Message from the CEO

The New Year has begun as rapidly as 2009 finished, and already we find ourselves at the beginning of March.  This year promises to be a big one for AMSA as we see through some major milestones. The first was the opening of our new Canberra-based office on 23 February by our Minister, the Hon. Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, you can read more about this in this edition of AMSA Aboard.

Spillcon 2010 is almost on our doorstep and this promises to be bigger and better than ever.  We have secured former test cricketer, Max Walker as our keynote speaker and he promises to get the conference off to a very positive start.  If you haven’t registered already or if you need more information about this not to be missed industry and government conference you can find out more in this edition of AMSA Aboard or you can visit the website www.spillcon.com.

During the past few months, we have created a new Division within AMSA, the Maritime Reform Group. Our new General Manager, John Fladun and his team are committed to developing a maritime safety commercial vessel legislative framework and operating system and implementing the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) single national regulator reforms. I’m sure you will all get to know John over the coming months as we continue our liaison with our key stakeholders to see this come to fruition.

It promises to be a big year and we are looking forward to the many occasions we will have to speak and socialise with you during 2010. 

I hope you all have had a safe and prosperous start to 2010.

Graham Peachey

Minister opens AMSA Canberra office

AMSA’s new head office in Canberra was officially opened by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Anthony Albanese on Tuesday 23 February.

Although all Canberra staff have been in the building since November 2009, the official opening offered a chance to formalise the building as AMSA’s Canberra-based office accommodation. AMSA’s new modern accommodation recognises the importance of the environment and has been acknowledged for its energy efficient and green-friendly design. The office is bold and open, yet blends well with the surrounding environment of Northbourne Avenue.

Minister Albanese said, “As the national agency for maritime safety, environmental protection, and search and rescue services, you play an enormously important role in this country. The fact that we are the world’s fifth largest shipping country, and that many of our marine areas are unique and pristine, underscores your importance.”

“Last year, AMSA co-ordinated 151 rescues in which 619 people were saved. An average of almost 2 lives saved per day. There are people who are alive today because of the work of AMSA.”

Mr Albanese also spoke of AMSA’s work in creating a national maritime regulatory framework and how vital it is for ushering in a seamless, national economy fit for the 21st century.

“For too long, our regulatory systems have been State-based, encouraging multiple jurisdictions and the inefficiency which comes with it," he said.

Mr Albanese highlighted the work AMSA does, both of which attracts headlines, as well as the work that doesn’t.  The Minister said that as AMSA’s headquarters, the work conducted in 82 Northbourne will play a major role in the protection of lives and of the environment.

He said, “The work that you do is an important part in building a safe, strong, sustainable future for Australia.”

Click here to read the Minister's speech in full.

Farewell to Captain John Watkinson, General Manager, Maritime Safety Queensland

By Jim Huggett, Acting Director Pilotage & Hydrographic Services,
Maritime Safety Queensland

Captain John Watkinson recently retired from the role as General Manager with Maritime Safety Queensland. John has been at the helm of Maritime Safety Queensland (in its various guises) for the last 13 years and the head of MSQ since its inception in 2002. He has made an outstanding contribution to the maritime industry in Queensland and Australia.

He received a Public Service Medal in 2008 for services to the maritime industry in Queensland. 

He is a Master Mariner with over 40 years experience in the maritime industry. He commenced his career at sea in 1966 rising to the position of Master in 1977. After leaving the sea he held various positions within the Maritime Services Board in New South Wales before joining the then Department of Harbours and Marine in Queensland in 1983.  John's positions included marine pilot, shipping inspector and harbour master before moving into executive management in 1997.

John's commitment to furthering the development of the maritime industry in Australia, and particularly in Queensland, along with his dedication to improving safety for the industry and the general boating community, has been unparalleled in Queensland. John has set his compass on achieving safer ships and cleaner seas in Queensland waters.

John is acknowledged across all governments and maritime jurisdictions of Australia as being a leading advisor on nautical and maritime matters in Australia. His experience has helped guide government decision making on strategic maritime issues at all levels.

