Message from the CEO

It has been a very busy few months across AMSA since the last edition of Aboard. Coming off the tail-end of the Montara oil leak clean-up, we were busy preparing for Spillcon 2010 when the Shen Neng 1 bulk carrier ran aground in the Great Barrier Reef. You can read more about this incident in this edition of AMSA Aboard.

Spillcon 2010 was a resounding success with record attendance and engaging presentations by both local and international speakers. Max Walker’s keynote speech was inspiring and entertaining, starting the conference off on a very positive note. Preparations have now begun for our next major conference, Natship11.

During the past few months we have created a new Division within AMSA, the Marine Environment Division. Major incidents during 2009 demonstrated the importance of our environmental functions and the need for consolidation of activities. I am pleased to announce that Toby Stone has been appointed as the General Manager of this Division.

Toby is well known to many of you who are involved in marine pollution response and has been the Head of Counter Pollution and Salvage within the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency for the last six years. He has been involved in and attended the majority of maritime shipping casualties in the UK pollution zone since 1997, including the Sea Empress and Ever Decent. In addition, he attended the Erika and Prestige disasters in France. Most recently, he was involved in the MSC Napoli incident. Toby will commence with AMSA in July and we look forward to welcoming him to Australia.

In my last AMSA Aboard message I mentioned the creation of our Maritime Reform Group. This group has since been renamed Regulatory Affairs and Reform. In the 2010/2011 Federal Budget we will receive funding to progress the work currently being undertaken by this group in the area of maritime safety reform.

The year promises to continue at its current fast pace and we look forward to working with you on our many challenging and exciting initiatives.

Graham Peachey

AMSA’s Community Connection in the Torres Strait

Adrian Davidson recently joined AMSA to take up the newly created Community Liaison Officer role for the Torres Strait.

In his role, Adrian will help to coordinate and deliver marine safety education activities in the Torres Strait and provide an AMSA presence to liaise with maritime stakeholders.

AMSA and Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) have worked together to support the Torres Strait Marine Safety Program (TSMSP) for a number of years but this is the first time that AMSA will have a permanent presence in the Torres Strait. The TSMSP is managed by AMSA, MSQ and the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) to provide boat safety education programs tailored to the needs of the community.

Adrian will work closely with Frank Thomson of Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) to support the TSMSP. Adrian and Frank are both located on Thursday Island and have community liaison responsibilities throughout the Torres Strait.

When it comes to the Torres Strait community, Adrian is no stranger. Having spent a total of seven and a half years in the area, Adrian has a strong community connection and extensive knowledge of the islands.

From 2000-2003 he served in the Torres Strait as a Queensland Water Police Officer. Spending hundreds of days and nights policing the outer islands, Adrian says he had the time of his life.

For the last four years, Adrian worked with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority managing their response (in partnership with Border Protection Command and Australian Fisheries Management Authority) to issues of unlawful foreign fishing. For most of this time, Adrian’s wife has managed the department store on Thursday Island – a prime community hub.

Adrian loves the lifestyle on Thursday Island, but admits life there can be difficult at times.

“The logistics of getting your groceries home when home is 1000km away can be difficult and being that far away from family is sometimes frustrating, but unless you’ve lived amongst the islands and the Torres Strait Islanders it’s hard for me to describe why we love it so much.

“It’s definitely more than just the islands, beaches, fishing, diving and camping… but they certainly help.”

Adrian had no time to relax in his first week on the job as this coincided with the grounding of the Zhong Xing bulk carrier in the Torres Strait.

In addition to helping coordinate AMSA’s response to the incident, Adrian liaised with Ned Mosby (pictured with Adrian), the Honorary Police Inspector for the Torres Strait. By providing regular updates to Ned, Adrian helped disseminate information on the grounding to the Yorke Island community. Ned provided great logistical support in the transport of AMSA staff and equipment as it arrived at Yorke Island on its way to the Zhong Xing’s location.

Adrian says he is excited to be returning to a role where he’ll spend more time on the islands and in the communities of the Torres Strait and sees the partnerships with MSQ and TSRA as vital to his work.

