Dockmaster Course in Cairns

A 7 day comprehensive Dockmaster course was conducted recently in Cairns, for participants from Tropical Reef Shipyard, Norship Marine, Perkins Shipping, BAE Systems and the Cairns Slipway. Participants were able to reinforce the theory sessions of the course at the Norship Marine shipyard.

Dockmaster training is provided through AMC  Search with the option of a 2 day course covering safe docking and undocking of vessels in and out of dry docks – such as graving docks, floating docks, slipways and synchrolifts, or a comprehensive 7 day course which covers all aspects of Dockmaster training.

Courses are delivered on demand, usually tailored to client specific needs, and ideally delivered at client docks.  However, courses can also be delivered at AMC, if this is preferred by clients and trainees.

Upcoming Short Courses

Vacancies exist on the following upcoming scheduled courses:

• Dynamic Positioning – Basic 3-7 May (2 positions available)
• Dynamic Positioning – Basic 10-14 May (2 positions available)
• Certificate of Safety Training 17-25 May
• Advanced Fire 24-27 May
• Ship Planners 7-10 June
• GMDSS Communications 21 June – 2 July

Additional short courses for the second half of the year, including Dynamic Positioning (Basic and Advanced), Deck Officer Revalidation and GMDSS Renewal, will be scheduled over the next few weeks.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on our website (www.amcsearch.com.au) for the latest additional dates.

New Fast Rescue Craft

AMC Search has placed an order for a new waterjet Fast Rescue Craft (FRC).

Demand for FRC training has been steadily increasing over recent years, and the new boat, with davit, is being acquired to ensure AMC’s FRC courses provide the contemporary and high quality learning experience expected by industry.

Certified by Bureau Veritas as compliant with SOLAS and LSA Code, the 6.5 metre boat can carry up to 13 people and has a maximum speed of 30 knots.

The davit will be installed on AMC’s Beauty Point wharf, and the new waterjet boat will be used in conjunction with our other FRC, a 5.0m craft with twin outboard motors, in delivering FRC Operator courses compliant with STCW Table A-V1/2.2.

NOREQ FRC 650 & Davit

AMSA Approves Dangerous Goods Course

AMC Search is now offering AMSA approved courses covering the mandatory requirements of Chapter 1.3 of the 2008 IMDG Code – with a focus on the guidelines set out in table 1.3.1.5 of the Code.

There are 4 different courses, each designed to meet the needs of different categories of participants:

• Shippers, Packers, Consolidators
• Shipping and Shipping Agency Clerical Staff
• Road Transport, Railway and Terminal Operators
• Shipping, Terminal Supervisors, Ships Planners, Ships Officers

Courses are usually conducted on client premises, with AMC Instructors available to travel to locations of convenience to course participants.

For more information contact the Short Course and Promotions Manager, Cathy Wilson

Kongsberg Conference

Following the commissioning of AMC’s state of the art Kongsberg Maritime simulator in 2009, the internationally renowned supplier of maritime simulators chose AMC as its venue for hosting the 2010 Kongsberg Maritime’s Simulator Users Conference.

Around 50 guests from Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region participated in the 3 day conference event which was opened by Norway’s Ambassador to Australia on 8 March, Her Excellency Siren Gjerme Eriksen.

Under the conference theme of “Explore the Simulation Possibilities”, delegates shared their maritime simulation experiences and discussed concepts for future maritime simulation developments, and exchanged ideas for enhancing the collective knowledge of the international simulation community.

Importantly, delegates and guests also had opportunities to see AMC’s world class research facilities, and experience some of northern Tasmania’s wineries, and sample selections of the finest produce for which the region is famous!

The event was a successful and happy one for all concerned, and AMC is most appreciative of having had the opportunity to co-host the occasion with Kongsberg.

Kongsberg hosts these international conferences regularly, but this is the first one to have been conducted in our part of the globe.  Given the feedback, AMC would seem to be the logical choice for 2012!

Kongsberg’s Simulator Sales and Marketing Manager, Mark Stuart Treen,
at the Conference dinner with AMC Search’s CEO John Foster and Tamara Foster

Simulator Still Sizzling!

The AMC simulator and its Manager, Captain Ian Rodrigues, have been extremely busy ever since the new simulator was commissioned in July last year.

The Flinders Ports Corporation was recently able to welcome the Queen Mary II to visit Adelaide for the first time, following simulation studies at AMC to ensure the viability of manoeuvring the ship in the port.  The QM2 was modelled in house by AMC,  and the simulation study was witnessed by Capt. Chris Rynd – Master of the QM2, who was impressed with the ship model and the facility.

An extensive simulation study to evaluate the design of a new bulk cargo port planned for Queensland was recently completed.

The simulator has also been used recently to conduct Bridge Resource Management (BRM) training, it has also been used to evaluate berthing procedures at new coal terminals in Newcastle.

AMC’s capability to model port areas and ships “in-house”, through working directly with clients and meeting their specific needs, provides a level of quality and flexibility of service yet to be rivalled.

Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) Course

Sponsored by AusAID, a training program will be conducted at AMC through April/May to assist nations in our region to adopt and implement the MLC.  This Convention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is described as a new and comprehensive “bill of rights” for seafarers, which will be implemented internationally in 2011.  It will require ratifying nations to have a strong compliance and enforcement mechanism based on Flag state inspection and certification of seafarers’ working and living conditions.

Two AMC Instructors have attended ILO “train the trainer” programs at the ILO’s headquarters in Turin, Italy.  These Instructors will be leading participants from maritime training institutions and regulatory authorities from Asia Pacific nations through the MLC’s requirements, and identifying specific needs within each nation for the successful implementation and enforcement of the new Convention.  Countries represented in this inaugural MLC course for the region are Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Indonesian VTS Course

Between December 2009 and March 2010, AMC Search conducted a VTS operator training program designed to meet the needs of 20 Indonesian trainees.  A 4 week introductory nautical knowledge course was conducted in Jakarta for the 20 trainees in December/January, followed by 2 consecutive courses of 4 weeks each for 10 trainees per course at AMC.

The courses at AMC focussed on VTS operations with a “hands-on” emphasis using the new AMC Search VTS simulator, and were led by internationally renowned VTS Instructor Bob Shaw, ably supported by Matt Best.

The Indonesian trainees applied themselves diligently to their learning program, and were an absolute pleasure to have on the AMC campus.

Feedback from the trainees indicated their strong support for the program, and high level of satisfaction with their learning experience.

VTS Operations Simulator

Bob Shaw with VTS trainees and Support Instructor, Matt Best.