The Society of Accredited Maritime Professionals
(Qld) and Marine Safety
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hip safety is one of the vital components of the marine industry
and managing our Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Before 1996, the
issue of marine safety was mainly the responsibility of officers of
the Queensland Department of Transport (QDoT). In those years a ship’s
design was first assessed by QDoT naval architects, its construction
was inspected by QDoT surveyors and the ship’s ongoing operations
were monitored by QDoT surveyors and officers from the Queensland
Boating and Fisheries Patrol. These naval architects, surveyors and
officers were not held personally accountable to the public for the
standard of their work.
The introduction of the Queensland Transport Operations
(Marine Safety) Act 1994, Transport Operations (Marine
Safety) Regulation 1995 and associated standards, Transport
Operations (Marine Pollution) Act 1995 and Transport
Operations (Marine Pollution) Regulation 1995 dramatically
changed the marine safety strategy for Queensland shipping. The
legislation introduced in 1996 created a more flexible approach to
achieving marine safety while placing a great deal more
responsibility on ship owners and others in meeting their general
safety obligations. There are now penalties in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars and imprisonment terms of many years for those
who do not meet their designated responsibilities.
Part of this transfer of responsibility involved the appointment
from the private sector of accredited ship designers, marine
surveyors and ship builders. These accredited entities took over the
duties of assessing a ship’s design, inspecting during ship
construction and periodic ship inspecting during the ship’s life.
The chief executive of QDoT has the responsibility of ensuring that
accredited entities have a thorough knowledge of the relevant Acts,
Regulations and standards that apply to their categories of
accreditation. Appointment as an accredited entity is only granted
once the chief executive of QDoT is satisfied that the entity has
the required knowledge.
The process of ship design acceptance is now the responsibility
of accredited ship designers (with provision also for QDoT naval
architects to perform this function). Ship inspections during
construction are now the responsibility of accredited ship builders
or accredited marine surveyors (where the ship builder is not
accredited). Ship owners may also engage, as required, an accredited
marine surveyor to inspect the condition of their ship for
seaworthiness. All accredited entities are required to take personal
responsibility for their work.
To monitor and audit the actions of accredited entities, ship
owners and operators, the chief executive of QDoT has appointed
shipping inspectors. Some of these inspectors are QDoT officer
specialising in certain fields, others are police in uniform and
many are Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers. The chief executive
of QDoT has the responsibility of ensuring that shipping inspectors
have a thorough knowledge of the relevant Acts, Regulations and
standards that apply to those in the marine industry.
In mid-1998, a group of accredited ship designers, builders and
marine surveyors saw the need for a representative body. This
developed (with encouragement from QDoT) into the Society of
Accredited Maritime Professionals (Qld) Inc. (SAMP(Q)) which was
established in September 1998. SAMP(Q) now represents over one half
of all active accredited ship designers, builders and marine
surveyors. The main role of the society has been to:
- keep members informed of legislative updates so that they may
provide the best and most accurate advice to their clients;
- provide expert advice to QDoT on marine safety matters and
legislative issues; and
- provide a means of redress, through the society’s
Professional Conduct committee, for the public in any dispute
they may have with a member.
As can be expected, there have been many ‘teething problems’
associated with the introduction of such radically new legislation
in the marine industry. Members of SAMP(Q) have been at the
forefront in working with QDoT to fine tune the system for the
benefit of the marine industry and achieve a better marine safety
environment. The two most vital issues that are currently affecting
marine safety are:
- a lack of adequate monitoring of ships and their operations;
and
- QDoT officers giving incorrect advice to accredited entities
and ship owners that could lead to the entities and owners
breaching the Acts and Regulations.
The society is working with QDoT to try to resolve these two
issues. The first issue involves more funding or the better
allocation of existing funding. The second issue involves better
education of, and control over, departmental officers.
Not all accredited entities are members of the society, however
those who are members have been generally proven to provide the best
service to their clients.
Further details on SAMP(Q) and its members may be obtained from
the Secretary by phoning +61 7 4053 6402 or faxing +61 7 4053 7180.
Further details are also available at http://www.sampq.asn.au
