The Australian Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Award recognises an outstanding contribution by a VTS which is beyond their normal operational scope.
Dampier VTS centre have been awarded the 2022 VTS award for their outstanding efforts in coordinating multiple marine search and rescue operations. Read more about the nomination.
- Eligibility
The award is for contributions made during 2021. It is open to VTS authorities, VTS centres, individual VTS’s and individuals employed by VTS authorities.
Nomination examples
The nomination may relate to a particular event or a contribution over a period of time, for example:
- An event where a VTS contributed to the safety of life at sea, improved the safety and efficiency of navigation, or supported the protection of the environment within a VTS area by mitigating the development of an unsafe situation.
- How the VTS helped another agency with a successful response activity (e.g. pollution response).
- Leadership and innovation that contributed to significant enhancements to the service provided, or to the national or international framework for VTS.
- Demonstrated improvements to safety and/or efficiency, safety culture, and delivery of service through performance monitoring.
Making a nomination
Any person or organisation can submit a nomination for the VTS award.
Tips for nominating
You can help the selection panel by making sure your information is complete. The panel will not contact you for more information.
- Briefly explain the situation, the actions taken, and what was achieved
- Use plain language and headings.
- Provide evidence. This may include photographs, reports, letters, witness contact details and multimedia files such as incident replays, voice files or screen captures (be careful not to share information without seeking consent).
For more information contact vts@amsa.gov.au
- Read the nomination guide
You can use this guide to help you write about why you are making your nomination.
Your evidence could include:
- The facts about the event or the contribution:
- what was achieved
- how this was more than ‘business as usual’
- what would have happened if the VTS did not assist/intervene
- number of people involved in the teamwork
- who was helped
- estimated costs saved.
- How the activity contributed to one or more of the following:
- safety of life at sea
- safety of navigation
- search and rescue
- efficiency of vessel traffic movement
- protection of the marine environment
- supporting maritime security
- protection of adjacent communities and infrastructure
- supporting law enforcement.
- An event where a VTS contributed to the safety of life at sea, improved the safety and efficiency of navigation, or supported the protection of the environment within a VTS area by mitigating the development of an unsafe situation.
- How the VTS helped another agency with a successful response activity (e.g. pollution response).
- How the event helped to improve safety, efficiency, safety culture or delivery of service.
- How leadership and/or innovation contributed to significant enhancements to the service provided or to the national or international framework for VTS.
- How the VTS showed the use of best practices.
Nominations will be judged based on the information provided. The VTS award selection panel will not contact the nominator or seek any additional information.
- The facts about the event or the contribution:
- Read about the previous recipients
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.
Read more about the nomination
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.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
- Complete the online nomination form
You can use the online form or you can download and print a PDF version of the nomination form (PDF 178 KB) PDF190.24 KB
Submissions close 5pm Monday 28 February 2022.