“Those partnerships, the support from all here at AMSA and the qualities and culture of the Torres Strait Island people leave me confident that we'll make a big difference, and we'll enjoy ourselves at the same time.”

Spillcon 2010

Asia-Pacific's Oil Spill Prevention & Preparedness Conference - Spillcon 2010 - wrapped up on 16 April 2010 after a week of networking and information sharing. Spillcon 2010 attracted a record attendance with over 475 attendees over its five days, and representation from 43 countries.

Held at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, Spillcon 2010 covered topics such as Legislation & Policies, Hazardous & Noxious Substances Response, Technology, and Preparedness with great interest in the sessions covering the recent Montara Well Head Platform Leak and its media response. The environment also took a lead role in discussions forming the content for the final day's Response Issues Seminar. 

Local and international exhibitors were given the chance to showcase their products and services to the industry and government delegates present, offering a variety of equipment and methods for oil spill preparedness and response.

Spillcon operates in cooperation with the International Oil Spill Conference (IOSC) in the United States, and Interspill in Europe, each operating in a three year cycle. These conferences provide a venue for experts in spill prevention, preparedness, response and restoration from around the world to share information in a common forum. The next conference in this series is IOSC 2011 which will be held in Portland, Oregon USA from 23-26 May 2011, with the dates and location of Spillcon 2013 to be announced next year. For updates on Spillcon 2013 or to register your interest in attending, please visit www.spillcon.com.

Regulatory Affairs and Reform Update

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority will receive funding in the 2010/2011 Federal Budget to progress maritime safety reform. These funds will support work being currently undertaken by AMSA’s Regulatory Affairs and Reform (formerly the Maritime Reform Group), in particular:

• Rewrite of the Navigation Act 1912 incorporating amendments necessary to create a single national jurisdiction for commercial vessels;
• Transfer of the National Maritime Safety Committee (NMSC) functions;
• Consultations with state/Northern Territory maritime agencies, NMSC, industry and general public; and
• Investigating options for a national database for commercial vessels.

In relation to the Navigation Act rewrite, a public discussion paper outlining the broad direction of the proposed maritime safety legislation reform will be distributed to stakeholders shortly as well as posted on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website.

As part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) maritime reforms the NMSC’s commercial vessel functions will be transferred to AMSA. AMSA and the NMSC have been working together and have jointly developed an action plan to transition functions to AMSA by mid 2011. These functions include the national standards, national data management, training and education.

AMSA is also working in collaboration with the NMSC and state/NT maritime agencies to develop national standards and competencies for marine surveyors of commercial vessels. This will include:

• A national framework for marine surveyor competencies;
• Training packages to support those competencies; and
• A national accreditation and auditing program.

A discussion paper on the proposals is being finalised and will be released for comment in June 2010.

For further updates please click here.

Grounding of the Shen Neng 1 – Douglas Shoal, Queensland

On Saturday 3 April, the Chinese registered bulk carrier Shen Neng 1 ran aground at Douglas Shoal in the Great Barrier Reef, approximately 92 kilometres north east of Gladstone.

The National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances was activated and AMSA assisted Maritime Safety Queensland, the combat agency coordinating the response effort, in minimising risk to the environment and made all possible assets and personnel available for the clean-up response.

AMSA officers were deployed to the vessel, as well as response centres in Rockhampton, Gladstone and Brisbane. AMSA’s dedicated search and rescue Dornier aircraft conducted regular observation flights in the area and the Pacific Responder was deployed from Cairns.

The ship sustained extensive hull damage and some oil from the damaged fuel tanks was discharged into the sea.

After offloading approximately two-thirds of the ship’s fuel oil, the ship was refloated on Monday 12 April and later towed to a safe anchorage for further assessment by divers.

Due to ongoing forecasts of adverse weather and the accompanying safety risks to salvage crews and vessels, the salvors did not proceed with a plan to move the Shen Neng 1 into the Port of Gladstone.

Following a request and advice from the salvors, AMSA issued a direction identifying a place of refuge for the ship in a more protected position. The ship was consequently moved to a safe and protected anchorage between the mainland and Fraser Island in the northern reaches of Hervey Bay. While there, coal was unloaded prior to the ship being towed back to the Gladstone area.

