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Summer 2017
amc.edu.au
Above Board
Flying high at the America’s Cup Associate Professor Jonathan Binns works with top team Artemis Racing
The heat is on for firefighters AMC’s facilities and resources help training for urban emergencies
From ocean to the classroom Maritime training lecturer Stephen Hurd shares his experiences with students
Testing the waters
The AMC Sydney study centre will help open up key national and international markets
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CONTENTS
Stay connected
03 Welcome
ABOVE Board: the digital age
AMC Interim Principal Natalia Nikolova 04 Flying high at America’s Cup
The world of maritime engineering research can take you to amazing – even glamorous – places 06 Heat is on for firefighters
AMC’s facilities and resources help the Tasmania Fire Service achieve their training outcomes 08 From ocean to the classroom
Maritime training lecturer Stephen Hurd draws on his many experiences in the military
Above Board is a quarterly e-news and annual magazine distributed to around 12,000 Australian Maritime College alumni and industry stakeholders. Contributions are welcome, please email media.office@utas.edu.au
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10 Sailing into new territory
The AMC Sydney study centre will help open up key national and international markets 12 Researcher profile
PhD candidate Steven De Candia 13 New courses
Two new logistics management degrees on offer in 2018 14 Maritime simulations
A solid foundation for port design
15 Alumni profile
Naval architect Joseph Cook 16 Engineers of the future
Rat traps, submarines, boats and skateboards are just some of the grand designs by students 18 Cyclists on fast track
A new handlebar design helps athletes go faster by eliminating turbulent air-flow
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19 Alumni profile
Nautical science graduate Lindsay Paskin Cover image: Quentin Jones
ISSUE #10
Competition closes 16/02/2018, the winner will be published in the next edition of the Above Board e-newsletter.
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WELCOME
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Welcome to the Summer 2017 edition of Above Board INTERIM PRINCIPAL Natalia Nikolova
It is with a sense of great pride and enthusiasm I’ve accepted the post of Interim Principal of the Australian Maritime College to steer the team through the opportunities and challenges in the maritime world while we undertake the search for AMC’s future leadership.
In October, our Principal Neil Bose departed to Canada to embark on a new career journey as Vice-President (Research) at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. He had a profound impact on AMC during his time here, lifting the profile and sharpening the focus of our research mission and wider academic contributions. He leaves the organisation positioned as a centre of national excellence and of world standing in maritime engineering, education and training. We thank him warmly for his outstanding contributions.
Pacesetters: The first student cohort to complete our intensive short course programs at the AMC Sydney study centre.
The past 12 months have been a period of significant growth for the AMC. Our plans to expand into key national and international markets have come to fruition with the establishment of a study centre in Sydney and delivery of our coastal seafaring programs in the United Arab Emirates.
We delivered our first short courses through the AMC Sydney study centre in November, and it was a highlight for me to attend the certificate presentation ceremony and chat to our inaugural student cohort about their study experience and future ambitions. I’m looking forward to 2018, which will see the first two postgraduate programs delivered from our harbour-side location at the Australian National Maritime Museum as well as a selection of scheduled and on-demand short courses from our commercial arm, AMC Search. In 2017, we continued to invest in our world-class maritime education and research facilities in Launceston, including state-of-the-art simulation equipment and a polar autonomous underwater vehicle capable of exploring deep beneath the Antarctic ice. Our nation-leading undergraduate and postgraduate logistics programs have been revamped and expanded in response to the evolving needs of this important global industry. And we have once again attracted federal research funding in the growing renewable energy sector, this time to lead a project mapping the tidal energy resource around Australia. I look forward to seeing these initiatives develop further in 2018, and to working closely with industry, government and regulatory bodies, to ensure our training, education and research continues to meet their needs.
QUENTIN JONES
Follow me on Twitter: @AMC_Principal
ABOVE BOARD
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Research
Flying high at the America’s Cup The world of maritime engineering research can take you to amazing – even glamorous – places
ISSUE #10
Research
Associate Professor Jonathan Binns’ expertise in research and development of fast boats landed him in Bermuda and the location of yachting’s biggest prize, the 35th America’s Cup with top team Artemis Racing.
Associate Professor Binns started working with Artemis two years ago when they wanted help understanding how the conditions in Bermuda would affect the design of their wings and foils. The goal? To prove which of their designs would see the yacht sail faster and fly higher in the water. He set to work with Michel Kermarec, a lead designer with Artemis, and Dr Max Haase from the Australian Maritime College to create a research program that included testing procedures and analyses specifically designed for this new class of America’s Cup yachts. Associate Professor Binns is also the director for the ARC Research Training Centre for Naval Design and Manufacturing (RTCNDM), a national research training centre that brings together researchers from University of Tasmania, Flinders University and University of Wollongong to solve problems relating to the next generation of Australian naval vessels. He explains how his work with Artemis applies multi-disciplinary research to the fastest yachts in the world.
