Welcome to the Winter 2009 edition of AMSA Aboard !

Message from the CEO

As you would be aware AMSA is currently dealing with the oil leak from the West Atlas that occurred on Friday 21 August. AMSA is continuing its work on this incident, keeping all of our people busy and focused on acheiving the best outcome. We are geared up and prepared for the long haul and you can read more about the incident in this edition of AMSA Aboard.

On other matters, the incident involving the Pacific Adventurer off South East Queensland earlier this year has gained a vast amount of coverage and I’m pleased to confirm the matter is now in the process of settlement.  The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier, Ms Anna Bligh have reached an agreement with Swire Shipping on a settlement of compensation to the amount of $25 million.  Under this agreement, Swire is to provide $17.5 million towards a Court administered fund for compensation of valid claims arising from the spill. The remaining amount, a $7.5 million donation, will fund a trust to help improve marine protection.

There have been many other issues keeping us busy. In June we successfully completed our national shipping industry week which included Natship09 and the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum in Sydney.  Natship09 recorded its highest attendance with over 250 delegates and APHoMSA was represented by some 35 countries. Both were extremely well received and we now look forward to our next conference, Spillcon, an International Oil Spill Conference, to be held next April in Melbourne. Visit www.spillcon.com for further information.  

AMSA continues its close working relationship with Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) on a raft of initiatives under the Torres Strait Marine Safety Program to help enhance safety measures in the Torres region.  AMSA has purchased and provided more than 350 digital 406 MHz Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) to local Torres Strait communities.  Additionally, AMSA has assisted with the production of safety stickers for attaching to small vessels to indicate the typical fuel usage for passage around Torres Strait, both for Australian and Papua New Guinea users. AMSA’s contribution to further improving safety is paramount in maintaining a presence within the area and we are continuing to work with our colleagues in MSQ to ensure best outcomes for the region.

Our Rescue Coordination Centre has been kept busy with numerous searches and medevacs and you can read more about these in this edition of AMSA Aboard.

Progress is also being made on the “Tinny to Tanker” (T2T) reform and the proposed revision of Marine Orders Part 3. The T2T proposal is the result of several years of consultation with industry stakeholders and ongoing communications with individual seafarers. We hope to see its implementation in early 2010. You can read more about T2T in this edition or visit www.amsa.gov.au/t2t

AMSA has recently reviewed its internal Performance Development process and we continue to encourage and provide all AMSA staff with the necessary resources for further learning and development. Continual learning is important in fostering a productive working environment and allows staff to remain informed and up to date on best work practices. We are ever mindful that our people have valuable input into the organisation and we are dedicated to ensure this links into our corporate objectives.

I hope you enjoy this edition of AMSA Aboard.


Graham Peachey
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AMSA conducts clean up off Western Australian Coast

As this issue of AMSA Aboard goes to publication we are currently dealing with the oil leak off the Western Australian coastline from the West Atlas.

The incident occurred early on Friday 21 August. Within 15 minutes of notification of the incident AMSA had commenced mobilising equipment and personnel, to ensure operations could begin as quickly as possible. The response was formally handed over to AMSA by PTTEP Australasia and the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances (The National Plan) was activated.

The response to the incident will be protracted and will continue for some time. Aircraft including a Hercules and two fixed wing AMR aircraft are being used to apply dispersant to the area to break down the oil. AMSA’s Dornier has also been providing communication and mapping assistance for the operation.  

The use of dispersants is proving successful, with a reduction in size of the slick being observed. These aircraft will continue to assist in the clean up with supplementary dispersant stocks being deployed from the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC) in Geelong, Victoria. Along with their assistance, AMSA is well prepared for the protracted clean up involved.  

AMSA is also continuing to work closely with PTTEP Australasia, who retain responsibility for the incident and the stopping of the leak. The company has indicated it will be weeks before the leak is able to be stopped. To read more please refer to the PTTEP Australasia website.

At this stage there is no risk posed to the West Australian coastline and AMSA continues to work in close consultation with environmental specialists to monitor this aspect of the operation.

Updates on the incident will continue to be posted on our website www.amsa.gov.au
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International Lighthouse Weekend Celebrations

The weekend of 15 and 16 August celebrated International Lighthouse Weekend which was a worldwide celebration of lighthouses and lightships. The weekend promoted the need to preserve and restore these iconic buildings which have become part of our cultural heritage. Closer to home, New South Wales hosted celebrations at the Smoky Cape Lighthouse, to honour those who have contributed to the Northern NSW Lighthouse Oral History Project.