Captain Watkinson has performed with distinction the role of State Marine Pollution Controller in Queensland for over a decade. During this period there have a number of serious ship groundings in Queensland ports and the Great Barrier Reef. As State Marine Pollution Controller in Queensland, John is highly experienced and most recently used his skill in leading the response to the Pacific Adventurer oil spill in 2009. John has an outstanding temperament and ability to stay calm under pressure. He is no fair-weather sailor.

John is a valued member of a number of senior government policy setting committees and industry working groups across Australia, including:

• Chairman, Queensland State Committee for the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (the "National Plan");
• Queensland representative on the Australian National Plan Management Committee;
• Queensland representative on the Australian Maritime Group;
• Queensland representative and Treasurer of the National Marine Safety Committee;
• Member of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Advisory Committee; and
• Founding Member of the International Harbour Masters Association.

John has made a lasting and valued contribution to the maritime industry both in Queensland and Australia and is admired and respected by the staff of Maritime Safety Queensland, he will be missed.

John's dedication and commitment to the maritime industry is second to none. 

AMSA would like to thank John for his hard work and dedication to maritime safety over the years, and wishes him well in all future endeavours.

Spillcon 2010 - Asia-Pacific's Premiere Oil Spill Prevention & Preparedness Conference

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority together with the Australian Institute of Petroleum, Marine Safety Victoria, and the Port of Melbourne Corporation invite delegates to Spillcon 2010 - Asia-Pacific's Oil Spill Prevention & Preparedness Conference. Spillcon 2010 will be held in Melbourne, Australia from Monday 12 to Friday 16 April 2010 and registrations for this Conference are now open.

With an array of information-sharing sessions covering hazardous & noxious substances response, new technologies, recent incident case studies, legislation & policies, and oil spill media response, delegates from the equipment, shipping, ports, government and non-government sectors are encouraged to attend. Inspiring delegates on the first day of the Program with the Keynote Address will be former Australian Test Cricketer, Max Walker.

Max will encourage delegates to think outside the box, to discover and develop, and to put the best of life’s experiences into positive directions for the future. The fifth day of the Conference will focus on Response & the Environment with sessions dedicated to response and recovery at sea, on shore and impacts to wildlife.

In addition to the line-up of expert speakers from Australia and abroad, Spillcon 2010 will showcase a record 30 exhibitors and includes a tour of the Port of Melbourne.

The registration period for Spillcon 2010 is now open and delegates can register online at www.spillcon.com. To take advantage of the extended Early Bird rates, make sure you register before Monday 8 March 2010.

Maritime Safety Reform

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Department of Transport, Infrastructure, Regional Development and Local Government (DITRDLG), State/Northern Territory maritime agencies and the National Maritime Safety Committee (NMSC) are working together to establish an effective and efficient national system of maritime safety regulation for commercial vessels.

Focus over the next few months will be on building partnerships with State/NT maritime agencies to develop service delivery arrangements under a national system for commercial vessels. 

Work has also commenced on transitioning NMSC commercial vessel related functions, with the NMSC and AMSA jointly developing a marine survey competencies and training package to support national consistency in this area.

The rewrite of the Navigation Act 1912 forms part of the Governments maritime reform agenda.  It is proposed that a new maritime safety Act will incorporate the rewrite of the broader provisions of the Navigation Act in parallel with the amendments required to implement the single national system.

Details of the approach to rewriting the Act are currently under development.

AMSA and DITRDLG are committed to meaningful consultation on each of these reforms.

AMSA is also redrafting Marine Orders Part 3, Seafarer Qualifications (MO 3) to incorporate certificates for use in smaller commercial vessels.  The new version of MO 3 will embody what has become known as the Tinny to Tanker concept, or T2T, drawing on feedback received in 2009 from public consultation undertaken about T2T. 

AMSA will engage in further public consultation on the new version of MO 3 for a two month period. The usual consultation period for an amended or reviewed MO is one month, but due to the anticipated high level of interest in this new version of MO 3 it will be important that every opportunity is provided to permit industry time to properly digest the new version of MO 3 and to comment on it.