“We used advanced measurement and analysis technology we’ve been working on since 2008. We’ve been refining that technology further in response to requirements from Defence Science and Technology Group (DST Group) over the last five years to come up with a technology package ideally suited to testing and measuring performance for these great boats,” he said.
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Up close and personal: Associate Professor Jonathan Binns headed to Bermuda for the 35th America’s Cup with top team Artemis Racing.
“This is a perfect example of innovating within the defence industries and then exporting to the world.” The America’s Cup Class of yacht are big and fast: 15 metres long, 8.5 metres wide and a massive 25 metres tall. Weighing in at nearly 2,500 kg, it is astounding that the America’s Cup yachts are now racing at 100% airborne on hydrofoils – which sees the entire hull of the vessel lift out of the water. It’s also the fastest yacht race in history: speeds of up to 45 knots have been regularly measured on the race course this year. Having worked with Artemis to identify the best design, Associate Professor Binns was lucky enough to get to the America’s Cup with them to look closely at the flow patterns experienced over the vessel’s surfaces – important, as this high speed flow defines how these boats fly around the race course.
Sander van der Borch
It is absolutely amazing to be involved at this level. The Artemis team is incredible to work with, all dedicated to the one goal: winning the America’s Cup
“Each day I went on the race course with the designers, and we’d use the delicate instruments I’d brought from Australia to measure what the air and water were doing,” he said. This work is helping Artemis understand the fluid mechanics now and in the future behind the wings in the air and the water that make these machines fly. “Once the designers have used this information to work their magic, the yacht flies faster.” It’s a far cry from research in one of AMC’s hydrodynamic facilities, but Associate Professor Binns relished experiencing the performance of both humans and machines at the world’s oldest sporting trophy event. “It is absolutely amazing to be involved at this level. The Artemis team is incredible to work with, all dedicated to the one goal: winning the America’s Cup,” he said. “This regatta is like no other I’ve ever been to. These yachts are high-tech machines and their speeds were once thought unachievable. I’m seeing the realisation of what was once seen as an impossible dream.” ■
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VOCATIONAL TRAINING
The heat is on for firefighters in simulations AMC’s facilities and resources help the Tasmania Fire Service achieve their training outcomes
An Australian Maritime College facility where trainee mariners learn how to fight fires at sea is now being used by the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS) to simulate urban emergencies.
Now that’s containment: Two customised shipping containers were configured to create the conditions firefighters might face inside a typical urban dwelling.
More than 70 career and volunteer firefighters recently completed a six-week compartmental fire behaviour training course which was led by the TFS in partnership with Fire and Rescue NSW Urban Firefighting College and delivered in collaboration with AMC at its Marine Firefighting Training Centre.
AMC Emergency Response Centre Manager Anthony Beckett said it was rewarding to see AMC’s facilities and resources in action to help the TFS achieve their training outcomes. “Our Bell Bay facility caters for live fire training, and its industrial location means we have enough room available for custom training props to be set-up and used without interference or interruption to other operations in the area. This satisfied the training and operational needs of the TFS and allowed us to showcase the capabilities of the Marine Firefighting Training Centre outside of its traditional maritime application,” Mr Beckett said.
After completing an intensive classroom theory session that covered the basic principles behind fire behaviour within structural environments, the teams faced the heat inside a live fire training prop – two customised shipping containers configured to create the conditions they might face inside a typical urban dwelling.
Tasmania Fire Service project officer Rick Mahnken said firefighting had changed considerably over the past 50 years and this training brought crews up-to-speed with contemporary practice. “Buildings are constructed differently now, and the average home contains modern furnishings, which burn hotter and faster, and we need to be prepared,” he said.
MATT DAVIS
ISSUE #10
“This training brings firefighters back to the roots of their training, refreshing their awareness of the dangers around them, using their instincts and their knowledge, rather than relying on what they may or may not be physically experiencing.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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This training brings firefighters back to the roots of their training, refreshing their awareness of the dangers around them
MATT DAVIS
vessel. This exposure to compartmental fire behaviour training will allow us to demonstrate firsthand what can happen if initial preventative or proactive responses to fire emergencies are not undertaken in a timely manner.”
