DCN September Edition 2019

Autonomous shipping discussed at UK Club
A presentation by Filip Koscielecki of the
UK Club entitled Autonomous Shipping –
Revolution by Evolution took his audience
through the issues from the progression
towards more autonomous ships.
Among other
considerations explained
was the seaworthiness and
navigating capabilities of
unmanned or restricted
crew vessels.
There was also discussion
of greater exposure to cyberattack,
the consequences of
robotic and AI control of ships and legal
responsibility and liability.
“The benefits of autonomous shipping
are many and will drive the future progress
of such technology in what may, in the
TasPorts to keep King Island
shipping service
future be termed revolutionary,” Mr
Koscielecki said.
“However the wide-spread ramifications
that will surely disrupt the traditional
shipping environment will have to
be carefully managed.
“Therefore, evolutionary
steps towards autonomy will
characterise the path of such
progression.”
The event was organised
by WISTA UK as part of its
regular program of networking
meetings accompanied by an
in-depth lecture on a shipping issue of
the day.
It was hosted by Thomas Miller managed
insurance mutuals, the UK P&I Club and
the UK Defence Club.
TasPorts, the owner/operator of the Bass Island Line that operates between
Geelong, Grassy and Devonport, has committed to enhancing the service after a
market sounding exercise failed to identify a suitable commercial operator.
After an initial market sounding process late last year, in April this year current
and potential Bass Strait operators were invited to submit indicative proposals to
participate in the delivery of the BIL.
“Following an extensive evaluation process, a panel comprising representatives
from TasPorts, BIL and the Department of State Growth did not shortlist any of the
market participants,” TasPorts chief Anthony Donald said.
“This decision was taken on the basis that the evaluation panel considered none
of the market participants sufficiently demonstrated that their proposals were able
to independently achieve an improved BIL Service outcome without substantial
ongoing involvement and support from TasPorts.”
K-LINE FINED $34.5M
FOR CRIMINAL
CARTEL CONDUCT
In the largest criminal fine ever
imposed under the Competition
and Consumer Act, Japanese
shipping company K-Line has been
hit with a $34.5m fine for criminal
cartel conduct.
The Federal Court ruled Kawasaki
Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) engaged in price
fixing as part of an illegal cartel with
other shipping companies for the
transportation of cars into Australia
between 2009 and 2012.
This involved some 106,247 new
cars being transported to Australia
from the United States, Asia and
Europe.
“This decision is a serious warning
to businesses and will deter others
seeking to join or start a cartel,” ACCC
chair Rod Sims said.
“The penalty imposed on K-Line
should send a powerful message
to multinational corporations that
conduct business in Australia that
anti-competitive conduct will not
be tolerated and will be dealt with
harshly,” Federal Court judge Michael
Wigney wrote in his judgment.
K-Line faced a maximum fine of
$100m but the Federal Court reduced
the penalty because the shipping
company pleaded guilty early and
was cooperative.
Judge Wigney wrote the cartel
conduct of K-Line is “inimical to and
destructive of the competition that
underpins Australia’s free market
economy.
“It is ultimately detrimental to,
or at least likely to be detrimental
to, Australian businesses and
consumers,” he said.
Mr Sims said that cartel conduct
cheats consumers and other
businesses through inflating prices
and costs but also restricts healthy
economic growth and discourages
innovation.
Bass Island Line; Roman Tiraspolsky
thedcn.com.au September 2019 11