Those involved with the Northern NSW Lighthouse Oral History Project were in attendance to celebrate the event on Sunday 16 August. The project was an initiative of the Northern NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change & Water Branch (DECC). Stories of lighthouse-keeping families were collected, with a focus on those within National Parks in northern NSW.

Also coinciding with this event, AMSA's Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Maritime Standards Division, Gary Prosser, represented AMSA at a ceremony to mark the opening of the refurbished lighthouse at Smoky Cape near Kempsey on the NSW north coast. As part of these refurbishment works, an interpretative display was established by AMSA in the old engine room in the tower.

Also present from AMSA to supervise tours of the Smoky Cape display was Lyndon O’Grady from the Navigation Safety section, who was instrumental in establishing the display.  DECC and the local caretakers were highly appreciative of Lyndon’s efforts on the project which will considerably improve the visitor experience at the site.


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Two Rescued off Forsyth Island

Several overflying aircraft reported hearing an analogue 121.5 MHz distress beacon signal in the vicinity of Mornington Island late in the evening of 13 and the morning of 14 August. Concurrently, Queensland Police were investigating reports that a 4.3m dinghy with two people on board was overdue on a passage from Mornington (Gununa) to Forsyth Island and Bentinck Island. A light aircraft from Burketown, AMSA's dedicated search and rescue Dornier aircraft from Cairns, and a Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) vessel from Mornington were tasked.

The light aircraft aurally homed the beacon to a position off Forsyth Island however was unable to see any signs of distress. The VMR vessel was unable to locate the vessel at that location and commenced a search around Forsyth Island. The Dornier aircraft was able to home the beacon to a position 1.3 nautical miles further offshore and was able to identify with Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) vision, a dingy with two people on board which had broken down. The VMR vessel was directed to the confirmed position and took the dinghy in tow back to Mornington.

The two occupants of the dinghy were later issued with an infringement notice for not carrying a 406 MHz distress beacon which is now required by law in all states and the Northern Territory.

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Proposed T2T Nearing Implementation

AMSA’s review of Marine Orders Part 3, Seagoing Qualifications includes a number of initiatives to incorporate near-coastal certificates.  These initiatives have become known as the "Tinny to Tanker" plan or T2T.  The T2T proposal is the result of several years of consultation with industry stakeholders and ongoing communications with individual seafarers.

T2T will provide a complete suite of AMSA certificates to cover all Australian seagoing qualifications from near-coastal to unlimited, including the fishing industry, to be compliant with the STCW or the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), as applicable.

T2T intends to create workable career paths for Australian seafarers from near-coastal level certificates to unlimited qualifications required for international trading ships incorporating the requirements of the STCW-F Convention; this is still to come into force internationally.  This concept is underpinned by the Maritime Training Package that has been developed within the Australian Qualifications Training Framework.

AMSA will offer an alternative system to those certificates issued by States and the Northern Territory, however the two systems will exist parallel and seafarers will be able to hold either or both qualifications.

The MO 3 revision process commenced in July 2009 and is anticipated to enter public consultation in late 2009 with implementation expected to be in early 2010.

For further information, visit www.amsa.gov.au/t2t.

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Visit from the International Labour Organization

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Director of Labour Standards, Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, visited AMSA on 21 July with David Yardley from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). Ms Doumbia-Henry is known as the "Mother of the Maritime Labour Convention" and was in Australia promoting ratification of the Convention and primarily meeting with DEEWR. The meeting with AMSA was very positive and built upon the relationship established with Mr Dani Appave, ILO Senior Maritime Specialist - Sectoral Activities Branch, who attended the Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum and AMSA's National Shipping Industry Conference in June, on behalf of the ILO.

The ILO is looking to Australia to provide leadership in the region supporting the ratification of the Convention, expected to enter into force internationally in 2011. Ms Doumbia-Henry was pleased AMSA has one ILO-certified trainer for inspectors under the Convention and are about to have another trained, and able to provide technical assistance in the region in partnership with the ILO. Further, during the meeting both the ILO and DEEWR clearly received the message that AMSA is preparing to implement the Convention, and only needs the legislative mechanisms and authority from DEEWR as the lead Australian Government department, to proceed with this work.

A stakeholder meeting for the Maritime Labour Convention was held on 23 July. This meeting was hosted by DEEWR and was attended by the Australian Shipowners Association, the maritime unions, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and AMSA.