“What we are doing is unpacking the science of what we have always done and marrying that with new techniques and best practice.” The compartmental fire behaviour course will provide benefits not only to the TFS crews but also to the AMC instructors who deliver internal fire response training. “The TFS members gained exposure to conditions that confront the firefighters of
today, such as the build-up of unvented fire gases and extreme temperatures. AMC’s fire training instructors will also gain invaluable knowledge and experience through exposure to this type of training, and will have an expanded base to build into our own training programs,” Mr Beckett said. “During our marine training we talk about the tactics that can be employed to minimise the risk of a fire onboard a
First UAE women seafaring graduates in the UAE for high-quality seafarer training. Abu Dhabi Ports CEO Juma Shamisi said: “The UAE possesses immense national talent and we at Abu Dhabi Ports are eager to extend every opportunity to our young women and men to develop their capabilities and fulfil their potential. “That these young women have graduated through this intensive course sets an example for future generations and shines a light on the career opportunities available in the maritime industry.”
“There is so much potential in the skills, knowledge and infrastructure investment that AMC has developed over the years, and from a strategic view I can envisage how certain areas can be adapted to meet the emerging needs of others outside the maritime industry.” ■
courses to date in Abu Dhabi – the Master up to 24-metre Near Coastal and Master up to 35-metre Near Coastal courses. The students completed the first course in December 2016 before undertaking the necessary sea time and
graduating in August 2017. The Master up to 35-metre Near Coastal course was delivered in July 2017. The students are expected to graduate in May 2018 following the completion of their sea time and oral exams.
Best and brightest: Back row: Sahar Rasti, Fatema Al Khajeh, Phill Lenthall, Rashed Al Hameli, Ian Miller and Dr Nasser Mansoori; front row: Ali Ahmed Al Dhanhani, Husain Al Marzooqi and Eissa Al Dhaheri.
Phill Lenthall
Three Emirati women have graduated as masters of 24-metre coastal vessels from the Maritime Training Centre at Abu Dhabi Ports in the United Arab Emirates. Sahar Rasti, Fatema Al Khaja and Mahra Al Shamsi are the first three women in the country to achieve this qualification, and were conferred with their certificates of competency at a ceremony with 10 other students. The course was offered as a joint initiative between AMC and Abu Dhabi Ports in order to meet the demand
The collaboration with Abu Dhabi Ports marks the first time AMC has exported its vocational training overseas, as well as the first time a coastal seafaring qualification has been offered in the UAE. AMC has delivered two
Mr Beckett said he intended to continue building on this collaboration with the TFS and hoped AMC’s specialist training facilities could be utilised further in the future.
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DEFENCE RESERVES
REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY
From ocean to the classroom Maritime training lecturer Stephen Hurd draws on his many experiences in the military to train students in seafaring Maritime training lecturer Stephen Hurd has plenty of first-hand seafaring experience to share with his students after a deployment to the Gulf of Aden as a Naval Reservist.
Experienced: Maritime training lecturer Stephen Hurd.
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A lecturer at AMC since 2008, he has drawn on his military career and ties with the Australian Defence Force to train students in various aspects of seafaring. Through his continued service with the Naval Reserve, Mr Hurd was able to nominate for a deployment to the Middle East as the head of plans for Combined Task Force 151: a multi-national counter-piracy task force based in Bahrain. CTF151 is one of three task forces that co-ordinate operations in support of the 32-member multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
Deployed from June until November 2016, Mr Hurd was based in Bahrain but forward deployed to sea in a Republic of Korea Navy destroyer in the Gulf of Aden. The CTF 151 staff comprised 19 officers from seven different countries; with lead country the Republic of Korea supported by Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the Republic of Singapore, the United Kingdom and Australia. As head of plans (or N5 in Naval terms), Mr Hurd worked with the other CTF staff to plan ship and aircraft operations from longer term up until 48 hours ahead of time. “We were living on board one ship but directing the operations of multiple ships and aircraft. The ship’s routine involved two weeks at a time escorting convoys through the Gulf of Aden, followed by a two or three day port visit to Salalah in Oman,” he said.
A typical day would start with the Admiral’s morning briefing, assessing events and issues from the previous 24 hours, what was planned for the next 24 to 48 hours, and the longer term outlook. “Getting all of that information across via the common language link of English was sometimes a struggle, but we stuck at it. It was interesting how our common understanding of naval operations seemed to soak through and sometimes dissolve the language barrier,” Mr Hurd said. As AMC’s Security Awareness unit co-ordinator, he believes the benefits gained from his experiences are invaluable for ensuring his teaching is in line with current industry practice. “One of the challenges for any lecturer is to maintain currency within their discipline while being away from their vocation teaching others.