IMO launches 'Year of the Seafarer'

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) launched the theme for this year’s World Maritime Day – 2010: Year of the Seafarer at IMO’s London headquarters on 11 January 2010, co-hosted with the International Shipping Federation (ISF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

Speaking at the event, IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos said 2010 promised to be an auspicious and important year for the seafaring profession, with a diplomatic conference meeting in Manila in June to adopt amendments that will bring the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention), and its associated Code, fully up to date with today’s expectations.

Admiral Mitropoulos said designating 2010 as the Year of the Seafarer would help to reassure those who work at the 'sharp end' of the industry – the seafarers themselves – that those responsible for the international regulatory regime understand the extreme pressures seafarers face and they approach their task with a genuine sympathy for the work seafarers carry out.

“Seafarers deserve respect and recognition: let us resolve, during 2010, to ensure that this message is trumpeted loud and clear,” Mr Mitropoulos said.

For the full release, click here.

MOU provides new pathway for yachtsmen to gain STCW seafarer qualifications

AMSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Graham Peachey, met with Yachting Australia (YA) CEO, Mr Phil Jones, to sign an MOU in January. The MOU facilitates a pathway for holders of Yachtmaster Offshore qualifications to have their qualifications recognised within AMSA’s proposed STCW near coastal seafarer’s qualification structure, under AMSA’s “Tinny to Tanker” initiative.

YA is an incorporated association whose constitutional members are the eight States and Territory Member Yachting Associations and is the peak National governing body for the sport of yachting in Australia. It's also recognised by the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Olympic Committee and the International Sailing Federation.

At various forums, YA expressed to AMSA that there was a pressing need for a proportion of Australian yachting personnel to hold Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) qualifications to allow them to gain employment in the local, national and international yachting industry.

AMSA’s review of Marine Orders Part 3 (MO 3) has given rise to such an opportunity and the occasion signifies a new and exciting phase for both AMSA and Yachting Australia.

AMSA Emergency Towage Vessel provides assistance

On the morning of 29 December 2009, AMSA’s Emergency Towage Vessel (ETV) Pacific Responder was steaming in the vicinity of Cape York when the master noted a small yellow boat drifting nearby with a person standing on the bow waving for assistance.

The Pacific Responder closed in on the 5m fibreglass dinghy, passed a line and secured it alongside. The dinghy, carrying three adults and two children, was drifting due to a disabled outboard motor which the Pacific Responder engineer was unable to repair.

The dinghy was towed back to safety at Thursday Island by the ETV’s tender.

AMSA delivers Port State Control training in Iran

Fremantle's Regional Principal Marine Surveyor, Carlo Di Meglio, spent two weeks in Iran delivering Port State Control (PSC) training to Iranian PSC Officers in conjunction with the Tokyo MOU Secretariat.

The first week of training was conducted in Tehran and the second week at the port city of Bandar Abbas on the shores of the Persian Gulf.

Carlo, who was assisted by two Japanese PSC officers, said the training was well received by all participants. The host Authority extended its gratitude towards AMSA for their professional and informative sessions.

It's anticipated that AMSA may deliver similar training to Iran in the future.

Establishment of the AMSA Seafarers Welfare Advisory Committee

The shipping industry depends on the seafarers that crew the ships of the world’s commercial fleets. The welfare of those seafarers is a major factor in the safe working and operation of the industry. However, until early last decade there had been little in the way of a coordinated national approach to this vital human aspect.

In 2002, the Federal Government provided a grant of $100,000, which was matched by the International Transport Workers’ Federation, to establish the National Seafarers Welfare Advisory Council (NSWAC). NSWAC was established to inter alia encourage, coordinate and support the development of port welfare committees. In 2006, NSWAC ceased operating; however, the Port Welfare Committees that were created during its tenure have survived.

Regulation 4.4 of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) calls for the establishment of welfare boards at the port, regional and national level. It is seen as beneficial, therefore the Australian Maritime Safety Authority  took the lead in establishing the new Committee in accordance with the same aims that NSWAC had in 2002, plus the additional objective of developing channels of communication aimed at facilitating the effective implementation of the MLC.

