In International Shipping News 16/04/2015
Mariners are calling for stronger government policies to put shipping at the heart of Australia’s transport system.
Changes in ship and port technology, and the future of the merchant navy, have also been addressed at the 3rd Master Mariners Congress in Launceston this week.
Congress coordinator Captain John Lloyd said a shortage of industry opportunities for new graduates was an issue for the maritime workforce.
Captain Lloyd said although shipping is one of the most environmentally sustainable transport modes, its integration with other sectors needed to be addressed.
“So how maritime, which is very environmentally friendly; how it can contribute more effectively to the overall transport solution for our goods.
“We’re also looking at how improvements in technology improve safety of navigation and the safety of our ships and their operations around the coast.
“And we have some very sensitive areas around the coast.
“We’re hearing all the time about the Great barrier Reef and how we need to look after that today and into the future.
“So having safe and efficient navigation around those area is very important for us.”
Captain Lloyd said new shipping and port technology, including E-navigation, computerised loading systems and dynamic positioning systems could help.
“Improvements in navigation aids, improvements in radio navigation, the monitoring of ships and their safe passage from on-shore and how we can communicate effectively with them to give them up to date and relevant advice on their passage.
“E-navigation uses a range of electronic devices such as satellites to inform the ship very precisely where it is on the surface of the earth, so a ship’s captain can know exactly where a ship is.
“He can use predictive technology to see where the ship is going next, to assess the impact of wind and currents on the ship.
“And here at the Australian Maritime College we’re able to replicate those pieces of equipment and the ships to which they’re fitted, in our sophisticated suite of simulation and use that to train the mariners of today and the next generation.”
With over 95 per cent of Australian goods travelling by sea at some point in their life, Captain Lloyd said the maritime community’s contribution was often under-played.
He said government policy needed to go beyond the narrow focus on the shipping sector itself.
Captain Lloyd said the Australian and state governments needed to consider maritime as part of an overall transport solution from ports to road and rail.
“It is about how we can service the whole of the community of Australia, by using sea routes and coastal shipping.
“And how we can do that more effectively and efficiently and reap the benefits not only in the cost, but in the environmental impact as well.
“But it’s also about having effective policies for recruitment and retention of seafarers, so that we can be competitive in an international market as well as a domestic one.”