DEFENCE RESERVES
“So in that regard, my Naval Reserve deployment could be considered as a really beneficial period of professional development,” Mr Hurd said. “My Maritime Trade Operations work with Navy involves interaction with the maritime industry, so the experience I gained planning operations to disrupt and deter pirate attacks on merchant vessels in an international environment also brings direct benefit to my Naval Reserve role,” Mr Hurd said. But one experience won’t make it into the lecture theatre.
service to the Naval Reserve where he has undertaken a range of duties including community engagement, watch-keeping roles at sea, and 12 months in 2007 as the Aide-de-Camp to Tasmania’s Governor. Since 2014, he has been Deputy Director of Navy’s Maritime Trade Operations capability, an area of Navy that performs liaison with, and support to, the maritime industry.
Navigating Officer and Principal Warfare Officer, and developed his appetite for training and lecturing while posted as a bridge simulator instructor at Navy’s simulation facilities at Watson’s Bay, Sydney. 2003 saw Mr Hurd seeking a career which involved less time away from home, and he started work in Tasmania as a customs officer, before changing roles in 2008 to lecture at AMC. But his ties to the Defence Force remained strong, as he transferred from full-time
Mr Hurd acknowledged that time away from the workplace and from home is not something that is always easily arranged, and he is grateful for the opportunity.
Global effort: The CTF 151 staff comprised 19 officers from seven different countries.
“I made the decision early on to try and master chopsticks and by the end of the deployment I was arguably competent. I gained a new appreciation for kimchi, but did have to draw the line when ‘fermented fish intestines’ appeared on the menu.” REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY
The deployment marked a return to sea for Mr Hurd, who began his maritime career in 1989 when he joined the Royal Australian Navy and studied at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Over 14 years he served in a range of roles, including Officer of the Watch,
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“I was fortunate to have very good support from both AMC and from my family which made it possible for me to be away for the four-and-ahalf months. The University of Tasmania is registered as a supportive employer of Defence Force Reservists and has policies in place to manage the Reserve service of our staff and our students,” he said. ■
My Naval Reserve deployment could be considered as a really beneficial period of professional development
Defence Reserves Support Council Supportive Employers of Defence Force Reservists – are you on the list? national interests. The University has policies to facilitate releasing staff members to perform Reserve service, and for students who need to take Defence Reserve leave, or simply need flexibility in their course to allow them to perform Reserve service. The Defence Reserves Support Council (DRSC) exists to develop partnerships between
Defence and the community, industry and employers, providing information and support to enhance the number of people available for Reserve service. AMC lecturer Stephen Hurd is the education sector representative on the DRSC State Executive for Tasmania, and provides a valuable resource to assist the University of Tasmania
REPUBLIC OF KOREA NAVY
Like many other employers around the country, the University of Tasmania and the Australian Maritime College’s commercial arm AMC Search are registered as supportive employers of Defence Force Reservists. In a gesture of corporate good will, the institutions have pledged their support for the important role that Reserve Forces play in the defence of Australia’s
in building partnerships with Reservists. Mr Hurd has assisted line managers and the HR department in
understanding issues around Defence Reserve leave, including how to access the employer support payments. aBOVE BOARD
10 cover story
The AMC Sydney study centre will help open up key national and international markets
bluefin sails into new territory AMC’s flagship training vessel Bluefin looked right at home moored alongside the Australian National Maritime Museum’s historic fleet in Darling Harbour, Sydney, in October.
Special visit: AMC’s flagship training vessel Bluefin in Darling Harbour.
She was part of a record AMC contingent, including a team of 27 staff members and students along with the autonomous underwater vehicle nupiri muka, visiting the city to attend the Pacific 2017 International Maritime Exposition and RAN Sea Power Conference. Pacific 2017 is a biennial event involving trade exhibitions and conferences that enables the commercial maritime and naval defence industries to display and promote their capabilities to
the domestic and international markets. AMC researchers delivered seven papers at the International Maritime Conference, and the College also formally announced its expansion into key national and international markets with the establishment of the AMC Sydney study centre. Two postgraduate degrees will be offered from Sydney in February 2018 – the Master of Engineering (Maritime Design) and MBA (Advanced) (Maritime
and Logistics Management). In the meantime, a pilot program of two short courses in Supply Chain Management and Fundamentals of Naval Architecture was delivered in an intensive five-day format in November 2017. AMC Interim Principal Natalia Nikolova said the courses were designed to provide Defence and industry personnel with essential oversight into the maritime engineering, maritime business and international logistics fields.
QUENTIN JONES
ISSUE #10
cover story 11
trainees learn the ropes
New horizons: AMC Associate Dean (Research) Associate Professor Jonathan Binns.
