This is a significant year for the industry, with the implementation of some of the most important reforms in the nation’s maritime history. Shipping is crucial to Australia’s economic future, with 99 per cent of our trade taking place via ships.
A strong and viable maritime sector is essential to service the anticipated trebling in freight load over the next two decades.
With the conference theme ‘Our Shipping Future,’ Natship12 is hosted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, in partnership with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, Australian Shipowners Association and Australian Maritime Systems, and will be held from 6-8 August 2012.
A range of high calibre national and international speakers will present at the conference, including Mr Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization and Mr Gary Prosser, Secretary-General of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.
Tomorrow, the Hon. Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, will outline the reforms being implemented as part of the Australian Government’s Revitalising Australian Shipping Legislation.
Some of these reforms include the establishment of a single national regulator with one set of laws replacing conflicting state and territory regulations and the modernisation of the Navigation Act 1912.
Other topics to be discussed during the conference include protecting the Great Barrier Reef, Australia’s search and rescue arrangements, the maritime workforce and shipping’s economic future.