An initial meeting of the Committee was convened in Sydney on 28 October 2009 and with the Committee now in place, contact is being sought with the Chairs of existing Port Welfare Committees and also key welfare providers in those ports where PWCs (or similar) do not exist, but where it has been identified that there is a need for better-resourced or more cohesive seafarer support services.

Further information on the Committee is available at www.amsa.gov.au/seafarers_welfare.

AMSA involved in delegation for the Antarctic Treaty Meeting of Experts

As part of an Australian delegation, Manager of Ship Safety, Maritime Standards Division, Brad Groves and Manager Planning & Business Support, Emergency Response Division, Colin Barr attended the Antarctic Treaty Meeting of Experts (ATME) in Wellington, New Zealand, held in December.

The Delegation was lead by Lyn Maddock, Director of Australian Antarctic Division with support from officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Antarctic Division, AMSA and Mr Don McIntyre of Orion Expedition Cruises. 

The meeting considered matters related to the management of ship-borne tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Area. 

This included discussion on:

• Trends in shipping, developments in IMO;
• Maritime safety in Antarctica including ship design and construction, safe vessel operation, hydrography and charting;
• Port State Control;
• Search and rescue;
• Pollution response; and
• Environmental safeguards. 

The ATME developed a number of recommendations which will go to the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in May.  A significant outcome from the meeting will be improved coordination between IMO and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting process as the Polar Code is developed.

Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) visit AMSA

Three representatives from Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), Asia Pacific General Manager, Mr Michele Francioni, Manager - Singapore, Mr Subrata Das and Manager - Australia, Mr Merdan Solak, visited AMSA in February to discuss RINA's application to gain AMSA recognition.

The RINA representatives met with AMSA's CEO, Acting Deputy CEO-Maritime Standards Division, Deputy CEO - Maritime Operations Division and Ship Safety representatives to discuss a range of matters including new ship and yacht building, and arrangements are being put in place for RINA to be recognised by AMSA to conduct statutory functions on our behalf.

A follow-on technical meeting was held to discuss AMSA's Recognised Organisation requirements with MSD and MOD staff, including details of a future audit of RINA's Brisbane office. RINA will be the ninth Classification Society to be recognised by AMSA.

Quick thinking saves fishing friends

AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) received a satellite detection from a distress beacon on 30 January 2010.  Inquiries indicated the distress beacon was registered to a seven metre Stabicraft that was located less then a mile offshore from Boatswain Point, near Robe in South Australia.

The RCC spoke with the emergency contact listed on AMSA’s distress beacon database, the wife of the captain of the vessel, and established there were four males on board, known to be fishing near the area.

The captain’s wife assisted the RCC by travelling to Boatswain Point and advising that the vessel and four occupants, all wearing lifejackets, were visible from shore.  The vessel had also deployed two flares.

The RCC tasked an aircraft of opportunity, a Royal Flying Doctor Service aeroplane, to provide assistance. AMSA’s dedicated search and rescue Dornier aircraft from Melbourne and a rescue helicopter from Adelaide were also tasked to respond.

The South Australian Police, who were assisting with sourcing and tasking appropriate surface rescue assets, were offered assistance from a local man who owned a vessel in the area. His vessel, a sixteen foot dingy proceeded to the distress location and was able to rescue all four males from the upturned hull, returning them safely to shore.

Information later provided to the South Australian police indicated the vessel had been overturned by a large wave. The skipper had dived underneath to assist a trapped crewmember and retrieve the emergency grab bag, thereby activating the emergency beacon and alerting the RCC to the distress situation.   

First anniversary of 121.5 MHz satellite switch off

The one year anniversary of the cessation of satellite processing of 121.5 MHz distress beacons was marked on 1 February 2010.

Registration of distress beacons with AMSA peaked at nearly 10,000 in February 2009.  Over the last year, 77,627 beacons have been registered and most recently in January 2010, 4854 beacons were registered, with about 62% of these being completed via AMSA’s online registration system. 

AMSA expects an increase in activity from June, when distress beacon owners will need to contact AMSA for their two year renewal registration and receive their updated proof of registration stickers.