QUENTIN JONES
Innovation must have research and education behind it. Otherwise you just do things the way they’ve always been done and get left behind anywhere near the number of engineers that Australia needs and certainly not the number of maritime engineers Australia needs. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The changeover from buying modified, off-the-shelf vessels to us actually designing the larger part of it is probably sooner than you think.” This significant investment in naval shipbuilding has seen major international companies such as Naval Group, BAE, Fincantieri, Damen and Navantia show interest in Australia and expand their recruitment programs, Associate Professor Binns said. He believes the role of higher education is to support innovation by partnering with industry in the design and manufacturing process. “Innovation must have research and education behind it. Otherwise you just do things the way they’ve always been done, and get left behind,” he said. “Research, education and
Training into practice: Navy trainees MIDN Harry Nixon and MIDN Eva Willsher gained hands-on experience aboard Bluefin.
training in the maritime industry now more than ever is all about flexibility in delivery, pathways through education, integration with industry, and specialisation within the disciplines to make sure they cover the relevant material.” AMC’s strong industry connections and breadth of offering in training, education, research and consultancy means it is well-positioned to respond to these growing demands. “One of AMC’s most powerful tools is its spread across the spectrum of education,” he said. “When industry approaches us with a problem, we’re able to offer a solution that could be a two-day short course, multiple PhD programs, research grants, consultancies, or anything in between. “To have that capacity within AMC to be able to react to that is very powerful. We’re extremely agile and that’s because we’re focused on solving industry problems.” ■
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY
“We’re excited to be able to offer our internationallyrecognised maritime training and education from the Australian National Maritime Museum, right in the heart of Sydney’s waterfront precinct. We look forward to establishing our presence here, and working with the surrounding Defence, government and private industries to help develop our maritime leaders and shape the future of this vital sector,” Professor Nikolova said. AMC Associate Dean (Research) Associate Professor Jonathan Binns said there would soon be unprecedented career development opportunities in the maritime sector thanks to the Australian Government’s multibillion dollar naval shipbuilding program. He said there was no better time for professionals in other industries to expand their knowledge base or for school-leavers to begin study in the maritime engineering and logistics fields. “We are in the middle of a national enterprise of naval shipbuilding and must turn our nation from one of design and manufacturing consumer to one of design and manufacturing exporter,” he said. “There are a lot of different disciplines that need to feed in to the naval shipbuilding enterprise, of which maritime engineering is a pivotal one. “There’s going to be a world of jobs. We haven’t been training
On her recent voyage to Sydney, the Bluefin hosted members of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Junior Warfare Application Course as they took part in seamanship exercises. Under the guidance of AMC crew and members of the RAN Sea Training Group, the trainees spent 24 hours on board learning seamanship skills important for their professional development. Fleet Seamanship Officer, LCDR Nipperess said the group set sail at 4am, and from there the trainees took up their positions as lookouts, helmsman and officer-of-the-watch. He said it was the first time some members had been at sea. “So they got some of the basics down pat which they’ll need before they join the ship or the ships they’re currently on. I think it was a really great outcome. Sitting in a classroom talking about it is different to actually getting out there and doing it. They performed extremely well,” LCDR Nipperess said. MIDN Harry Nixon said his time spent on MV Bluefin was a great experience. “We went through safety briefs, a lot of drills, leaving ships stations, and mustering points and they showed us through the engine bay, which was also good because many ships have many different engine bays and engine room configurations,” he said. MIDN Eva Willsher enjoyed putting her classroom training into practice. “Being able to be on the bridge and helping the master navigate back up from Jervis Bay to Sydney was definitely the best part of the trip for me,” she said. aBOVE BOARD
12 profile
underwater and, if near a submarine, can cause it to bend back and forth in a motion known as a whipping response. This sort of vessel response may last long after the initial explosion and could potentially cause additional damage to the hull and internal equipment. Results from an underwater explosion experiment at a DSTG facility in Victoria are used to create computer models to run multiple scenarios and analyse how the submarines withstand the explosions.
MICHAEL MULLAN/ASC
Steven de Candia
RESEARCHER PROFILE PhD candidate Steven De Candia is a leading example of the industry pathways for training job-ready graduates to step into Australia’s ambitious multi-million dollar naval ship building program. He is one of 10 higher degree research students and three postdoctoral fellows to undertake a combination of research and professional training in an industrial environment, as part of the Research Training Centre for Naval Design and Manufacturing (RTCNDM). The $3.8 million centre, funded by the Australian Research Council, is a collaboration between the Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania, the University of Wollongong and Flinders University. ISSUE #10
With Australia set to embark on one of the largest Defence spends ever committed, the RTCNDM partners researchers with industry and Defence and aims to produce a cohort of industry-ready broadly skilled engineers and researchers to work on projects that will boost the country’s ship building prowess. Steven De Candia is already on that pathway. A 2015 graduate of RMIT University with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Mr De Candia’s PhD sees him working through the RTCNDM with
Sub blasts: PhD candidate Steven De Candia’s research looks at the effects of underwater explosions near submarines.
