DCN AUGUST Edition 2019

NEWS IN BRIEF
Seafarers overlooked, says Paddy
Maritime Union national secretary Paddy Crumlin says people are in danger of
forgetting the crucial role of sailors in maintaining the Australian economy.
Speaking on the International Day of the Seafarer, Mr Crumlin also criticised the
federal government for its approach to the sector.
“Without seafarers, Australia’s economy and society would collapse overnight,”
Mr Crumlin said.
“These are the men and women who sacrifice time with family and friends
to move Australia’s exports, supplying the country with fuel and commodities,
and ensure the overwhelming majority of everyday products are available to the
community.
“All too often, the public and even politicians forget that this small band of
dedicated seafarers are responsible for keeping our island national operating.”
Mr Crumlin said the International Day of the Seafarer was also a call to action to
halt the continued loss of Australian flag vessels under Coalition governments.
Michael Harvey
Prepare for change in pilot transfers
Legislative change can be expected to impact that the hoist operation point is going
transfer procedures for pilots boarding big to occur.”
ships, an industry analyst believes.
Mr Vanderbeek said it was “only going
Ian Vanderbeek from Aviator Group said to be a matter of time” before legislation
suggested legislative intervention in this started to catch up in this area.
area was “the elephant in the room”.
“If someone comes off the pilot ladder
“The last two decades has really seen the and is injured or dies as a result and the
emergence of pilot transfer by hoist… widely coroner gets involved, there are going to be
used in Europe and South Africa,” he said. some pretty hard questions starting to be
“[Hoist transfer] is slowly becoming more asked,” he said.
prevalent and we are seeing more and more He was questioned by a representative
ports starting look at it and to adapt it.” of Australian Marine Pilots who indicated
Mr Vanderbeek said there had been he had not experienced transfers as seen
increased scrutiny around safety and used shown on video and also asked who of
some videos to demonstrate risky boarding ports, shipping lines or others would be
scenarios using ladders.
required to pay for a new transfer regime.
“By comparison helicopter transfers are “I don’t think it just applied to
somewhat more controlled… Transfer by helicopters, I think it is anything to do
helicopter always involves three pilots – the with port services or port infrastructure,”
helicopter pilot, the marine pilot and the Mr Vanderbeek responded.
air crew officer,” he said.
Mr Vanderbeek spoke at the Australian
“The difference with the helicopter is… Ports Business and Operations Conference
all three need to agree on what point it is in Townsville, organised by Ports Australia.
OUTGOING VRCA
CHIEF REFLECTS ON
TIME AT THE HELM
Outgoing Victorian Regional
Channels Authority chief executive
Michael Harvey says an increased
focus on safe navigation at Geelong is
a legacy of his time at the helm.
Mr Harvey, a former Rio Tinto
executive, confirmed his VRCA
retirement from July 31.
It marks a period of change for
the organisation, with long-serving
harbour master Captain Dilip
Abraham not having his contract
renewed in May.
“Having led a transformation of the
business for the last two-and-a-halfyears,
the time is right for me to step
down and for somebody to take the
organisation through the next stage
of its evolution,” Mr Harvey said.
Mr Harvey said key achievements
were an increased focus on safe
navigation, including bringing
marine controls in-house (they were
previously contracted out).
“The fact that we have looked at
how we can improve safe navigation
in the port waters that we manage
and the projects that we’ve initiated
to invest in new assets and new
technology to assist us in being able
to do that,” he said.
“A month ago we moved into new
offices in North Geelong overlooking
the channels and the marine
controllers for the Port of Geelong sit
right next to me in the office.”
Mr Harvey defended the move to
change harbour masters.
“The former harbour master’s
contract expired and I felt it the
time to get a fresh set of eyes on the
challenges that we face.”
Image supplied; Keith Michael Taylor
10 August 2019
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