The tug MT De Da arrived in Gladstone on 30 May to tow the Shen Neng 1 back to China.

Further information on AMSA’s assistance to MSQ can be found here.

Improving Safe Navigation in Great Barrier Reef

As detailed in the special April edition of AMSA Aboard, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, recently released the AMSA report Improving Safe Navigation in the Great Barrier Reef. Included within that report was AMSA’s Strategic Vision 2010-25.

AMSA’s Strategic Vision 2010-25 provided a sound basis for the advice AMSA provided to the Minister regarding improvements to navigation safety in the Great Barrier Reef area, including the extension of the current ship reporting system to the southern portion of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

To view AMSA's Strategic Vision 2010-25, click here.

Aids to Navigation Symposium - AtoN 2010

The biennial national Aids to Navigation Symposium, AtoN 2010, was held in Adelaide on 24-26 May 2010.

This AMSA-sponsored event brought together AtoN practitioners from marine and port authorities around the country. Over 90 delegates from Australia and overseas attended this invitation-only event. South Australia’s Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure assisted AMSA in hosting AtoN 2010.

The theme for the Symposium was integrated aids to navigation for today’s mariner. This reflected the emergence of the e-Navigation concept and under keel clearance management systems, the expanding role of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), and the widespread use of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and vessel tracking systems. Mr Mike Sollosi of the United States Coast Guard and Chairman of the International Maritime Organization Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation delivered the keynote address. An industrial exhibition was held on the first two days, where local and overseas suppliers demonstrated AtoN equipment and services.  

The key outcomes agreed by the Symposium were:

• Recognition of the continuing importance of visual AtoN;
• The use of risk assessments;
• The growing importance of AIS and VTS; and
• The use of new techniques and innovations in AtoN management.

These events are an important part of AMSA’s ongoing strategy to engage with other jurisdictions in order for Australia to meet its international obligations to provide AtoN services.  An associated aim is to share information and expertise with regional maritime authorities.

The event was an unqualified success as evidenced by feedback from participants on the quality of presentations, diversity of topics addressed and the organisation of the Symposium. 

Do you know a Hero?

They are out there and usually shy away from the limelight – ordinary people who do an extraordinary job or perform an extraordinary act of service to save human life.

The National Search and Rescue Council is calling for nominations for the prestigious 2010 National Search and Rescue Award.

First presented in 1996, the award has been received by rescue crews who have been directly involved in search and rescue incidents and, as in the case of 2009 winners, Richard and Rae Thorp (pictured), volunteers who have provided assistance over an extended period of time.

The award is open to both individuals and organisations that have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to Australia’s search and rescue system or to the saving of human life.

Nominations close 30 July and nominations forms can be found here.

Remember your three Rs – Register, Renew and be Responsible

As of May 2010, over 160,000 406 MHz distress beacons have been registered with AMSA. However, unfortunately around 30 per cent of beacons remain unregistered.

Registration allows AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia (RCC Australia) to access the registration database and identify the owner, as well as emergency contact information and details of the vessel, aircraft or vehicle. This can save valuable time in a distress situation.

The proof-of-registration stickers issued for EPIRBs and PLBs are valid for two years. This means the first batch of registration stickers issued in June 2008 are now due to expire.

The renewal process is simple. A sticker reminder notification will be issued one month before the two year expiry date if your registration details have not been updated in the previous six months. If your registration details have been updated in the six months prior to expiry, the AMSA system will automatically generate a new registration sticker and send it to you one month before the expiry date.

As of 1 February 2010, old analogue EPIRBs and PLBs operating on 121.5 MHz are no longer licensed for use. Anyone who is still holding on to a 121.5 MHz distress beacon is reminded to dispose of it responsibly. This can be done free of charge at any Battery World outlet in Australia.

When purchasing a new 406 MHz distress beacon AMSA recommends GPS enabled devices. Beacons with GPS have greater accuracy and enable quicker detection of your position.

In a distress situation time is critical, but three simple steps can make a world of difference – Register, Renew and be Responsible.

For more information click here.

