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Publications
Number 65
Australian Centre for Maritime Studies, December 1998
The Australian Maritime Digest is published monthly by the Australian Centre for Maritime Studies on behalf of the Kindred Maritime Organisations for the benefit of the Australian maritime community.
A draft Action Plan for establishment of Marine Protected Areas in Australia was recently released for public comment.
The Plan was developed by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) Task Force on Marine Protected Areas.
A statement issued by the Portfolio Marine Group of Environment Australia said the Commonwealth, State and Northern Territory Governments were committed to establishing a National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). This would be designed to provide a major contribution to ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of Australia's marine and estuarine environments.
The draft Plan sets out actions to achieve the goals of the NRSMPA and provides a guide to understanding the System by defining it in the context of existing arrangements and agreements that promote the conservation of Australia's marine biodiversity.
It concentrates on the establishment of the NRSMPA, including performance assessment for the System, and a set of actions that reflect both national intention and jurisdictional priorities.
This plan is one of a set of ANZECC documents which have been developed to assist the development of the NRSMPA. The other documents are the Interim Marine and Coastal Regionalisation for Australia (IMCRA Technical Group 1998) and the Guidelines for Establishing the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (ANZECC TFMPA, in press).
ANZECC is committed to community and stakeholder involvement in the development of the NRSMPA and is seeking comments from interested individuals and groups by 18 December 1998.
The report said the conservation of marine biodiversity and the maintenance of ecological processes were recognised nationally and internationally as being best achieved through strategic regional planning that provided for the establishment and effective management of a representative system of MPAs and complementary sustainable management of adjoining waters. The Plan deals with the protected areas system component of such an approach.
ADI Limited has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the upgrade of the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) six Adelaide Class Guided Missile Frigates (FFGs).
The Defence Minister, Mr John Moore, said the competing offers from ADI Limited and Tenix Defence Systems Pty Ltd were of a very high quality and had substantially met the requirements for the Upgrade project. This reflected the first-class standards now being achieved by Australian industry.
An exhaustive evaluation process considered cost, capability, through-life support, and involvement of Australian industry in the project. After all aspects of the tenders had been analysed, the Department of Defence decided that the tender from ADI Limited presented best value for money.
The FFG Upgrade project entails major improvements to the capability of the RAN FFGs to defend themselves, particularly against modern anti-ship missiles, introduced since the ships had entered service. Better defences against torpedoes and mines will also be included. There will be enhancements to overall reliability of the ships, and they will be more cost-effective to operate, maintain, and support. Living conditions will also be improved.
Australian industry involvement in the project will exceed 60 per cent of the contract value and a substantial amount of the work to be undertaken by Australian industry will include high technology work associated with the improved combat systems for the ships as well as local manufacture of combat system.
The Australian Industry Program for the FFG Upgrade will place Australian companies in a good position to provide through-life support for the ships. A contract is expected to be signed in March 1999.
For further information contact Captain Peter Law RAN (Project Director), phone (02) 6266 2029 or 0418 795457.
Visits by three Australian warships, a Naval band and an Air Force hot air balloon marked the recent launch of the largest defence industry mission Australia has ever mounted to the Philippines.
Attended by Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Mr Tim Fischer and the Philippines Secretary for Defense, more than 16 companies participated in the mission, opened under the banner of Building Self Reliance Through Trade and Industry Cooperation.
The mission was part of Defence's participation in a whole of Government promotion being presented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as Australia's contribution to the Philippines' centenary of independence celebrations.
While focusing on trade and investment, the overall promotion titled All the Best - from Australia includes a range of other business, cultural, sporting, educational and scientific activities to reflect the contemporary, positive image of Australia.
The main aims of the defence industry mission were to project Australia's capabilities as a supplier of innovative and sophisticated technology and expertise.
The Australian Government expected those involved would identify opportunities for commercial cooperation in the support and adaptation of advanced technologies. It also provided opportunities to talk with key Filipino decision makers at the highest level.
Invited Filipino guests - representing Government and local industry in the Philippines - were able to searide in the first of the Australian-built Anzac ships, HMAS Anzac in Manila Bay.
The Royal Australian Navy task group included Anzac and two Australian guided missile frigates, HMAS Adelaide and Sydney.
