Former AMC Search CEO praised

The work of the former CEO of AMC Search was recognised at the 16th Annual Lloyd’s List DCN Shipping and Maritime Industry Awards in Melbourne recently.

John Foster, who passed away in June, was highly commended for his work and posthumously received the Maritime Services Award, sponsored by Australian Amalgamated Terminals.

The award was accepted on the night by Cathy Wilson, the Deputy CEO of AMC  Search. Lloyd’s List DCN is Australia’s leading shipping, trade and transport newspaper. Mr Foster was appointed manager of AMC Search in 1986. Under his guidance AMC Search grew to contribute more than $44 million to AMC, enabling its facilities to be maintained, upgraded and replaced, for the benefit of all AMC students and the Australian maritime industry.

One of Mr Foster’s major achievements was the on-going success of the Pacific Patrol Boat Program (PPB).  AMC Search has managed the PPB contract for 20 years. This involves the provision of training, both at AMC and in-country, to officers and crew of 11 Pacific Island nations, to operate and maintain 19 patrol boats under the auspices of the Australian Defence Cooperation Program.

In 1997 AMC Search was the proud recipient of one of only seven ‘Outstanding Contractor’ awards ever issued by the Department.

Australian Maritime College principal Professor Malek Pourzanjani praised the work of Mr Foster and said that the posthumous recognition was well deserved.

“AMC Search’s success can be attributed directly to John’s leadership, vision and ability to assess market demand for new and emerging technologies, to take the calculated risk in commissioning new equipment to ensure that AMC remains the premier Australian Maritime training institute,” Prof. Pourzanjani said.

New CEO of AMC Search

The Australian Maritime College announced a replacement for its AMC Search Chief Executive Officer six months after John Foster’s death.

AMC Search chairman Geoff Wilson announced yesterday that Dean Cook would replace John Foster as head of the successful international maritime business.

Mr Wilson also announced that Cathy Wilson would be the new AMC Search Deputy CEO. He said that Mr Cook and Ms Wilson had shared the top job since the death of Mr Foster, the AMC Search inaugural chief executive.

“They have done an outstanding job” Mr Wilson said.

“Course enrolments have continued to grow, preparation for our tender for an extension of the Pacific patrol boat contract is well advanced and several other major, new initiatives are progressing well.”

AMC supporting our Pacific neighbours

Australian and New Zealand navy personnel have viewed AMC’s world class facilities, before being posted to the Pacific Nations.

Organised by AMC Search (AMCS), seven navy maritime surveillance and technical advisers toured the Newnham and Beauty Point campuses, and the Bell Bay fire-fighting facility on 30 November.

The advisers will soon head to the Pacific Nations to provide maritime advice and technical support, under Australia’s largest co-operation programme, the Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) Program.  On average, each individual in the group has accumulated more than 25 years of service.

“On our visit to AMC we hope to get a better understanding of what AMC offers; to know the student’s capabilities”,  LCDR Tony Grubb from the Royal New Zealand Navy said.

Since 1992, AMC Search has been the training provider for PPB. AMC Search provides the largest professional maritime and engineering capability training for Pacific Island countries.

“19 patrol boats are in service in 11 Pacific nations under the PPB programme; enabling our pacific neighbours to manage marine responses, surveillance and response capabilities”, Dean Cook (AMC Search CEO) said.

With around 200 students each year training on campus at AMC, the specific purpose- related courses cover everything from technical electronics, commanding officers, to cooking and hygiene.

“Under the Defence contract agreement, familiarisation tours, such as this one, are run for maritime surveillance and technical advisors ahead of their assignment to the Pacific Nations,” AMC Search PPB Course Leader Barry Jones said.

“AMC certainly does seem to offer a great range of training,” RAN Chief Petty Officer Allan Philip summed up at the conclusion of the tour.

From Left: Dean Cook (AMCS CEO), CPOMT Ian Trinder, CPOMT Bryan Southwell, LCDR Jefferey Williams, LCDR Tony Grubb, CPOMT Dave George, CPOMT Allan Philip, CPOET Mark Christoferson, Barry Jones (AMCS Maritime Training Manager)

Dynamic Positioning

AMC Search, has been recognised for excellence in providing dynamic positioning simulator training with two prestigious international awards.

