An Australian Labor government could establish a ‘strategic shipping fleet’, aiming to address economic and security worries about Australia’s high dependence on foreign-flagged vessels. Specifically, if elected in May, Labor would try to set out the fleet to boost local maritime workforce.
Under the policy, Labor will create a taskforce to guide the creation of the fleet, local media reported. The taskforce will include industry representatives, unions and Department of Defence officials.
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Labor also wants to establish laws to benefit Australian-flagged vessels for shipping between Australian ports. Namely, companies will have to search for an Australian ship for their cargo, before seeking foreign vessels.
Labor will also order the Department of Infrastructure to improve oversight of temporary licences that are awarded to foreign-flagged ships. The licenses enable the vessels to work along the Australian coast despite the fact that local vessels are available.
The fleet would likely include up to twelve Australian-flagged and crewed vessels, consisting of oil tankers, container ships and gas carriers. The ships would be privately owned and operated but could be requisitioned by the government in case of emergency.
Currently, the number of ships registered in Australia has reduced from 100 to 14 over the last decades. What is more, the latest review of skills and capacity for Australian seafarers has concluded that more than 560 new workers will be needed in the next four years. These seafarers will have to be experts beyond standard qualifications.
According to local media, there will be increases in demand by 2023, by as much as 11.6% for seafarers working at sea and 17.7% for those working onshore. In addition, an 11% increase in demand for future workers in training is also expected.
The fact that the Australian shipping industry has a large vessel trading fleet, and a traditional training ground, is damaging skills development. This is very important to working on ships as well as for shore-based employment.