For further information contact Brendan Egan (Ministerial), phone (02) 6277 7420, or Tony Underwood (Departmental), phone (026) 6265 2703.
The new Australian Minister for Defence, Mr John Moore, and his New Zealand counterpart, Mr Max Bradford, recently signed a new Defence agreement known as the Status of Forces Agreement.
The signing took place in the historic War Cabinet Room at Victoria Barracks in Melbourne.
The Status of Forces Agreement addresses issues that can arise during overseas visits by defence forces. The Agreement includes dispute resolution procedures, parameters of criminal jurisdiction as well as operational procedures to manage the arrival and departure of visiting forces.
Australia's relationship with New Zealand was one of our longest standing and most important defence relationships, and this agreement was another significant symbol of our continuing defence ties, Mr Moore said.
The collaboration between Australia and New Zealand on the issue of the Bougainville peace initiatives and the 1998 ANZAC force sent to the Gulf, were two recent examples of the strength of the defence relationship.
In addition to short term visits, there were large numbers of defence personnel on reciprocal appointments in Australia and New Zealand.
Both Governments recognised the importance of a formal arrangement like the Status of Forces Agreement and believed it would enhance the level of co-operation between the defence forces of Australia and New Zealand.
For further information on the Agreement contact Peter Johnson (Department of Defence), phone (03) 9282 6226 or 0418 399780.
Federal Parliament was told recently of a proposal to set up the destroyer HMAS Hobart as a permanent naval museum in the city of Hobart after she decommissions in the year 2000.
Tasmanian Senator John Watson (Lib.) said the project was being developed by a specially-convened committee of the Naval Association of Australia, Tasmania Section.
Senator Watson said that apart from the ship being a memorial and museum, the committee envisages the ship as an important tourist facility along the lines of HMAS Castlemaine at Williamstown in Victoria, HMAS Diamantina in Brisbane, and HMAS Vampire at Darling Harbour in Sydney.
It could also be used, if need be, for overnight accommodation, cocktail parties, meetings of specialist small groups. It could be used as Naval Reserve cadet facility. The options for the siting of the ship vary from tying up alongside, to placing it in a concrete cradle. A concrete cradle is the preferred option.
The Committee hopes that HMAS Hobart can be located at one of the wharves in Sullivans Cove, or, possibly, near the botanical gardens.
The preferred site is at Ross Bay on the Derwent River, just along from the existing Naval reserve cadet facilities and close to the old HMAS Huon naval depot.
The ship would be maintained and run by Naval Association volunteers. Planning is in the early stages, but the project involves significant cost implications and still requires meticulous long-term planning to succeed.
The committee is now seeking public and corporate sponsorship - as well as the cooperation of federal and state politicians and the Hobart City Council.
Already, considerable support has been received from the Tasmanian State Government and Opposition, the Hobart City Council, Tasmanian senators - both Liberal and Labor - Tasmanian members of the House of Representatives, the Hobart Ports Corporation, Admiral Don Chalmers, Chief of Navy, Admiral Mike Hudson, National President of the Naval Association of Australia , the HMAS Hobart Association, the Returned Services League of Australia Inc., Tasmanian Branch, and the Navy League of Australia, Tasmanian Division.
HMAS Hobart is a Charles F. Adams class guided missile destroyer, built by the Defoe Shipbuilding Co. in Michigan, USA. She was launched on 9 January 1964 and commissioned on 18 December 1965. In the year of decommissioning - year 2000 - she will have been in service for Australia for 35 years.
For further information contact Senator John Watson, phone (02) 6277 3685, fax (02) 6277 3689.
The Australian Government has secured international support for increased action against illegal fishing in Antarctic waters. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which met in Hobart last month, has adopted a number of Australian proposals to help stop illegal fishing around the Antarctic continent.
The high levels of illegal fishing pose a real threat to the Patagonian toothfish. Illegal fishing was also responsible for the death of large numbers of sea birds, including the endangered albatross.
In the lead up to and during this year's meeting of CCAMLR, Australia had made it quite clear that unless the international community turned rhetoric into action, the problem would only worsen.
CCAMLR's decision backed Australian proposals to make the use of satellite-linked vessel monitoring systems mandatory, to increase reporting of potentially illegal vessels, to improve CCAMLR's vessel register and to tighten licensing and port access controls.
