NEWS

At a meeting recently held in Melbourne between AIMS, the NSW Professional Fishermens Association and the National Seafood Industry Alliance it was agreed that the three associations work together to assure a streamlined transition from Government to Private surveyors in the Domestic Commercial Vessel sector.

This is an excellent initiative for the fishing industry in NSW and will greatly assist our members to make informed choices on both the surveyor they use and how and when they schedule their surveys said Tricia Beatty, Executive Officer for the Professional Fishermen’s Association.

Susan Hull, AIMS CEO said the initiative was a leap forward for surveyors and, if successful, would certainly alleviate some of the current problems being experienced by private surveyors in NSW and other States who have been impacted by the delay in the implementation date of the National System. Being able to plan and schedule surveys in advance at selected ports of call will be a real benefit to industry and remove obstacles to business operations and that can only be a good thing for both sectors of the industry said Hull.

Initially the partnership will commence in NSW in April 2017 and if successful will be rolled out across all States and Territories on a progressive basis.

AIMS members wishing to participate in the partnership should email info@aimsurveyors.com

Jacinta Watt comms@aimsurveyors.com.au

The AIMS newsletter is now available for download via the member only section of the website.

The AIMS will be closed on Wed the 21st December and will re-open on Tuesday the 3rd January 2017.

We wish all members a merry Christmas and Happy New Year

In October of 2016 the AIMS members were provided the opportunity to vote for the location of the 2017 AIMS Biennial Conference. 

We are pleased to announce that the survey results were as follows

1. Sydney

2. Brisbane

3. Melbourne

4. Perth

5. Singapore

6. New Zealand

There was also significant input into conference speakers and presentations. The top suggestions have been collated and will be included in the conference line up. More information will be provided to members in the AIMS newsletter and January update.

On November 7 2016 following extensive industry engagement and feedback AMSA announced that it will now commence its services as the sole maritime safety regulator on 1 July 2018.

The previous date for full implementation of the National System was 1 July 2017.

Many AIMS members have, over the past 12 months, prepared their business plans and undertaken further study in Diploma of Maritime Operations (Marine Surveying) in order to be eligible for AMSA accreditation as a domestic commercial vessel marine surveyor.

Many have also undergone the panel interview and orals and have received their accreditation with a view to commencing new business structures in July 2017.

While it is acknowledged that this change in date is of some inconvenience to newly accredited surveyors the AIMS will strive to work with AMSA to ensure that issues raised during the consultation process related to the privatisation of marine surveyors are addressed and that AIMS provides key stakeholders and vessel owners the opportunity to provide input and advice on survey costs and standards.

The AMSA media release and the full consultation report can be downloaded here.

AMSA Media Release.pdf

AMSA Consultation Cost-recovery-report.pdf

The Maritime Services (Access) Act 2000 requires the Essential Services Commission to review the South Australian ports pricing and access regimes every five years.

The Commission’s 2017 Ports Pricing and Access Review is being conducted to meet this requirement.

The Review will consider if the ports pricing regime and access regimes should continue for a further five-year period.

The Commission has initiated its Review with the release of an Issues Paper.

The purpose of the Issues Paper is to gather evidence and views from people and organisations with an interest in South Australian ports and maritime industries.

The Issues Paper is the first opportunity for stakeholders to raise matters that are important to them and to provide the Commission with responses to key questions.

The Commission is seeking feedback from all stakeholders with an interest in the regulated ports sector of South Australia.

Submissions and responses addressing the matters raised in the Issues Paper, or any other matters relevant to the review, are due by Friday, 18 November 2016.

Further information can be found on the Commission’s website:

http://www.escosa.sa.gov.au/

Richard Krabbendam is facilitating a Heavy Lift training course in Brisbane on the 7th - 9th November.

Richard is arguabley the industry expert in this field and started his Heavy Transport and Lifting career as a Heavy Lift Transport

Engineer with Big Lift, Dordrecht, The Netherlands in 1973.

By 1979, he was awarded the largest contract in Big Lift’s history by Saudi Aramco.This course offers a platform for your Heavy Transport and Lifting Projects on land as well as offshore and at sea.

Attention is dedicated to safety, accident analysis and discussions on how accidents can be avoided and dealt with.

The course provides best practices and standards in Management, Calculation, Application and Safety.

Contact Olygen in Singapore, Mrs. Joan Dee Lim and ask for details on the costs and venue. e-mail: lim.joandee@olygen.com for details of the Brisbane Seminar.

Click here for more info

Voting for the position of Secretary was finalized at the AGM held on the 19^th August in Melbourne at the Langham Hotel

Michel Lagesse retained the position with a lead of 10 votes over John Wilson that was gained in the member survey and then a final 6 votes in his favour from the floor on the day.

David Hepburn, AIMS Past President, and NSW member acted as the independent scrutineer on the day and confirmed that all votes were valid. No second count was required.

Members who voted on the day were A, Graver, S Beale, G Jago, JM Sauzier, R Behan, and G Joynson.

The final survey results were current Secretary- Capt Michel Lagesse - 58.18% (32 votes) and John Wilson 41.82% (23 votes).

The AIMS will commence the development of accredited higher qualifications in marine surveying on the 4^th September 2016 to accommodate individuals employed in managerial or senior surveyor positions in both the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and private sector organisations that specialize in marine surveying across a wide range of categories.

After significant consultation with industry and AMSA the qualification structure is now at its final draft stage and work has commenced on developing the units.  At this stage we are unsure as to whether the qualification will be accredited as an Advanced Diploma or Vocational Graduate Certificate however it is expected that the qualification will consist of 10 specialist units of which 6 will be elective and 4 core units that have been identified as providing general competencies applicable to senior marine surveyors.

The qualification will allow cross training within the industry and provide an opportunity for holders of the Diploma in Maritime Operations (Marine Surveying) to progress to blue water surveys.

Member and industry feedback is still being received. Members who wish to comment on the units may do so via email to training@aimsurveyors.com.au

In addition to the higher qualification, AIMS will be developing a bridging course for current blue water surveyors to gain a working knowledge of the NSCV and provide them with the essential knowledge required to apply for AMSA accreditation. Information on the bridging course will be provided to all members within the next couple of weeks.

AIMS members who hold Masters’ Certificates of Competency have become concerned that after December 31^st 2016 their certificates will no longer be valid and that if they do not revalidate prior to the December cut-off date that they will have to re-sit the entire Masters Certificate should they ever wish to return to sea.

Master Mariners who were granted their certificate in perpetuity are concerned that this qualification is now being taken away from them if they do not revalidate this year.

Concerns were also raised at the cost of revalidation – up to $16,000.00 to maintain the validity of certificates when many were unsure as to whether they would return to sea. 

 Soon after the press release many AIMS members contacted me to clarify the requirements.

I was able to speak personally with Allan Schwartz, AMSA General Manager Ship Safety, who assured me that this is not the case.

We were advised that If shore based Master Mariners wish to return to sea after the cut-off date and their certificates require re-validation they simply revalidate when and if required.

Any of these certificates that have not been revalidated by this date may be revalidated at any time by either a combination of sea service and shore based training, or, if no sea service, shore based training alone said Schwartz.

AMSA also confirmed that these changes only relate to certificates issued under the STCW Convention and that any certificates issued by a State or Northern Territory Marine Authority are not effected in any way by these changes.

AMSA has a Marine Notice 2016/14 on this matter and a Press Release further clarifying see http://www.amsa.gov.au/media/

Susan Hull,

Executive Officer