Minister Albanese Opens AMC Simulator

AMC’s new maritime simulation facility was formally opened by the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government on Thursday 2 July, 2009.

Over 50 maritime transport industry guests travelled to Launceston from around the country to share in the event, and to obtain a first-hand look at the new facility.

After declaring the simulator open for business Minister Albanese took the con of the passenger ship CONSTELLATION in the full mission bridge simulator, and piloted the ship into the port of Sydney, under the watchful eye of Simulations Manager, Captain Ian Rodrigues.

Overcoming a tendency to favour the left, the Minister did the job well, and certainly showed that he was familiar with Sydney waterways.

After meeting up with the tug escort, the Minister decided to take on a new role, and stepped out of the main bridge simulator into the nearby tug bridge simulator. There he took over the tug console controls, and escorted the CONSTELLATION as it approached its berth in Darling Harbour.

Minister Albanese also visited the 6 ship operation bridges located upstairs, above the full mission bridge and the tug bridge simulators. Changing roles again, he then took charge of the helm of a fishing boat in Sydney Harbour, and steered the vessel safely around the harbour in day and night-time conditions.

AMC’s new Centre for Maritime Simulations is now fully operational, and is being used for training of AMC’s seafaring students. It has also been used for pilotage and port development simulation exercises by marine pilots from TasPorts, Cairns and Weipa, and is heavily scheduled for the remainder of 2009 and, already, into 2010.

AMC believes the facility provides a new realism in maritime simulation. All of us at AMC are very grateful to Minister Albanese for taking the time out from his busy schedule to open this exciting new resource for the Australian maritime transport industry.

Minister Albanese with local MP Jodie Campbell Member for Bass, at the opening
ceremony with AMC Principal Malek Pourzanjani and Chairman David Sterrett.

First VTS Course on New Facility

AMC Search conducted a VTS Operators course on its recently commissioned VTS simulator from 25 May, to 6 June. The course was led by internationally regarded VTS Instructor, Mr. Robert Shaw from Canada, and was strongly supported by the Sydney Ports Corporation.

In addition to positive feedback on the course from participants, AMC Search was also delighted to receive the following comment from Mr. Shaw:

Hi Cathy,

“Thank you again for all your support prior to and during the course. I really hope that other ports will follow Sydney’s lead on this and take advantage of the wonderful training facility that AMC now has. The simulation set up at AMC out performs those that I am involved with elsewhere.”

AMC Search’s VTS Operator course has AMSA acceptance as meeting the IALA Guidelines V103/1. The VTS Supervisor course is currently being developed to comply with IALA Guidelines V103/2.

Other Courses Available

All short courses over the next couple of months are already fully booked. However, a few vacancies exist on the following courses to be held later in the year. Anyone interested should contact us soon:

Certificate of Safety Training

16-24 September
19-27 October
16-24 November

GMDSS Renewal

5-7 October
26-28 October
9-11 November
14-16 December

Dynamic Positioning – Basic

12-16 October
2-6 November
9-13 November
30 Nov – 4 Dec
7-11 December

Dynamic Positioning – Advanced

Sorry, all fully booked.

Revalidation – Deck

12-21 October
16-27 November
30 Nov – 11 Dec

Enrolments and details: C.Wilson@amc.edu.au

General Consultancies

In addition to training, AMC Search provides consultancy services to the maritime industry, and has been very busy in that field for the past several months. A few of the interesting projects recently completed or in progress include:

• Port Oakajee: Baseline Environmental Study
• Port of Brisbane: Engine Emission Study
• Wave Wake Study for Swan River
• Develop Port Operations Guidelines for Port of Melbourne
• Provision of advice on anchor dragging incidence
• Provision of advice on vessel grounding incidence
• Independent specialist assistance with port tender evaluations
• Model Testing of Wave Energy Converters
• Model Testing of Port Hedland pilot boat
• Model Testing of 90m catamaran

Vessel Charters

Working around timetables for student trainee voyages, AMC Search also is able to arrange occasional commercial charters for AMC’s training vessels.

So for this year we have chartered:

BLUEFIN to conduct a survey in Bass Strait to assist an offshore operator to recover some lost scaffolding and equipment.

BLUEFIN to deliver a solar power system to Deal Island in Bass Strait. The system which included 190 kilo batteries had to be transferred from the vessel to shore by helicopter.

REVIRESCO to work with AMSA to conduct aerial radar surveillance trials, to test capability of detecting small craft being towed behind a fishing trawler.