While CCAMLR had taken a number of positive steps, Australia was extremely disappointed that the Commission had deferred decisions on Australia's proposal for a catch certification scheme for trade in Patagonian toothfish and had set the start-up date for mandatory vessel monitoring systems at the end of 2000.
In many areas, illegal fishing was occurring at such a rate that local toothfish populations were under immediate pressure. Countries represented at CCAMLR had to realise that time was not on our side.
Australia will pursue the trade certification scheme at a special meeting that the recent CCAMLR meeting agreed to convene early in 1999 to further investigate the scheme. It will also seek an earlier date for the introduction of mandatory vessel monitoring systems at next year's CCAMLR meeting.
If it appeared that CCAMLR was not prepared to move on these matters, Australia would seek the involvement of ministers at next year's full meeting of CCAMLR. It would also assess a role for other international fora such as the CITES convention (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
Mr Mark Vaile, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, said that illegal fishing was an issue that united both Australia's fishing community and conservationists. Illegal fishing not only affected the vulnerable environment of Antarctic waters but ultimately the livelihoods of those fishing operators who were abiding by the rules. Australia had shown that it was committed to implementing the decisions of CCAMLR in Australian waters. In many areas our standards were, in fact, higher than those adopted internationally.
Australia already required vessels to use vessel monitoring systems, had limited the number of Australian licensed fishing vessels to a maximum of two and required strict waste disposal measures. Stringent measures to prevent by-catch and the death of sea birds had also been imposed.
Australia would also continue to pursue illegal operators that enter Australian waters.
The Government was pleased that CCAMLR members commended Australia for its strong naval action to apprehend foreign fishing vessels allegedly operating illegally in our waters around Heard Island and the McDonald Islands.
Australia's enforcement and surveillance efforts will be increased by the commitment of just under $16 million over four years to boost surveillance operations.
For further information contact Tony Press (Director, Australian Antarctic Division), phone 0419 698970, Trent Zimmerman (Senator Hill's office), phone (02) 6277 7640, or Alison Penfold (Mr Vaile's office), phone 0408 633026.
Australia's Antarctic flagship, RSV Aurora Australis, returned to duty recently after undergoing repairs following a fire onboard during its historic midwinter voyage in July.
The ship departed Hobart a month ago to deploy expeditioners to Australia's Antarctic stations, together with the annual re-supply of Davis station.
Scientific activities programmed for the voyage included a major survey of Crabeater seals, as part of Australia's contribution to the international Antarctic Pack Ice Seals Project.
Little is known about the pack-ice seals which, as the name suggests, live almost exclusively on the floating ice of the Antarctic region. The Crabeater seal is the most abundant of the pack-ice seals, and feeds mainly on krill.
Greater knowledge of these animals is essential for understanding the predator-prey interactions of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Information from the survey will assist in developing future management strategies for sustainable krill harvesting.
Sixteen researchers will carry out the survey and capture work. The group will conduct shipboard and helicopter surveys while the vessel transits through the pack-ice. A number of the seals will also have satellite linked time depth recorders attached to their backs to record their diving and feeding activities.
Similar surveys will be conducted at the same time of year by several nations from various locations around the Antarctic continent.
The ship will also be conducting a major changeover of station personnel, transporting over 100 researchers and support staff. A total of 96 expeditioners will be returning on the vessel, some of whom left Hobart over twelve months ago. Aurora Australis is scheduled to return to Hobart on Christmas Day.
For further information contact Bridget Payne (Antarctic Division), phone (03) 6232 3512, Phil Wood (Public Information and Education), phone (03) 6232 3513, or Peter Boyer, phone (03) 6232 3515. Website www.antdiv.gov.au.
Lloyd's Register (LR) and Warsash Maritime Centre have joined forces to provide an independent assessment scheme to aid compliance with the Seafarers Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW 95).
The new scheme, announced recently, is aimed at helping flag state administrations, maritime training institutions and manning agencies satisfy the requirements of the Code, which arises from an International Convention of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Speaking at the launch of the joint venture, Mr John Rugg, manager of LR's Marine Quality Services, said that Lloyd's Register had been aware from the outset that, in order to provide an STCW 95 Code compliance scheme, it would be necessary to complement its quality management advisory and assessment skills with specialised expertise required for the evaluation of educational management systems.