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Novantes Medical Evacuation

On Saturday 8 August AMSA's Rescue Coordination Centre was contacted by a ships agent for the Singapore-registered livestock carrier Novantes requesting their assistance in a medevac for a sick crew member on board.

The ship was diverted to a position approximately 85 nautical miles from Darwin to allow the Careflight1 helicopter to rendezvous with the ship and winch a doctor and crewperson on board to provide medical treatment to the sick crewman. The patient was then airlifted off the carrier with AMSA’s dedicated search and rescue Dornier, from Darwin, assisting in providing top cover for the operation. The crewman was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital.

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"Cleaner, Greener Ships of the Future" - Glebe Public School Visit

On Friday 7 August, Chief Executive Officer, Graham Peachey and Deputy Chief Executive Officer Maritime Standards Division, Gary Prosser, attended Glebe Public School to present a framed picture of the winning artwork from AMSA's recent children’s art competition.

The competition was conducted as part of Natship09 in June with AMSA inviting Glebe Public School to create posters of “Cleaner, Greener Ships of the Future”. AMSA received an overwhelming response from children of all ages from Kindergarten to Year 6, and uncovered some great talent. Congratulations to the prize winning artists: 1st Place, Finn Berzin of Year 4; 2nd Place, Andy Kim of Year 6; and 3rd Place, Summer Streeting of Kindergarten.

2010 Calendars showcasing the Top 12 artworks were also presented to Glebe’s Principal, Vicki Pogulis and Arts teacher, Hilary Seymour at the special school assembly. AMSA encourages children to be educated, aware and involved in areas relating to boating safety and marine environment protection. AMSA will endeavour to continue to build relationships with schools and communities such as Glebe Public School in the future.

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AIS to the Rescue

On Friday 31 July the Rescue Coordination Centre Australia was contacted by a concerned relative of a crew member from the yacht Mai Tai.

Mai Tai, an 11.2 metre catamaran had two Australian males on board, aged 61 and 53, who were competing in a return yacht race from Darwin to Ambon. It was reported the catamaran was in trouble and breaking up in Indonesian waters, approximately 114 nautical miles South / South West of Ambon.

The RCC was able to establish direct contact with the catamaran and confirmed the crew required assistance and wished to abandon their vessel. The RCC then coordinated with authorities from BASARNAS Jakarta, and requested that merchant vessel Gerasimos divert to assist the stricken catamaran. The RCC was able to identify the vessel Gerasimos by using a trial Automatic Identification System (AIS) via satellite feed coordinated by Vessel Tracking, Emergency Response Division, which allows AMSA to see all active vessels transmitting on AIS in the Australian region.

The two men were safely taken on board Gerasimos and were on their way to Long Kou, China, which was the destination of the vessel before it was diverted.

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102nd Council Meeting of the International Maritime Organization

AMSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Graham Peachey recently led the Australian delegation at the 102nd Council Meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) receiving particular thanks from the Secretary-General for Australia’s contribution to international efforts combating piracy.

Australia was also pleased to receive formal acknowledgement from other Member States for its recent hosting of the 10th Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum and for its contribution to transport assistance projects in Indonesia. 

Australia made several interventions during Council proceedings to support a range of initiatives including the institutionalisation of the Audit Scheme and joined a majority of Council members to support proposed budget increases for 2010-11 while seeking further efficiencies in its operation.

Australia is one of 40 Council members which govern the United Nations agency and will be standing for re-election to Council in November 2009 when all 169 members meet for the 26th Assembly Meeting of the IMO.

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Kuuku Ya'u Native Title Determination

On Thursday 25 June, Principal Solicitor - Operations, Mary Dean, and Manager of Navigation Safety, Gerry Brine attended the Kuuku Ya’u Native Title Determination on behalf of Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

The Native Title Determination has been in progress since 1998 and is groundbreaking as it is the first consent determination that includes a large area of land and sea. This area covers the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the area around Lockhart River in Queensland.  As part of its maritime safety functions, AMSA maintains a network of 360 aids to navigation around the Australian coastline and regards its aids to navigation as complementing and assisting the objectives of traditional owners in the protection of the environmental values of the land and sea.

These navigation aids assist transiting ships to navigate safely in sensitive marine areas thereby contributing to the prevention of ship sourced pollution of the fragile marine environment.  In this particular geographical area, AMSA has six aids to navigation within the Kuuku Ya’u title determination.