Beacon Saves Fishermen off Esperance

The importance of registering a distress beacon was highlighted recently in a rescue off the Western Australian coast.

On Monday 10 May, an unregistered 406 MHz beacon was detected in the South East Isles off Esperance. AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia (RCC) diverted a private aircraft to the beacon location which located a life raft and orange distress smoke signal in the water. In response to this sighting, a RAAF C130 Hercules and AMSA's dedicated Essendon-based Dornier 328 aircraft were tasked to provide continuous coverage of the life raft until rescue could be arranged. With cooperation from Fremantle Water Police, three vessels were also tasked to assist, pending confirmation of the number of occupants requiring rescue.

A RAAF contracted S76 helicopter winched the three fishermen to safety and transferred them to Esperance Hospital. All three were suffering from hypothermia.

If the beacon had been registered, the RCC could have contacted the owner’s emergency contacts for vital details on the passengers, their vessel and planned trip.

Registration of distress beacons is free and can save vital time in a search and rescue situation.

Photos courtesy of Department of Defence

Seafarer Welfare Forum and SEA 2010 Conference

To coincide with the International Year of the Seafarer, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will host a Seafarer Welfare Forum in September.

Much has changed since the last Forum in 2000 and, with ratification and enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention close at hand, there is a need to explore the current needs of seafarers.

The Forum will be held in conjunction with the SEA 2010 Conference, hosted by the Australian Shipowners Association. The conference and forum will be held in Melbourne on 8-9 September 2010.

With an array of sessions including new conventions, piracy, international seafarer issues, the Maritime Labour Convention and positive practices in the industry, delegates from the shipping, ports, government and non-government sectors are encouraged to attend the two-day event.

Further information will be available on the AMSA website shortly.

AMSA Scholarships at the Australian Maritime College

In recognition of AMSA’s role in promoting safety and protecting the marine environment, and as a means of supporting the development of skills in the maritime industry, the Authority recently agreed to sponsor two awards for students at the Australian Maritime College, Launceston.

The awards will sponsor one student at undergraduate level and one at postgraduate level. The undergraduate scholarship, worth $2000, will be awarded to a student studying either a Bachelor of Applied Science (Maritime Operations), Bachelor of Applied Science (Marine Engineering), or a Bachelor of Applied Science (Marine Environment) Honours. All of these degrees contain a research component and a condition of the award is that the student undertakes this in a subject of interest to AMSA. This award commenced at the start of the 2010 academic year.

The postgraduate scholarship will be awarded to a candidate in the Masters of Maritime Studies (Maritime Safety). The Master of Maritime Studies (Maritime Safety) is a new program commencing in Semester 2 2010. The program’s duration is one and a half years and the award is for $1,000 per semester.

The Australian Maritime College has welcomed the scholarships saying they not only create incentives for students to consider further study, but they contribute to a greater understanding of the all important field of environmental research.

17th IALA Conference

The 17th International Association of Lighthouse and Marine Aid to Navigation Authorities (IALA) Conference was held in Cape Town, South Africa from 21 to 27 March 2010.

This was the first time that IALA’s quadrennial conference was held in Africa. AMSA hosted the 15th IALA Conference in March 2002 in Sydney.

The conference attracted 400 delegates from over 50 nations and comprised technical sessions and an extensive industrial exhibition. International speakers presented information on subjects such as visual aids to navigation, Vessel Traffic Services, Automatic Identification System (AIS), e-Navigation, risk, emerging technologies and heritage matters.

Graham Peachey, the IALA Councillor for Australia, lead a delegation of AMSA staff at the Conference. AMSA presented five papers on recent navigation safety initiatives in Australia.

Two meetings of the IALA General Assembly were held during the Conference with AMSA retaining its seat on the IALA Council for the next four years.

The Conference marked the last official duty of the outgoing Secretary-General Mr Torsten Kruuse of Denmark, who has held the position for 14 years. Mr Kruuse’s replacement is AMSA’s former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Maritime Standards Division), Gary Prosser.

Mr Peachey presented Mr Kruuse with the gift of an AMSA anchor in recognition of his considerable achievements in guiding IALA and contributing to improved maritime safety across the globe.