'Warsash Maritime Centre, recognised as one of the foremost merchant officer training institutions, was providing just such specialised expertise. The result was a superb scheme which is superior to anything else currently on offer', Mr Rugg said.
Captain George Angas, Director of the Warsash Maritime Centre, said LR and Warsash had extensive experience in the field of STCW 95. Flag state administrations, training institutions and others who enrolled in the new scheme would be aided and advised by qualified, independent assessors who would guide them through the complexities of the compliance process.
A particular strength of this joint venture was that Warsash, as an educational establishment, could contribute a fundamental store of knowledge which took the seafarer through his life.
The STCW 95 Code demanded that all seafarers attained and maintained a defined level of competence. Training institutions which offered courses to seafarers, resulting in the award of a certificate of competency, had to ensure that course curricula met the requirements of the Code and any additional requirements of the pertinent flag state administration.
Flag state administrations were responsible for ensuring that, among other things, the certification of seafarers was in accordance with the requirements of the Code.
The strict requirements of the Code highlighted the need for a quality standards system which could be regularly monitored by independent evaluators. The new joint scheme generated objective evidence which would enable training colleges to satisfy flag states and flag states to satisfy the IMO.
The scheme's assessors, available to customers locally though LR's network of 280 offices around the world, were all professionally qualified and many were ex-masters or ex-chief engineer officers.
For further information contact Mel Paddock, Marine Quality Services, Lloyd's Register, 100 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 3BP, phone +44 171 423 1617, fax: +44 171 423 2951, email: mqs@lr.org, website www.lr.org, or Captain Patrick Cornelius, Warsash Maritime Centre, Newtown Road, Warsash Hampshire SO31 9ZL, phone +44 1489 576161, fax: +44 1489 576908, email wmc@solent.ac.uk, website www.solent.ac.uk/wmc.
A total of 164 foreign ships and two Australian ships were detained following safety inspections at Australian ports in the first 10 months of 1998.
During October 1998 inspections were carried out on 6 Australian ships and 283 foreign registered ships. As a result of these inspections 17 ships were found to have deficiencies of a nature which required these ships to be detained.
A vessel is detained when a deficiency is found which must be rectified before it sails. This detention action is taken irrespective of whether the deficiency is rectified or could be rectified before the vessel's scheduled sailing time. In addition to the immediate risks posed by these vessels, they have already presented an unacceptable safety and environmental risk to the coast and the marine environment during their passage to Australia.
Port State Control (PSC) continues to be a key element in maintaining a safe international marine transport industry. Despite the extensive political and public debate concerning maritime safety, some sections of industry continue to jeopardise life, property and the environment by operating unsafe ships and using less than competent crews.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) conducts an extensive PSC program in an open, objective and accountable manner. These inspections are undertaken in line with the authority contained within the International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions on ship safety and pollution prevention as well as the provisions noted with the Australian Navigation Act and Marine Orders.
For further information contact C. Davidson (Chief Executive Officer), phone (02) 6279 5000.
The future of classification lies in a new approach, with an increased emphasis on goal-based rather than prescriptive requirements. This goal setting approach to standards encourages adoption of appropriate design, based on assessment of risks and measures to mitigate hazardous conditions - in short, risk-based rules.
Lloyd's Register (LR) Chairman Mr Patrick O'Ferrall said this recently when giving the keynote presentation speech at the Ausmarine '98 conference and exhibition, held in Perth.
He told delegates, the concept of risk-based rules is not new.
For some time now, classification survey of machinery has not necessarily been based on direct inspection at rigorously applied intervals, provided that the risks can be determined by other means.
For over 20 years, LR has progressively increased the acceptance of condition monitoring, linked to a formal planned maintenance scheme, as an alternative to opening up of machinery at prescribed intervals.
Over 15 years' ago, LR surveyors were promoting established techniques for assessment of hazards on board ships and encouraging their wider application.
At that time, LR was also working closely with organisations in other industries on risk analysis and safety assessment.
In his speech, Mr O'Ferrall outlined the process leading up to the proposal for a Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) made by the UK Marine Safety Agency (now the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, MCA) to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
At the beginning of the 1990s, a UK House of Lords Select Committee on the Safety Aspects of Ship Design and Technology called for a more scientific approach to ship safety, and envisaged a move towards the use of a safety case regime.