The Kuuku Ya’u native title determination gives AMSA and traditional owners greater clarity about how AMSA will manage access to its aid to navigation sites to minimise the impact on traditional owners and the environment. In this regard, AMSA has defined the required operational zones it requires to undertake both cyclical maintenance work and capital improvement or replacement works.

AMSA looks forward to a cooperative relationship with the Kuuku Ya’u people through their representatives, the Northern Kuuku Ya’u Kanthanampu Aboriginal Corporation.

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Indonesian BASARNAS Visit

AMSA hosted four search and rescue officers from Indonesia's search and rescue authority, BASARNAS, on a five day working visit to the Search and Rescue School this past week.  Agus, Barokna, Haris and Budi are all experienced SAR officers working with Murray Brissett, Head of AMSA’s National SAR School, and Paul Threlfall, SAR Instructor, in further development of a SAR Mission Coordinators Course and Train the Trainer course to be conducted in Jakarta in October 2009. 

The visit and course is sponsored under the auspices of the Federal Government's ITSAP (Indonesian Transport Safety Assistance Package) program. Indonesian Embassy officials, Erlina and Silvy took the opportunity to farewell the BARARNAS officers along with AMSA’s Chief Executive Officer,
Mr Graham Peachey.

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Lucky Rescue by MV Scarlett Lucy

On 22 May the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) was contacted by the United States Coast Guard and informed that a 16 metre yacht, Sumatra II with two people on board, had activated their US registered 406 MHz distress beacon. The yacht, approximately 350 nautical miles East of Brisbane, was taking on water and sinking. RCC Australia made contact via an onboard satellite phone and established contact with the two men. They were advised to remain with the yacht as long as possible and be prepared to evacuate the yacht when required.

RCC Australia coordinated five fixed wing aircraft to assist in locating the yachts position, and a broadcast to shipping was issued with the merchant vessel MV Scarlett Lucy responding and diverting to the distress position.  The weather conditions in the area were very poor with rough seas, up to 8 metres and low visibility. The distance offshore meant that a rescue helicopter could not be utilised.  When the MV Scarlett Lucy arrived on scene, they faced an enormous task of rescuing the two men. 

The first man, a 39 year old New Zealand national was able to be recovered to the MV Scarlett Lucy by climbing up a boarding net.  The second man, a 72 year old United States national however drifted in the water for some 45 minutes with the MV Scarlett Lucy's crew utilising life rings to attempt to bring him on board. It took persistence and tremendous bravery from the crew to eventually rescue the man from the water.

With both men safely on board, the crew of the MV Scarlett Lucy continued en route to Sydney where they berthed early Sunday morning. AMSA’s Search and Rescue Officer, Noel Molloy, presented the very humbled crew with a Certificate of Appreciation and plaque for their outstanding efforts in this successful rescue. 

To view the video of the rescue, click here.

The two rescued crewman from the Sumatra II were also able to visit the RCC and participate in a debrief of the rescue operation.  The details from this debrief provided valuable information and insight into how the event unfolded. The two men on board showed excellent skill and were extremely well prepared for the circumstances they faced. It is anticipated the outcomes of the debrief will be incorporated for future training purposes in yacht race presentations.

The incredible circumstances surrounding this rescue are being considered worthy of nomination for the 2010 International Maritime Organization's Bravery Awards. A submission is currently being prepared and will be submitted in due course.

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IMO Audit Report

The IMO Assembly approved the Voluntary Member State Audit Scheme in November 2003 when it adopted resolution A.946(23) Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme. The Scheme is intended to provide an audited Member State with a comprehensive and objective assessment of how effectively it administers and implements the following mandatory IMO instruments:

  • the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea;
  • the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships;
  • the Convention of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea;
  • the International Convention on Load Lines;
  • the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships; and
  • the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

Australia has been a strong supporter of the Voluntary Audit Scheme since its inception.  Australia views the Audit Scheme to be an important initiative of the IMO, particularly the promotion of uniform implementation of IMO instruments across all Member States.  AMSA was assisted in the audit preparation by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Australian Hydrographic Service and the Bureau of Meteorology, all of whom also participated in the conduct of the audit proper. From 18 – 25 August 2008 the audit of the Australian Administration took place. The Audit identified two ‘non–conformances’ and one ‘observation’. 

Corrective Action Plans have been prepared for the identified findings in accordance with the guidance in Resolution A.974(24) Framework and Procedures for the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme. These action plans can be found in the full text of the report.  The report concluded that Australia ‘substantially meets its obligations in respect of the mandatory IMO instruments to which it is a party and also the Code for the implementation of mandatory IMO instruments’. 

