2022 Australian VTS Award
Winner – Dampier VTS centre for coordinating 31 search and rescue operations, 29 of which involving recreational craft. Examples include a recreational vessel capsized 7 nm off Port of Ashburton with two persons overboard after his recreational vessel capsized; searching for a man overboard 12 nm west of Dampier Port, coordinating support for an injured solo sailor whose vessel had engine failure.
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2021 Australian VTS Award
Winner - Melbourne VTS for managing multiple incidents in sudden and severe weather conditions on 27 December 2020 preventing multiple emerging collisions and multi-million-dollar damage to maritime infrastructure and assets and potential pollution. Andrew Pinto Senior VTSO, Herman Kat (Melbourne VTS) and Dale Drago (Lonsdale VTS) were the VTS team in control on the day.
Highly commended – Sydney VTS for its role in a joint operation with the NSW Police Force Marine Area Command in April 2020 to coordinate the reprovisioning, refueling and crew changeover of 1200 people between five Royal Caribbean Ships before their departure to other ports to repatriate their crews to their home ports during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included maintaining normal VTS operations and ensuring robust communications between VTS and emergency services provides over a 36-hour period.
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2020 Australian VTS Award
Winner — Warren Bath, Vessel Traffic Services Operator at Hay Point VTS. Warren’s actions led to successfully returning a bulk carrier alongside after it had drifted 20 metres from its berth with lines slack. There was no damage to the bulk carrier, other ships berthed at the port or the offshore terminal infrastructure, and no pollution event. Read Warren's story
Highly commended — Port Hedland VTS for their response actions to mobilise search and rescue resources, and coordinate waterborne assets in the successful rescue of four people clinging to a capsized recreational vessel. Read the nomination
Highly commended — Brisbane VTS, and VTS operators Ricky Blake and Todd Stewart for their assistance in extending the search area to rescue three people. The Brisbane VTS engaged all ships anchored in the vicinity to assist with the search. Read the nomination