AMC Search took out the title of DP Training Centre of the Year in the 2011 International Dynamic Positioning Excellence Awards.

The title is awarded to a training centre in recognition of its excellent facilities, equipment, staff and student support. In addition to the group award, AMC Search’s Matthew Barney was also named DP Lecturer of the Year – an award presented to an individual who has shown outstanding passion, knowledge, engagement and support in their teaching.

Courses offered:

• DP Operator Training – Basic (Induction)
• DP Operator Training – Advanced (Simulator)
• DP Familiarisation Course (Offshore Project Crew)
• DP Awareness Course (Shore Based)
• DP Technical Course

VTS Courses scheduled for 2012

Through a strong working relationship with internationally renowned VTS Instructor Bob Shaw, AMC Search has recently upgraded its VTS training capability, through the installation of a new Transas NTPro 5000 based VTS Simulator.

The VTS simulator provides trainee operators with Radar, AIS, and four VHF frequencies for communication with traffic ships. The new facility has synchronized playback capability enabling visual observation of vessel traffic movement while reviewing voice communications between VTS operators and the vessel traffic in their area.

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.

Courses offered:

• Vessel Traffic Services Operator Basic Training
• Vessel Traffic Services Training (Supervisor)
• Vessel Traffic Services On The Job Instructor Training
• Local Port Services
• Nautical Knowledge Preparation – (Non-Marine Induction)

Upcoming Courses – Filling Fast!

There are currently still some positions available on the following courses early next year:

• Perth, WA – DP Basic: 30 January – 3 February 2012
• Fast Rescue Craft: 31 January – 2 February 2012
• GMDSS Renewal: 1 – 3 February 2012
• Deck Officer Revalidation: 6-17 February 2012
• Perth, WA – DP Advanced: 6 – 10 February 2012
• Certificate of Safety Training: 13 – 21 February 2012
• Ship Security Officer: 21 – 23 February 2012
• Launceston, TAS – DP Advanced: 27 February – 2 March 2012

The short course schedule is continually updated, and the 2012 program can be accessed through a virtual calendar on the AMC Search website.

Enquiries to Cathy Wilson, Deputy CEO or Emilie Donovan, Course Administration Manager.

2012 Short Course Passport

AMC Search’s new Passport to the World of Maritime Opportunities is hot off the printing press, and sets out the schedule of short courses programmed throughout 2012. If you would like a copy mailed to you, please contact Emilie Donovan, Course Administration Manager

Engineering Professional Development

AMC Search in conjunction with AMC have developed two courses for Engineers to meet Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.

The Engineers Australia website (http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au) advises that a practitioner must document a minimum of 150 hours of structured CPD over a three-year period.

The Signal Conditioning, Data Acquisition and Data Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics and Hydrodynamics courses both comprise 20 hours of Professional Development.

Courses offered:

• Computational Fluid Dynamics and Hydrodynamics
• Signal Conditioning, Data Acquisition and Data Analysis

AFMA Fisheries Observers Course

AMC Search was awarded a contract from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) for the delivery of a Fisheries Observers Course.  The course is designed to provide occupational skills to observer personnel who will be deployed to take data on Australian Fisheries vessels.

The course was designed and conducted by the staff of the National Centre for Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability (NCMCRS), and included a wide range of topics from the role of an observer, fishing gear, fish species, working at sea to the safe use of knives.  Participants were given access to the Launceston Museum’s collection of 15 species of seabirds as part of their introduction to threatened marine species.

AFMA Fisheries Observer course participants with NCMCRS Lecturer Nick Rawlinson

Photographer David Maynard

Participants working with threatened marine species at Launceston Museum

Photographer David Maynard

Merry Christmas

Well, another year has almost gone already.  Thanks to all our clients, and those of you who continue to receive, and hopefully read, our newsletter.  We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and hope that 2012 is a happy and healthy year for all.