Chris Battel is the AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) Liaison office. The AMSA is an Australian Federal Agency which is an authority with its own charter for the safety and protection of persons and the environment. Hence safety of life in prevention and rescue is first and foremost. With evacuations when required and attending to pollution such as cleaning up oil spills.
Every vessel is a potential risk. So 4,000 vessels are inspected every year and 250 vessels inspected in a very detailed way every year.
AMSA covers both domestic and commercial vessels, 27,000 new boats 66,000 masters.
AMSA was meant to come in at federation for a national approach like CASA (Civil Aviation Authority) but it was but it was delayed until 1990 when AMSA was founded.
So now there is a National plan. AMSA regularly practice oil spills. There is an offshore vessel off of the Great Barrier Reef ready to respond and all commercial vessels in that area are guided by a pilot.
In rescue Australia is responsible for 11% of the earth surface, hence all that ocean comes under national search and rescue. For every year 30 people are killed in aquatic recreational activity with fishing being the more dangerous recreational activity.
AMSA is responsible for Australia's Joint Rescue Command Centre, to co-ordination rescues and to bring in the resources required for that rescue.
EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) come int he older analog that locates to a 5 kilometer radius and the newer and more accurate digital that uses GPS and within 20 minutes the location is within a 120 meters.
The first response is by the Search and Rescue Jet Challenger cl 604 and is operational within 30 minutes and can locate from 20,000 feet.
Then come the second response of helicopter and fixed wing aircraft, as AMSA can demand any required aircraft or ship to attend to the rescue.
By January 2021 every commercial vessel equal to and larger than 12 meters must have a float free EPIRB. Under that size because of water splash on the boar setting the EPRIB off AMSA is looking at Personal Location Beacons on life jackets.
Rotary Quote
1972-73 Roy D. Hickman (photoengraving), Rotary Club of Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Rotary vision: That clubs and individuals Take a New Look at service and act on their findings.
“What has been accomplished by others is now Rotary history. It is our time to add to our glorious history. What is said of us in the future will be determined by you and me.”
— Address to 1972 Rotary Convention, Houston, Texas, USA
President Elect Allan McLean working hard in the bacon and egg stall at Stirling Markets.
Spy photo supplied by Claudia Pierazzoli
.jpg)