AMC, the Defence Science and Technology Group in Melbourne, and Babcock Australasia in South Australia. His research, titled “The Application of Fluid Structure Interaction Modelling for Underwater Shock to Future Submarines”, looks at the effects of when an underwater explosion happens near a submarine. Specifically, Mr De Candia is studying the effect of the large gas bubble that forms underwater post-explosion. This bubble expands and contracts
It’s been valuable to have a first-hand feel of everything, from designing an experiment to running through the data
“We can also perform ‘what if?’ scenarios that we would never be able to do on the real vessel, like ‘how much damage might occur if it takes a hit from a particular weapon, and can the vessel recover from this?’” Mr De Candia said. It’s hoped the research work will form part of the project to build Australia’s next generation of submarines, the SEA1000 future submarines, whose construction will be Australia’s largest engineering project. “All this information will ultimately go into producing requirements for future vessels to ensure that the vessel itself and internal equipment and crew can survive the appropriate scenarios that they may encounter,” he said. “In short, improving the modelling capability means we can make better use of the vessels we have and improve the designs for vessels of the future.” Mr De Candia is happy to recommend the industrybased PhD pathway to others, because of the invaluable combination of research opportunities and contact with end-users. “It’s been very valuable to have a sort of first-hand feel of everything from designing and running an experiment to running through all the data and finally putting it all together into something that someone can read and interpret,” he said. ■
maritime and logistics management 13
More courses: The new degrees will help support the developing needs of the logistics sector.
AMC is expanding its suite of nation-leading course content with the development of two new logistics management degrees to be offered from 2018.
with two cores – global logistics and maritime management, and to provide specialised logistics management at master level,” Dr Chen said.
Interim Head, Department of Maritime and Logistics Management, Dr Peggy Chen said that logistics was the key to international trade and the new degrees would help support the developing needs of this important sector.
The Bachelor of Global Logistics and Maritime Management (Honours) is a four-year program designed to prepare students for management careers in the maritime and logistics industry.
“We are very excited to see these two degrees offered to keep our advantage in providing a unique undergraduate degree
The course is unique because it combines core business principles, such as accounting and finance, business law,
BEN WILD
Two new logistics and maritime management degrees on offer international business management, and strategic management, with learning that is specific to the maritime and logistics industry such as port and terminal management, ship operations management, maritime economics, logistics management and supply chain management. It is offered at Launceston, both on-campus and distance modes. The Master of Logistics Management (Advanced) is a two-year program designed for people seeking professional careers in the global domain of logistics management, logistics
strategies and supply chain management. The program provides theoretical, practical and applied knowledge suitable for both higher-level professional and managerial roles. It is offered at Hobart both oncampus and distance modes. Both courses are targeting domestic and international students. Dr Chen said the new courses were designed to reflect industry needs and capitalise on the demand for specialists. ■
Whether you are looking to start your career, or upgrade your skills for career advancement - the Australian Maritime College can get you there. Set yourself up for global career opportunities with our Maritime Business and International Logistics program, preparing you for a career in senior management. Study here, work globally. Apply now: amc.edu.au aBOVE BOARD
14 AMC search
Maritime simulations: a solid foundation for port design An increasing number of organisations are using maritime simulations to create better ports by testing their designs at the initial concept stage. Simulating a port and its surroundings can provide a full
appreciation of a design at the early stages of a development project.
is built. “Maritime simulations have long been used for training and operations for new ports. But by the time a port has been developed, it’s often too late to rectify any shortcomings in its design,” he said.
AMC Search’s Simulations Manager Matt Best said that simulations allow real-world ship operators to test a new port or wharf concept before anything
“The main advantage of using a simulator to evaluate a design at the concept stage is you can bring in those seafarers who will ultimately be operating vessels in the new port. “By involving real ship operators, port or wharf
Scott Gelston
Navy wharf design put to the test The Royal Australian Navy has used AMC’s full mission bridge simulator to assess a new wharf design. Navy navigation specialists worked with AMC staff and design teams to model the new wharf and simulate vessels manoeuvring around it. Four types of ship and a submarine were subjected
ISSUE #10
to various environmental conditions such as strong current and high winds. Commander Nick Tate said the simulated assessment was an important step in making sure the design’s position, alignment and structure
Setting the scene: AMC Search’s Simulations Manager Matt Best.