Despite it being one year after the ‘Switch to 406’, about 30% of beacon detections are still from old 121.5 MHz analogue beacons. All inadvertent or malicious activations place extra demand on search and rescue authorities and take valuable resources away from potential life and death situations.

Anyone still holding on to a 121.5 MHz distress beacon is reminded to dispose of it appropriately.  This can be done free of charge at any Battery World outlet in Australia.

As of Monday, 1 February 2010, 121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer licensed for use for any purpose and all 121.5 MHz beacons should be withdrawn from the environment immediately.

For more information, click here.

Lucky escape - quite the cliff-hanger

Three men had a lucky escape when their helicopter crashed in the Mount Barney National Park, North of Woodenbong (Kyogle) on 28 January 2010.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was notified by the Queensland Police of a triple-0 call reporting the helicopter crash, 83 kilometres southwest of Coolangatta. Attempts by the RCC to contact the pilot via his mobile phone and radio calls via Air Traffic Control were unsuccessful, however the company was able to provide some useful details including the approximate position of the helicopter (near West Barney Peak, McPherson Ranges). There were three persons on board and they were reported to be uninjured but needing rescue assistance.

The RCC tasked the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter, who responded and located the crashed helicopter on top of East Barney Peak, on a ridge. In two trips, the rescue helicopter winched the three men out to Woodenbong Oval where they were met by Police and a road ambulance.

As indicated by the perilous position of the helicopter, the three men were very lucky to not only have survived the impact of the crash, but also to have put the aircraft down on such a narrow ridge line.

Jerry Price and Sean O’Neill bid farewell to AMSA

Long time Maritime Operations staff, Jerry Price and Sean O'Neill were farewelled in Canberra on 12 February 2010. Both are due to retire during March and April 2010. Jerry is Manager-North, based in Brisbane, and Sean is Manager - South, based in Melbourne.

Both originally started their careers with 'the Transport Department' 'sometime in the 70's' and witnessed the establishment of AMSA. They have watched the organisation grow and have seen dramatic changes with the industry during that time. With over 60 years experience between them they will be very much missed by AMSA and the industry, as they leave to pursue a life of leisure.

Completion of developmental testing -
Australia National LRIT Data Centre

The International Maritime Organization advised the members of the Australian National Data Centre (AusCDC) that the final steps had been completed for the integration of the 'AusCDC' into the production environment of Long Range Identification Tracking system (LRIT) in early February.

The AusCDC is the name given to the Australian National Data Centre offering services to the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. This announcement comes one year after the initial meeting of the potential members of the AusCDC, hosted by the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) at their facilities in Wollongong, NSW in February 2009.

The members of the AusCDC met via teleconference every six weeks in the time period between February 2009 and February 2010 to address a number of issues and work through the steps required to respond to the process of the developmental testing.

AusCDC members recently met to address a number of outstanding issues and receive training on the system at their annual face to face meeting, hosted by Maritime Cook Islands at their facilities on Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The membership of the AusCDC highlights the benefits of participating in a cooperative approach to responding to the obligations of SOLAS regulation 19-1, and the group will continue to meet regularly via teleconference until the next planned face to face meeting in February 2011.

An ambitious set of action items resulting from the meeting will assist members in the next phase of LRIT implementation, as well as provide an opportunity to advise IMO of the experience of the start-up of the system.

Former Deputy CEO honoured with major award

In December, former AMSA Deputy Chief Executive Officer – Maritime Standards Division, Gary Prosser was awarded the Peter Morris Prize, given to an alumni of the Australian Maritime College.

The awards were presented at a Gala Dinner at the Tramsheds, Inversek, Launceston. It was attended by the AMC Board, staff, graduating students and their families who were joined by industry sponsors and guest speaker Director of Incat, Robert Clifford. The award was presented to Mr Prosser for his significant contribution to the maritime industry.

This year the annual event featured, for the first time, AMC Principal’s Roll of Excellence, along with other major academic awards and prizes.

Mr Prosser’s was one of six major awards presented on the night and the full list of winners can be found at www.amc.edu.au.