Finding the Next Generation of Marine Pilots

Transcription

1 9 th Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Authorities Forum Vina Del Mar, Chile, April 2006 Finding the Next Generation of Marine Pilots Mick Kinley General Manager Maritime Operations Australian Maritime Safety Authority 1

2 Background Australia is a federation or commonwealth of six states and two internal territories. The legislative powers of the Federal Government include taxation, finance, defence, foreign relations and execution of the civil and criminal process etc, while the State Governments deal with education, health, law and order, public safety and public undertakings such administration of ports, including the operation of port pilotage. The responsibility for pilotage within the Australia coastal sea is vested with the Federal Government. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is the federal government agency responsible for pilotage within the Australian coastal sea. AMSA currently licenses the coastal pilots that provide pilotage services in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Torres Strait. Marine pilots are part of an aging maritime workforce in Australia with the available recruitment pool diminishing. Over half of Australian marine pilots are over 51 years of age with over one third of marine pilots expected to retire within the next four years. Introduction Marine pilots are considered to be at the forefront of risk management. They play a vital role in the protection of the marine environment and port infrastructure, including safety of vessels. In Australia there are currently about 230 port pilots and nearly 70 coastal pilots. In the major iron ore and coal exporting states of Queensland and Western Australia, the demand for port pilots is likely to increase by 10 percent per annum over the next few years. In other states the demand for pilots also is likely to increase but probably not to the same extent. As with many other countries Australia is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified seafarers for all ranks. This shortage has been brought about, in recent years, by the expansion of the offshore oil and gas industry and the Australian industry not training new seafarers in the 1990 s. In the 1990 s Australian shipping was in decline and there was a need to reduce costs and, as was done in many parts of the world at the time, Australian shipping companies considerably reduced the amount of money they spent on training. The lack of training of new seafarers almost a decade ago has allowed the age profile of Australian seafarers to continue to increase, with the average age of Australian seafarers now over 50 years. Marine Pilot Recruitment In Australia marine pilots are currently recruited from experienced Master Mariners, usually former masters of Australian vessels who held a number of pilotage exemptions. This source of potential marine pilots has significantly reduced and is predicted to further reduce in the coming few years. 2

3 Due to the projected shortage of suitable persons for pilot recruitment from the traditional source, two alternative pathways of non-traditional recruitment for marine port pilots are under consideration. The first is recruitment of trainee pilots that have the necessary aptitude but without previous maritime qualifications or experience. The second is recruitment of mariners that show the necessary aptitude but who have not sailed as master nor have obtained a Certificate of Competency as Master. This new approach will require the development of a comprehensive training program to ensure that trainee pilots obtain the relevant skills and knowledge that one expects of professional pilots. Much work has been done on developing training programs, which will be at Diploma and Advance Diploma level, by two of Australia s maritime training colleges. The approach to marine pilot recruitment and training being considered in Australia is not new and there are a number of examples of very similar training models used successfully for a number of years in different parts of the world. Naval Qualifications In Australia it is recognised, as in other parts of the world, one of the significant untapped resources for new seafarers and marine pilots are ratings and officers from the defence forces. It is recognised that naval training is generally of a very high standard, though is not always relevant to merchant vessels. AMSA has almost completed a mapping process comparing training obtained by service in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the requirements of STCW. The mapping process will determine the additional training needed and what recognition can be given to existing naval training for issue of an STCW qualification. The mapping process has also encouraged the RAN to consider increasing the training given in some areas, for example, in the future seaman officers may study damage stability in greater depth than they do at present. It is unusual for most officers and ratings of the RAN to have more than 20 years service, hence by the time these officers and ratings reach their early 40 s they are looking for a second career. AMSA receives many enquiries from former RAN officers and ratings wanting to become merchant seafarers or marine pilots. Generally speaking it is easier for AMSA to recognise the trade qualifications and degrees held by former RAN engineers and technicians than seaman officers or ratings. Trainee Coastal Pilots The Australian regulations relating to Coastal Pilotage known as Marine Orders Part 54 Coastal Pilotage is currently undergoing a major review which includes requirements for issue of a trainee coastal pilot license. Currently to obtain a trainee coastal pilots license an applicant must: 3