A number of innovative areas of good practice and of considerable assistance to the maritime community were identified. These include; AMSA’s risk based decision making process and risk based ship inspection targeting system; Australia’s fully integrated search and rescue and emergency response system; outreach activities aimed at stimulating a maritime safety culture; and the ATSB’s legislated ‘no blame’ casualty investigation system.

The Final Audit Report can be viewed here.

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Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse Celebrates 150th Anniversary

Australian Maritime Safety Authority Board Member, Mr Ross Brewer gave the keynote address at a ceremony held on 15 July for the 150th Anniversary of the Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse. The Lighthouse was built by convict labour from 1853 to 1859 from local granite and has served as a beacon to shipping ever since. The Lighthouse is an 18 kilometre walk South of the National Park's Tidal River settlement, and is a popular destination for bushwalkers.

The lighthouse cottages were converted to tourist accommodation for bushwalkers in 1995.
The Lighthouse, in the context of the Wilsons Promontory Lightstation marks the southernmost tip of the Australian mainland. The building demonstrates a way of life, which is uncommon in today’s society.  Its distinctive masonry tower and balcony make for a significant focus of the planned group of Lightstation buildings and is particularly notable for its termination of the street-like space of the Lightstation and landmark qualities.

As part of AMSA's maritime safety functions, AMSA maintains a network of aids to navigation around the Australian coastline. Wilsons Promontory Lightstation is one of 470 aids to navigation included in the 37,600 kilometres of Australia’s coastline covered.

The Lightstation was originally illuminated with 32 burning lamps individually fitted with parabolic reflectors. The reflectors were arranged on a circular frame in four tiers and the light was non-revolving. A number of light sources were used over the past century and the light was automated in August 1993. After automation one light keeper maintained the station until December 1995, since then, it has been managed by Parks Victoria.

AMSA undertook and completed an upgrade of this site in 2008. The upgrade included removal of the batteries from the watch room which now allows for Parks Victoria to have access to the vacant room to use for displays. Adjacent to the tower base outside saw the installation of a modern power source comprising of solar panels and a stainless steel cabinet to hold a battery bank. Today a VEGA low voltage lantern is in use. This lantern utilises 12 volt 35 watt globes giving it a range of 18 nautical miles.

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Europe Hands the Baton to Australia for Spillcon 2010

At the Closing Ceremony of Interspill 2009 in Marseille, France on 14 May, Interspill Chairman, Bernard Tramier handed over to Ivan Skibinski, Chairman of the Spillcon 2010 Organising Committee.

Spillcon 2010 will be held in Melbourne, Australia from 12-16 April 2010. As part of a tripartite arrangement with the United States and Europe, Australia's conference attracts keen interest across the South East Asia region and further afield from colleagues and industry partners across the globe.

Spillcon 2010 will be chaired by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Chief Executive Officer, Graham Peachey and is a joint venture between AMSA and the Australian Industry of Petroleum (represented by the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre).

The conference will be held at the recently refurbished Grand Hyatt Hotel in the heart of Melbourne city. The theme of Spillcon 2010 is Global, Regional, Local and the program will reflect the strong spirit of cooperation across the world to oil spill prevention, preparedness, response and restoration.

Interest in attending Spillcon 2010 was high at Interspill and many exhibitors have already signed on for the Australian event. To avoid disappointment potential delegates and exhibitors should register interest as soon as possible.

More information can be found at www.spillcon.com.

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APHoMSA - Australia hosts the 10th Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum

The 10th Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA) Forum was held in Sydney from Sunday 31 May to Wednesday 3 June. The Forum brought together representatives of 29 countries from the Asia-Pacific region as well as two regional organisations and two inter-governmental organisations with responsibilities for maritime safety and environment protection.

The Forum highlighted the importance of regional cooperation amongst maritime agencies to ensure a viable and sustainable maritime industry for the economic and social prosperity of the region. Topics discussed included maritime safety and security, marine environment protection, search and rescue capabilities and information sharing. Recurring themes during the meeting ranged from the IMO’s voluntary audit scheme, labour shortages, implementation and compliance with the international legal regime, human and institutional capacity, and the effects of the global economic situation on the welfare of seafarers.

Due to the success of this year's Forum, it was agreed that APHoMSA will now be held not less than biennially with the next forum to be hosted by the Philippines in 2010.

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Cooperative Links Formalised

The 10th Asia-Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum in Sydney allowed for a number of cooperative links to be formalised between the following countries:
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