The MCA developed the concept of the FSA, but recognised that to contemplate a safety case for each individual vessel would be impractical, given the wide variations existing in trading patterns, crewing and management.
It also recognised that the uniformity and minimum standards of existing prescriptive requirements must be maintained, and considered that the introduction of a total safety case regime would put unrealistic demands on both the regulator and the regulated.
Hence the proposals for an FSA approach, using techniques of risk-assessment and cost-benefit assessment, said Mr O'Ferrall.
There was a strong body of opinion which maintained that, had such approaches been used for certain ship types in the past - for example, bulk carriers - there would have been a better perception of the risks, and it would have enabled appropriate measures to be taken earlier.
The proposed FSA process consists of five individual steps. These are:
The FSA approach has many merits, Mr O'Ferrall said. LR, having been actively involved in the development of FSA methodology, has adopted the concept and will make use of it in its Rules.
In practice, this will be a set of Rules based on risk-criteria and goal-setting, backed by good, well-rehearsed emergency management systems.
A modern, technical approach to Rule development and implementation which combines risk-based techniques with established engineering principles, supported by experimental testing and feedback from experience, is what LR believes is required to ensure that classification continues to meet the needs of the shipping industry as it enters the new millennium.
Mr O'Ferrall sounded a note of caution, saying it would be wrong, however, to think that these new techniques will prevent all ship loss.
They will not - but they should improve the situation. These new techniques will improve design logic and robustness and it is LR's view that Rules produced in this manner will be more transparent and of greater value to the marine industry.
During his visit to Australia, Mr O'Ferrall also attended the annual meeting of LR's Australian Committee, held at the offices of BHP Transport in Melbourne.
For further information contact Sue Powell (Press and PR), phone: +44 171 423 2907, fax +44 171 423 2028, email sue.powell@lr.org.
The Federal Government has committed itself to maintaining the momentum of waterfront reform and called on other stevedores to introduce the reforms necessary to match the achievements of Patrick Stevedores and its workforce in setting new levels of performance on Melbourne's East Swanston Dock.
The Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Mr John Anderson, told Parliament recently an efficient and reliable waterfront was essential in supporting the efforts of Australia's exporters and providing jobs growth in Australia.
The recent performance of Patrick fully vindicates the Government's unbending commitment to waterfront reform and reinforces the need to maintain the current momentum, he said.
The benefits so dramatically illustrated at East Swanston must be achieved in all of Australia's container ports and by all stevedores.
Patrick has reported that it is moving 20 per cent more containers than last year with a workforce half the size. The average crane rate is up from 19 moves per hour to 26 and rates of 30 to 35 are being achieved on a regular basis.
Mr Anderson said this rate was above the benchmark of 25 moves an hour set by the Government; a rate the MUA claimed could never be achieved in Australia.
The Government has made $250m available for stevedoring reform and those stevedores wishing to access those funds must submit detailed restructuring plans to the Government by 31 December 1998.
'The Government remains absolutely committed to continuing the reform of the waterfront and through our reform package we have made available the funds to facilitate it', Mr Anderson said.
The onus is now on the stevedores to make use of those funds to achieve lasting productivity improvements on the waterfront and ensure the performance achieved Patrick in Melbourne is mirrored across the nation.
For further information contact Robert Haynes, phone (02) 6277 7520 or 04194935.
Austal Ships has completed its second Auto Express 86-metre vehicle-passenger catamaran for leading Turkish operator, Istanbul Deniz Otobusleri, completing a two vessel contract and its eighth high speed ferry delivery to the same owner.
The 86-metre Turgut Ozal will begin service this month with its identical sister ship Adnan Menderes (delivered July 1998) operating across the Marmara Sea.
In Western Australia for the technical acceptance of Turgut Ozal, IDO Chairman and General Secretary to the City of Istanbul, Mr Mustafa Acikalin, said that the Austal Auto Express ships would be an integral part of IDO's operations.
'Our main role to date has been to take transportation from Istanbul's congested roads to the seaways. Over the past four years, Austal has enabled us to increase our passenger carrying capacity three fold with the addition of eight Austal vessels. By the end of 1998, we estimate that our annual passenger carriage will reach 11 million,' he said.
As part of Australia's product support program with IDO, a service office has been established in Istanbul and is managed by Australia's European Service Engineer.