4 Be entitled to be a permanent resident in Australia; Hold a valid Certificate as Master or Certificate of Recognition as Master; Have completed not less than 36 months sea service, of which 18 months must have been completed during the previous five years, as master, navigating officer in charge of a watch, or pilot, on ships of 35 metres or more in length while holding the certificate referred above, and; Undertake an approved program of training. Part of this review will determine what qualifications AMSA can accept from former seaman officers from the RAN that will allow them to commence training as a coastal pilot Another source of potential trainee coastal pilots are persons such as harbour masters, marine surveyors etc, who don t have 18 months sea service in the last five years. AMSA is currently conducting a review to determine what additional training can be accepted as equivalent to 18 months sea service in the last five years. AMSA has received a number of enquiries from persons without recent sea service wishing to become coastal pilots, especially from Australian residents currently working overseas. The current approved training program for coastal pilots is basically practical on the job training with trainee coastal pilots undertaking as many training voyages as he/she feels is needed before undertaking assessment voyages. The trainee coastal pilot must undertake a minimum number of assessment voyages for each route before he/she can obtain a restricted coastal pilot s license. Trainee coastal pilots are also required to complete a detailed workbook that includes passage plans, local knowledge information such as navigation aids, tides and tidal stream information. This workbook is reviewed and approved by AMSA. All trainee coastal pilots must also attend an AMSA approved Bridge Resource Management Course In order to ensure that trainee coastal pilots without recent sea service and former seaman officers from the RAN receive adequate training before undertaking assessment AMSA will insist on a minimum number of training trips. AMSA is also considering how these trainee coastal pilots will receive formal training in recent advances in technology relevant to very large merchant vessels and other issues. Initial thoughts are that they will need to do an intensive 10 to 15 day course. Migration Current Australian government policy with regard to skilled migration allows port authorities and coastal pilot providers to consider sponsoring suitable and 4

5 experienced marine pilots for migration to Australia. A number of overseas trained pilots have been so sponsored. Australian College of Marine Pilots Marine Pilots recruited from the traditional source of master mariners are still an option, albeit a shrinking one, but they still have to be trained as marine pilots. It is also recognised that the traditional training by mentoring and observation has a number of weaknesses, although almost all existing marine pilots employed in Australia have undertaken additional training such as Bridge Resource Management and manned model training either overseas or in Australia. In addition to the problems of recruiting new marine pilots, we also have to consider the ongoing professional development of existing marine pilots. New technology that assists pilotage such as electronic charts, precision DGPS, Real Time Kinematic positioning and AIS are evolving at an increasing rate. The Australian Marine Pilots Association (AMPA) has put forward a proposal, supported by state marine administrations and AMSA to form an Australian College of Marine Pilots. It is intended that the college will oversee training requirements for all three streams of pilot training for port pilots, that is, traditional entry by experienced master mariners, apprentice pilots and entry by mariners that do not have a certificate of competency as master or the extended sea service. To assist with training new pilots, ongoing professional development and competency assessment of existing pilots, it is proposed to build a dedicated manned ship simulator. At present there is only one fully integrated manned ship simulator in Australia, which is located at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, Tasmania. This simulator is mainly used for training cadets and ships officers and for research and development. AMSA will still oversee and approve training for coastal pilots however it is hoped that the training, assessment and on-going professional development will be aligned as much possible with port pilots. In regard to pilotage training and professional development, Australia is aiming for what is believed constitutes world s best practice as emulated by international pilot organisations Conclusion In conclusion it is hoped that this paper has given a brief insight into how Australia will ensure that the next generation of marine pilots will be available to help guarantee the safety of port infrastructure, the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait and importantly the safety of vessels trading to Australian ports. Australian Maritime Safety Authority 15 March