Projects

Workshop on Land and Ship Based Marine Pollution in North Eastern China

This project was undertaken jointly between ANMET member Hunter Institute of TAFE NSW and the University of New South Wales with funding from the Department of Environment and Heritage, the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) through a contract with the University of New South Wales.

The strategic workshop held in Rongcheng, Qingdao China was attended by 30 participants including marine environment experts, scholars and managers. The main objective of the workshop was to raise awareness of management of land and ship based marine pollution in an area of Northeastern China where severe environmental degradation is occurring due to its rapid economic growth.

The workshop was part of a wider program funded by the Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) titled Frontiers of Science and Technology Missions and Workshops which aims to increase the uptake of leading edge science and technology.

The workshop demonstrated Australian environmental management experience in association with counterparts in China and raised awareness of the participants from ports and coastal/ seafaring communities of the sources of and problems arising from land and ship based marine pollution. It also helped to strengthen capacity to counter such pollution. The workshop also provided an opportunity for the exchange and possible future collaboration in maritime research.

Workshop participants identified a range of environmental issues for future attention, these included:

• Establishment of an Integrated Lagoon and Wetland Management System in Yuhu Lagoon, Shandong Province
• Management of marine pollution due to commercial fishing and mariculture activities
• Marine environmental issues related to the Beijing Olympics (2008)
• Management of ship ballast water in Northeastern China

APEC Accreditation of Seafarer Manning Agencies

ANMET member organisations Pivot Maritime International Pty. Ltd., Hunter Institute TAFE NSW and New Zealand Maritime School jointly developed an APEC accreditation system for seafarer manning agencies in the Asia Pacific region. The project is due to be completed in December 2004

The Accreditation system provides a database of seafarer manning agencies in the Asia Pacific and includes a rating system, using specific criteria for rating the services offered by seafarer manning agencies with respect to both seafarers and shippers. The system also includes a service charter for seafarer manning agencies.

The project required wide consultation with industry and governmental stakeholders across the Asia Pacific region.

The key outcome of the project will be:

• Streamlined manning practices for commercial ship crewing, making more efficient employment of qualified seafarers
• Provision of a monitoring capability of current and future labour skills requirements
• Promotion of acceptable standards for seafarers working conditions and welfare and the reduction of crew mistreatment
• Reduction of anti-competitive practices in the seafaring labour industry
• A contribution towards safer, more cost effective shipping in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
• Benefits to seafarers, shipowners, manning agents, users of commercial shipping and maritime safety agencies.

Two Year Strategic Plan for the Establishment of a Maritime Training Agenda in Indonesia.

This project was undertaken by former AMT Inc. member and developed a strategic plan to introduce order and priority in the delivery of maritime training in Indonesia and to improve the quality of Indonesian seafarers in accordance with IMO standards.

The strategic plan provided Indonesian authorities with the means to evaluate further proposals for training in the Indonesian maritime sector and ensure cost effective use if scarce training resources. The training priorities at the time were the over riding need for Indonesia to become STCW 95 compliant.

The Strategic Plan covered training in the following sectors: Seafarer, port management, maritime safety, and pollution response, quality management.

Port Management & Pollution Control Needs Analysis and Training Workshop, Hai Phong, Vietnam

This project was conducted in two parts, firstly a needs analysis was undertaken to gauge the knowledge base of the maritime industry in North Vietnam, and view existing facilities and port development from which to plan the content and level of training to be undertaken during the proposed workshop.

This needs analysis and workshop were conducted jointly by ANMET member the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre (AMOSC) and a previous AMT Inc member.

This workshop which was attended by 28 participants, from the Vietnam Maritime University, port authorities and the National Maritime Bureau identified the range of maritime safety and marine environmental risks and dangers that were likely to be encountered in the development of ports in North Vietnam particularly in regard to the handling of small short sea traffic to modern container terminals and tanker facilities handling large deep sea oil tankers. The workshop also included detailed strategies on how to deal with the vast changes needed to upgrade ports and port facilities without harm to the environment

Other projects undertaken include:

Seafarer STCW Training in the Philippines and Indonesia
Working Together on Land and Ship Based Marine Pollution in Indonesia
Port Management & Pollution Control Training Workshops, in Philippines
Understanding International Maritime Conventions Training Workshop, Indonesia
Land and Sea Pollution Workshop, Philippines.