Aiming to provide expert industry advice on navigational safety
The first meeting of the Navigation Safety Advisory Group (NSAG) was held at theAustralian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) head office in Canberra on 25 August.
NSAG is the peak consultative body to AMSA for matters relating to AMSA’s responsibilities for the safety of navigation in Australian waters. The group’s role is to provide a forum for members to discuss issues of common interest and concern in relation to the safety of navigation.
Additionally, the group aims to provide expert industry advice on nautical, navigational safety and aids to navigation matters. NSAG will meetevery six months, in February and August each year.
Approximately twenty five people, either navigation practitioners or representing organisations with an interest in safety of navigation, from all over Australia attended.
The Australian Hydrographic Service, port and state marine authorities, Carnival Australia, Shipping Australia Limited, Australian Shipowners Association, TasPorts, Newcastle Port Corporation, shipping companies (and their peak bodies) and coastal pilots were represented.
During the day-long meeting, the group dealt with navigational safety matters in two parts:
- Nick Lemon (AMSA, ManagerShip Safety) chaired the first part, which dealt mainly with shipboard issues. Outcomes from recent IMO meetings, progress with the development of e-navigation, ECDIS matters, resilient positioning, navigation and timing, AMSA’s Under Keel Clearance Management System for the Torres Strait and improving navigation safety off the north-west coast were discussed.
- Gerry Brine (AMSA, ManagerAids to Navigation) chaired the post lunch session, where aids to navigation matters such as AMSA’s management of its aids to navigation network, new and altered aids, AMSA’s aids to navigation operational plan 2011/12 – 2015/16, vessel tracking matters, aids to navigation working group meetings and highlights of International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities meetings were discussed.
A number of action items were agreed to, which will provide impetus for relevant authorities to deal with navigational safety issues more effectively.
Source: AMSA