met Navy’s needs. “Running the simulations on the proposed new wharf is an important step in making sure the design’s position, alignment and structure meet Navy’s needs,” he said. “It’s just one example of Navy using simulation as a key tool in capability development in order to improve ship and port safety and efficiency.” He said that
experienced Navy operators working alongside the wharf design and College research teams brought together the right skills for a successful project. “We were impressed with the professionalism of the staff, and the ease that the Navy, AMC staff and design teams were able to work together. The report we got at the end was excellent and met all of our needs.”
designs can then be proven to work — or be amended before it is too late and costly redesigns are required.” AMC’s Full Mission Bridge simulator — a full-scale mock-up of a ship and its surroundings — can simulate over 130 vessel models transiting a port in real time, manoeuvred by humans and across a range of environmental conditions. An in-house team builds up hydrodynamic and visual models based on custom bathymetry, current, wind, tide and wave data. Real-time runs through a simulated port allow different criteria to be examined, including channel width, swing basin dimensions and aids to navigation. The analysis lets berth location and bearing relative to prevailing conditions be amended as required. Simulated runs also allow an appreciation of vessel transit times, which helps avoid bottlenecks or delays, especially in ports with tidebound ships. Mr Best said AMC’s maritime simulation facilities have been used by over 40 organisations for port development or port feasibility studies. “Our ship simulation facilities are among the best in the southern hemisphere, with features including 4k projectors, a fully interactive de-briefing chart table, and in-house capabilities to develop hydrodynamic and visual models. “We pride ourselves on understanding and meeting the needs of individual organisations to optimise their port or wharf design in a bespoke way.” ■
profile 15
Ship shape: Naval architect Joseph Cook with colleague Edward Cox.
“The naval shipbuilding industry appears to have a bright future in Australia, so hopefully I can continue to play a role in future naval ship builds,” he said.
BAE Systems
Joseph Cook (BAE Systems)
ALUMNI PROFILE It’s a long way from the rural landscapes of Dalby in regional Queensland to the headquarters of one of the world’s biggest defence and security companies in Scotland. That’s the path travelled by naval architect Joseph Cook, thanks to an Australian Maritime College information stand at a high school careers expo in Brisbane. The information he picked up that day piqued his interest in maritime engineering and led to a move to Launceston in 2007 to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Naval Architecture) at AMC. After graduating in 2011, Mr Cook began work as a Naval Architect for BAE Systems
Australia at its Williamstown shipyard, working on its Landing Helicopter Dock program. In 2016, he was seconded to the BAE Systems headquarters in Scotland as part of the company’s program for engineers under 30 to develop their skills and experience working with the world’s leading warships. As a Principal Naval Architect with BAE, Mr Cook works within the resident design team developing the Australian Future Frigate concept in
support of the Australian SEA5000 Future Frigate program. Their work centres on ensuring the anti-submarine warship – the Global Combat ShipAustralia – which they are offering as part of the SEA5000 program will meet Australian Government and Royal Australian Navy requirements. “In my role I am constantly exposed to a diverse range of challenges which keeps me on my toes and being part of this design team allows me to gain experience which isn’t possible in Australia,” Mr Cook said. He is excited about being involved in an industry that is set to boom as Australia embarks on its quest to build the next generation of submarines, frigates and patrol boats.
My degree at AMC has given me a solid foundation on which to build a career
Mr Cook attributes much of his success to his decision to move to Tasmania to study at AMC and access its world-class facilities. “Studying on campus at Launceston allowed me access to all the facilities such as the Towing Tank, Cavitation Tunnel and Model Test Basin and the small class sizes allowed a positive environment for interaction with the lecturers and staff,” he said. “As my career progresses, I continue to find practical uses for the knowledge I’ve gained at AMC. These tools give me the ability to tackle real-world engineering issues in support of significant naval projects.” And with international and local opportunities growing, he’s encouraging others to consider the Naval Architecture degree. “My degree at AMC has given me a solid foundation on which to build a career and allowed me the opportunity to work on largescale naval projects both within Australia and abroad. If that sounds like something you’re into, AMC will help you get there.” ■ aBOVE BOARD
16 undergraduate programs
Wheel deal: Students were required to design and test a composite panel suitable as a skateboard deck.
Engineers of the future
Rat traps, submarines, boats and skateboards are just some of the grand designs by students
The major assessments for the first, second and third-year students at the National Centre for Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics saw teams compete in four design categories – the Rat Trap Boat Race, Submarine Design, Skateboard Design and Boat Building projects.
Rat Trap Boats
The Rat Trap Boat Race challenges students to develop a vessel that can travel a 10 metre course in the model test basin within 30 seconds, powered only by a single rat trap.