With a maximum deadweight of 400 tonnes and fitted with 4 x MTU 20V 1163 TB74L engines generating 26,000 kW and the Austal Ocean Leveller ride control system, Turgut Ozal comfortably achieved an impressive 40.5 knots during performance trials.
Both ships achieved their intended operational speed of 37 knots at less than 80 per cent power with full load. This has meant significant reductions to operational costs for IDO and significant reserves to maintain schedule.
Turgut Ozal will be deployed on the same route as its sistership, in the 62 nautical mile route between the Turkish ports of Yenikapi (Istanbul) and Bandirma. Both vessels will provide three return journeys daily in a crossing time of 1 hour and 45 minutes. Since the first Auto Express 86 Adnan Menderes commenced service on this route in July, IDO reported 100 per cent loadings throughout the summer season.
The main deck accommodates 654 passengers in a mixture of buffet, lounge and airline style arrangements. The aft and forward lounges feature predominantly table and chair arrangements, whilst the side saloons aft of the atrium to port and starboard feature airline style seating in a 2 x 2 x 2 configuration.
The forward restaurant has seating for 80. The bridge deck accommodates 146 passengers in business class comfort, all in table and chair arrangements, with 2 VIP suites each accommodating 10 people. Crew messes are located forward on the main deck, with sleeping quarters for 16. Toilet and restroom facilities, the prayer rooms, electrical rooms, and the shopping area are located in a central amenities block aft of the atrium.
The vehicle decks accommodate 200 cars, or 10 buses and 125 cars.
For further information contact Chris Pemberton (Manager, Marketing and Sales), phone (08) 9410 1111, fax (08) 9410 2564, email marketing@austal-ships.com.au.
A number of maritime research projects were among the 1998 Selection Round of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program which has attracted 59 applications for funding.
The Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, said recently he was pleased to see industry participants and other research users taking a leading role in many of the applications.
The CRC Program is central to Federal Government efforts to encourage greater cooperation between industry, universities and research agencies, he said.
More than 200 industry organisations have made commitments to the applications including many small and medium sized enterprises, and leading Australian and international companies.
Maritime projects seeking funds included:
Senator Minchin said the interest generated was particularly pleasing in light of the Government's moves to strengthen the role of industry and other research users in the management of Centre. This was a direct result of the review of the CRC Program conducted earlier this year by chief Scientist, Professor John Stocker, and former ANZ Banking Group CEO, Don Mercer,
The applications cover a wide range of fields including maritime, manufacturing technology, the environment, information and communications technology, mining and energy, medical science and technology, and agriculture and rural based manufacturing.
For further information contact Senator Minchin's office, phone (02) 6277 7580, fax (02) 6273 4104.
continued from page 1.
The NRSMPA is being established within a bioregional framework that identifies marine bioregions across jurisdictional boundaries. The framework recognises the interconnectivity of marine systems, allowing for the marine environment to be understood and planned for on an ecosystem basis.
The NRSMPA is a national system of MPAs that contains representative samples of Australia's marine ecosystems. The NRSMPA consists of MPAs in Commonwealth, State and Northern Territory waters and some associated intertidal areas. The NRSMPA is being developed cooperatively by government agencies responsible for conservation, protection and management of the marine environment. Individual MPAs are declared under the appropriate legislation for each jurisdiction.
The ANZECC Task Force on Marine Protected Areas (TFMPA) provides the mechanism for States, the Northern Territory, the Commonwealth and relevant scientific organisations to coordinate activities and collaborate on policy development and projects for the NRSMPA.
Development of an NRSMPA fulfils Australia's international responsibilities and obligations as a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It also supports the World Conservation Union (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) program of promoting the establishment and management of a global representative system of MPAs.
Australia's commitment to the protection of marine biodiversity and ecological processes, and the sustainable use of marine resources is addressed at a national level under the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment (IGAE).
It is implemented through the actions developed under national strategies such as the National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development and the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity. The establishment of a national system of protected areas is a key responsibility and obligation under these conventions and strategies.
Australia's Oceans Policy - An Issues Paper recognises that the NRSMPA forms a core component of integrated management of ocean uses. It states that the Commonwealth Government is committed to accelerating the development of the NRSMPA and that the System will encompass a spectrum of management categories.
