Commercial shipping and offshore exploration—safety by design: a case for holistic marine spatial planning
Alec MillettAustralian Maritime Safety Authorit.
The APPEA Journal 54(2) 557-557 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ13130
Published: 2014
Abstract
In its navigation safety and environment protection role, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is compulsorily consulted by offshore exploration proponents during the preparation of their environmental plans (EPs). AMSA is an interested party regarding the safe navigation of commercial shipping conducting coastal and international trade in all areas, including those where proposed geotechnical, geophysical, or production activities may take place. Acreage releases often overlap busy shipping lanes and, in some cases, International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted measures that support the safety of shipping and protection of the marine environment. Ships transiting these areas carry cargos of considerable volume and net worth and often substances that are hazardous or dangerous. AMSA, during the proponents’ EP consultation phase, provides advice and assesses navigational and infrastructure risk based on locations of proposed offshore activities and commercial shipping activity. It is apparent that during approval processes, risks related to commercial shipping may not always be fully considered. This can lead to the need for careful expectation management to limit risk exposure. Below are examples where permit areas are shown along with commercial shipping traffic patterns. Commercial shipping and exploration activity can coexist through careful and early communication and adept planning. Maturing marine spatial planning (MSP) processes may provide opportunities to ensure timely and relevant information is shared while adhering to regulatory requirements. This extended abstract and its poster presentation highlight the ability to share spatial information, including commercial vessel traffic information, over a common water space to realise safety and efficiency gains for all concerned.
Alec joined AMSA in June 2013 from the Port of Fremantle where he was the Deputy Harbour Master and Manager Marine Operations. His responsibilities included the safety of commercial shipping navigation, management of vessel traffic services, management of pilotage requirements and pilot transfer services, buoyage configuration (including floating, fixed and AIS services), incident response, daily stakeholder/agent/customer management, and the supervision and configuration of the port’s real-time under keel clearance (UKC) management system. With almost 30 years in the greater maritime domain, Alec has been engaged by a number of prominent private sector, government and government trading enterprises including the Royal Australian Navy as a seaman officer, GeoVision Australia, Ports Corp SA and SAAB Systems. Through this extensive experience, Alec’s role at AMSA is to provide specialist advice on the safe navigation of commercial shipping and related aids to navigation, guidance to the exploration and off-shore/petroleum industry, assistance in the design of shipping traffic management regimes, and identifying associated hydrographic issues. Alec is also involved in AMSA’s e-navigation initiative and investigates related maritime developments including the emergent area of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and adapting mainstream Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to the specialised maritime environment. Alec has formal qualifications in management, maritime operations, business planning and hydrographic surveying. He is a member of a number of principal professional organisations including the International Harbour Masters Association and Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is also the regional Director of the International Federation of Hydrographic Societies. |
