Tag: AMSA

Ningaloo Reef and the IMO Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation. Friday 6 July 2012, the IMO Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation approved an Australian submission to establish an area to be avoided off the West Australian coast around Ningaloo Reef.

IMO NAV 58 - Amendments to AUSREP reporting system

AMSA Marine Notice 11/2012 AMSA issues Marine Notice 11/2012 regarding guidance on ECDIS for ships calling at Australian ports.This notice aims to clarify some of the emerging issues relating to the carriage requirements for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and to provide guidance for ECDIS-fitted ships calling at Australian ports.As the mandatory carriage of ECDIS will be phased in from 1 July 2012 onwards1, ship operators, masters and navigating officers of ECDIS-fitted ships are encouraged to take this guidance into account.For more information, click here.Source: AMSA

AMSA Marine Notice 8/2012 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a notice reminding masters of the new requirements in MARPOL Annex I regarding transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea. This Notice supersedes Marine Notice 7/2008 which is now cancelled.The purpose of this revised Marine Notice is to provide information to ship owners and operators about new regulations applying to the transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea.Transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at seaAmendments to Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) concerning the transfer of oil cargo at sea have recently entered into force internationally and for Australia. The new regulations apply to STS operations involving oil tankers of 150 gross tonnage and above, conducted on or after 1 April 2012.For more information, click here.Source: AMSA

AMSA Marine Notice 9/2012 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a notice reminding operators and masters of the fitness for duty obligations under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention).The purpose of this Marine Notice is to draw the attention of ship operators, masters and officers to the need to comply with the fitness for duty requirements under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), including hours of work and rest.The potential for serious threats to health and safety and pollution of the marine environment as a result of fatigue of seafarers is well known. The principles of safe manning are intended to ensure each ship is adequately manned for all operations, not just the voyage between ports. Operational pressures and other factors can result in watchkeeping personnel having insufficient rest, resulting in lack of compliance with the STCW Convention and Code.For more information, click here.Source: AMSA

AUSREP - Changes to come into effect on July 1st The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a notice announcing changes to the Australian Ship Reporting System (AUSREP). The changes incorporate the Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology into AUSREP and come into effect on 1 JulyThe purpose of this Marine Notice is to tell mariners about changes to the Australian Ship Reporting System (AUSREP) established by Marine Order 63(AUSREP) (MO 63) to take effect on 1 July 2012.AUSREPAUSREP is a ship reporting system designed to contribute to safety of life at sea and is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) through the Australian Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) in Canberra. Consistent with Australia's obligations under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), MO 63 provides a system for the reporting of the movement, or intended movement, of ships within the Australian ship reporting area (AUSREP area).Amendments to AUSREP AMSA is in transition from AUSREP to a Modernised Australian Ship Tracking and Reporting System (MASTREP) through Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology, which automates ships' positional reporting, increasing the timeliness and accuracy of data, covering a much larger area and numberof ships operating within the Australian ...

MOU on technical cooperation The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), to support IMO's Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme (ITCP) capacity-building activities through the provision of experts and hostship facilities for the delivery of ITCP activities, as well as the secondment of staff from AMSA.The MoU between IMO and AMSA was signed on Monday (11 June) by Mr. Jianxin Zhu, Director, Technical Co-operation Division, IMO, and Mr. Graham Peachey, Chief Executive Officer, AMSA, in London during IMO's Council, which is meeting for its 108th session at the Organization's London Headquarters. IMO's Technical Co-operation Committee met last week (from 6 to 8 June).The new MoU is aimed at assisting developing countries to comply with international maritime safety and environmental protection laws and standards by understanding, implementing and enforcing IMO instruments. AMSA has a long history of engagement in technical capacity-building, particularly in the Asia and Pacific Region, and actively supports partnerships in the international maritime community to transfer skills and knowledge. Australia is also a significant participant in IMO'sTechnical Co-operation Committee.Source: IMO

Technical cooperation AMSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on technical cooperation. The MoU formalises Australia's contribution to IMO capacity-building activities, primarily in the Asia Pacific region. Graham Peachey, AMSA CEO, and Mr Jianxin Zhu, Director of IMO's Technical Cooperation Division, signed the agreement during the 108th session of the IMO Council meeting in London this week.Mr Peachey said the MoU will enable AMSA to increase its cooperation with the IMO on activities that meet specific needs in our region and elsewhere. Under the arrangements, AMSA will provide experts, host regional workshops and training courses and continue to explore opportunities for partnerships with the IMO and other regional Member States.The transfer of knowledge, skills and capacity is a priority for all IMO Member States in our region. To that end, AMSA is also working as part of the Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies forum to develop a technical capacity building strategy at that group's upcoming meeting in Viet Nam next month.Source: AMSA

Guilty to illegally dumping food waste in area of the Great Barrier Reef In the Townsville Magistrates Court on 30 April 2012 the Master and owners of the Antigua & Barbuda registered bulk carrier Pantanal each pleaded guilty to illegally dumping food waste in a prohibited discharge area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.The successful prosecution was the result of an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) investigation into the incident which occurred on 8 July 2011.The magistrate found that there was sufficient evidence to establish that the Pantanal was the source of the garbage and that the incident involved a breach of the Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983 (the Act). Additional restrictions on the discharge of garbage from ships at sea come into effect from 1 July 2013.The ship's Master was fined $500 while the owner was fined $5000. Convictions were recorded against both parties.AMSA is committed to ensuring that the disposal of waste at sea meets the prescribed requirements and will follow up breaches of the Act to the full extent of the law. Source: AMSA

Removal of the wreck of the MV Tycoon from the Port of Christmas Island. The Australian Government has stepped in to remove the wreck of the MV Tycoon from the Port of Christmas Island. The vessel broke free of its moorings and crashed into cliffs on 8 January 2012, and is now a wreck. Removal of the wreck is normally the responsibility of the ownerHowever, as the owner has not taken any practical action to commence a salvage or wreck removal operation, the Australian Government has stepped in to arrange the operation. The wreck removal will be undertaken by a contractor to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and managed through a cooperative agreement between AMSA and the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport.The contractor is Titan Maritime (Australia) Pty. Ltd. Divers will survey the wreck site soon and develop a wreck removal plan. The registered owner of the vessel is Tycoon Navigation SA, based in Singapore. Once the operation commences, arrangements will be made to minimise disruption to port operations. The Christmas Island community will come first during this operation to ensure their safety, as well as restoring vital maritime infrastructure.The Australian Government has approved funding ...