The management categories range from areas managed to ensure minimal disturbance to areas managed to accommodate multiple uses compatible with conservation objectives. While a protected area system alone is not sufficient to ensure the protection of Australia's flora and fauna, the NRSMPA is one avenue for achieving national biodiversity goals in concert with other conservation measures.
The NRSMPA exists in the context of a range of national and State/Territory mechanisms to achieve biodiversity conservation. The broader range of conservation mechanisms includes:
There are a number of ways to manage marine areas that benefit biodiversity. Area management operates at a range of scales across the marine environment for a variety of primary purposes. Included in these managed marine areas are the MPAs that together form the NRSMPA. This Plan relates specifically to the NRSMPA.
To comment on or discuss the draft Strategic Plan of Action for the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas contact Ms Bernadette O'Neil, Director, Marine Protected Area Strategies, Marine Group, Environment Australia, GPO Box 787, Canberra City ACT 2601, phone (02) 6274 1702, fax (02) 6274 1771, email mpa@deh.gov.au
5-7 January 1999
Hydro 99 - Information Management
University of Plymouth, Devon, UK
Organised by The International Hydrographic Society.
Contact: Ron Whitmore, phone (02) 9489 2091, fax (02) 9489 2048, email seacon@sydpcug.org.au.
9-10 February 1999
10th Annual Australasian Summit on Ports, Shipping & Waterfront Reform
Wentworth Hotel, Sydney
Contact: Enquiries, (02) 9210 5750; to register, (02) 9210 5777.
22 February 1999
Navigation Technology Conference
Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Organised by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), a largely self-funded Commonwealth regulatory agency having as its charter the efficient delivery of safety and related services to the Australian maritime industry.
Navtech '99 is a one-day conference covering the latest in emerging maritime navigation safety technology.
Contact: Fiona Thorburn, Navtech '99, GPO Box 2181, Canberra City ACT 2601, phone (02) 6279 5989, fax (02) 6279 5002.
23-25 February 1999
Work Boat World Asia 99 exhibition and conference
World Trade Centre, Singapore
Contact: Mark Balla, Exhibition Manager, Baird Publication Asia/Pacific Office, 135 Sturt Street, Southbank, VIC 3141, phone (03) 9645 0411, fax (03) 9645 0475, email marinfo@baird.com.au. Internet: www.baird.com.au.
27-29 April 1999
Oceanology International 99 Pacific Rim, a marine science and ocean technology exhibition and conference focusing on the Indo and Pacific Regions. Theme: 'Enabling Technology for a Sustainable Environment'.
World Trade Centre, Singapore.
Topics: Marine Environmental Management, Marine Information Technology, Marine Biology/Biotechnology, Acoustics, Operational Modelling and Integrated Coastal Zone Management.
Contact: Spearhead Exhibitions Ltd, owners and organisers of the OI series of events, Ocean House, 50 Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey KT3 3LZ UK, phone +44 (0)181 949 9222, fax +44 (0)181 949 8186/8168, email oi99@spearhead.co.uk , Internet www.spearhead.co.uk.
6-8 July 1999
Asia-Pacific Fishing '99 exhibition and conference
Cairns Convention Centre
Contact: Exhibition Manager, Baird Publication Asia/Pacific Office, 135 Sturt Street, Southbank, VIC 3141, phone (03) 9645 0411, fax (03) 9645 0475, email marinfo@baird.com.au. Internet: www.baird.com.au.
28-30 September 1999
Indian Ocean Fisheries: Past, Present and Future, Conference in association with Indian Ocean Week
Fremantle, WA
Conference Themes: History and Heritage; Production, Management & Marketing; National and International Issues: Conflict or Cooperation.
Contact: The Convenor, Indian Ocean Fisheries Conference, Maritime History Department, WA Maritime Museum, Cliff Street, Fremantle WA 6160, phone (08) 9431 8442 or (08) 9431 8488, fax (08) 9445 7224, email sally.may@museum.wa.gov.au.
Availability of Publications:
Organisations or persons wishing to obtain copies of publications or relevant Hansard volumes mentioned in this issue at nominal cost can apply to:
Capital Monitor, PO Box 2891, Canberra City ACT 2601, Phone (02) 6273 4899; Fax (02) 6273 4905
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