in order to create a structured certificate pathway from small (including fishing vessels) to larger internationally trading commercial vessels.

Amongst other things, these philosophies:

		Implement the standards of both STCW-F and the Torremolinos Protocol;
		Remove duplication in the approval and audit of registered training organisations (RTOs) between the States and AMSA, and thus remove duplication of training itself;
		Ensure that all Australian maritime qualifications will be fully STCW compliant by taking full advantage of all near coastal and smaller vessel flexibilities within STCW; and
		Take into account the consultation conducted by NMSC on the review of Part D.

The current proposals to achieve the final detail of these philosophies has been called Tinny to Tanker (T2T) or National Maritime Training and Certification (NMTC); and the consultation feedback to date has been positive. Nevertheless, further and extensive industry consultation is planned for early 2009 with the objective of maximising career planning and advancement for Australian seafarers.

Retiring Constable Frank Raab, of the Fremantle Water Police, has been presented with a Certificate of Commendation Award. The honour was presented to Constable Raab by Western Australia’s Police Commissioner in a ceremony organised by the National Search and Rescue (SAR) Council on 9 December 2008.

The certificate recognises Constable Raab’s outstanding service to Australian search and rescue. Over the years he has contributed a great deal of personal and professional expertise to the development of the search and rescue manuals and training packages, this such efforts have earned him the Commendation award as part of the Annual SAR Awards.

AMSA supports its technical staff in maintaining their maritime competencies. Principal Adviser in the Maritime Standards Division, Iain Kerr, is one person who recently did just that.

Iain had been a master, latterly on expedition ships in Antarctica before joining AMSA, and has recently revalidated his unlimited master’s certificate and was fortunate enough to be offered a two month period as ice pilot on the MV Orion. He worked as an ice pilot on three voyages from Australia and New Zealand, to Antarctica.

As part of its learning and development culture and to highlight the diversity of skills within the organisation AMSA supports its employees to undertake or update their qualifications.

On 16 January, AMSA's Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) - Australia was alerted that the yacht, Narda II, was drifting 75 nautical miles south of Warrnambool in Victoria.

AMSA's dedicated search and rescue aircraft, based out of Essendon, was in flight over the western Bass Strait when it intercepted a VHF call from the disabled yacht. In 30 knot winds, the yacht reported a broken rudder and that its rigging had also been disabled.

The RCC tasked and coordinated with Victoria Police to assist in the rescue operation. The Victoria Police vessel Fearless responded and successfully towed the yacht back to Apollo Bay.

Australia's sixth National Shipping Industry Conference, Natship09, will be held at the Hilton Sydney from 3-5 June 2009.

Convened by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in association with the Australian Shipowners Association, Ports Australia and Shipping Australia Limited, this years Conference will focus on The Future: Our Response to the Challenges.

A range of high calibre national and international speakers will come together to discuss the topics such as Shipping Challenges, Technology for the Future, Coastal Shipping, Operational Responses, and the Future for Seafarers, with Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Admiral Efthimios Mitropoulos, invited to present the Keynote address.

For more information, visit www.amsa.gov.au/natship09 or to register your interest click here.