Being first across the line isn’t the only determinant of success, with Sean identifying the team members were definitely building skills to use in a future career, but also in life. “From a first glance these projects are subject-based, but looking back from completion they are so much more. They are projects that teach life skills and most importantly, teamwork skills that we are always going to need when we get into industry. “ Submarine Design
Sea challenge: Second-year students designed and constructed a model boat, culminating in a wet test simulation.
Student Sean Kebbell said key design factors were the hull shape and type, propulsion methods and harnessing the power of the rat trap as effectively as possible.
Darren Young
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37.5 seconds, placing them second to a fourth-year student.
“We designed our vessel using CAD and it was created using a laser cutter. This allowed our boat to be very precise, resulting in the boat going dead straight.” The vessel designed by Sean’s team was a relative success, completing the 10 metres in
Third-year naval architecture students got some hands-on experience in the fast-growing naval construction sector, designing, building and testing a scale-model submarine. This team project-based learning activity is a formal assessment of the underwater vehicles technology unit. The model submarines had to be watertight to a depth of one metre and were assessed on criteria including their stability, navigation and diving abilities. The hydrodynamic hulls
Darren Young
Budding engineers have been putting their theory work into practice using AMC’s world-leading education and research facilities as they compete in a series of annual undergraduate design competitions.
were manufactured using the numerically controlled router of the School of Architecture and AMC’s vacuum moulding facility. The teams used the towing tank to test the underwater resistance calculations of their models, before conducting commissioning trials in the survival centre swimming pool. Lecturer Dr Roberto Ojeda said the design project was extremely relevant to the fastpaced development of the naval shipbuilding industry, and aligns well with the future needs of the sector. “The project enables the students to brush up on the peculiarities of the naval industry, and how knowledge learned in the naval architecture program can be applied to realworld design,” he said. “Other units of the naval architecture program provide
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the students gain valuable experience in working as a team, which is so important for their future employment opportunities.
Darren Young
Darren Young
“Apart from enhancing their understanding of the underpinning principles of materials engineering, the hands-on project encourages collaboration and motivation,” Mr Lisson said. Boat Building
In the Boat Building design project, second-year students must design and construct a model boat, culminating in a wet test simulation. The wet test sees the vessels subjected to waves and calm water dynamic testing and stability testing. Lecturer Fred Barrett believes the hands-on learning is the key to success. Scott Gelston
They are projects that teach life skills and most importantly, teamwork skills the students with all the necessary tools. In underwater vehicles technology, we teach them how to apply these tools to the special case of submarine and AUV design.”
wide range of engineering technologies. Students are required to fine-tune flexural and strength properties during the design stage in order to achieve specific properties.
Skateboard Design
The final judging is by street testing, which adds a subjective element, as no two skaters will respond to a board in the same way. A board is deemed to be successful when the flex, strength and balance suits the riders’ expectations.
Another category in the competitions is the Skateboard Design project, where students are required to design and test a composite panel suitable as a skateboard deck. This project serves to introduce students to the important properties and applications of composite materials in a
Lecturer Denis Lisson says upon completion of the project,
Down periscope: Third-year naval architecture students designed, built and tested a scale-model submarine.
“I run a lot of videos to get them to tune in to watching real-life stuff, we don’t dwell on text books. Seeing and feeling is the best way to teach and can keep the interest levels high,” Mr Barrett said. The importance of team work identified in all projects is a sentiment echoed by Dr Christopher Chin, Deputy Director (Students & Education), National Centre for Maritime Engineering and Hydrodynamics. “Many employers view team dynamics, ethical awareness and leadership as high priorities,” Dr Chin said. “When working in industries, most projects are team oriented. Thus, it is important that these skills are teased out in team projects.” ■ aBOVE BOARD
18 CO-OPERATIVE ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Team effort: Zack Gilmore, Matthew Gilmore and Chi (Addy) Ngo inspect the new design.
lots of heads, people are very intrigued by the design.” Mr Ngo undertook the design project as part of his Bachelor of Engineering (Co-operative Engineering Program) in which students combine their university studies with periods of industry work placements. He graduated in 2016.
PHIL BIGGS
Handlebar design puts cyclists on the fast track A new handlebar design that helps cyclists achieve a more aerodynamic position could be the key to Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) athletes improving their performance on the track.
PHIL BIGGS
Customised: The new handlebar design helps cyclists go faster by eliminating turbulent air-flow between the handlebar and the forearm.
Chi (Addy) Ngo, a Co-operative Engineering Program graduate, worked closely with TIS Head Cycling Coach Matthew Gilmore on a customised design to help cyclists go faster by eliminating turbulent air-flow between the handlebar and the forearm. A prototype has been tested with very successful results and it’s hoped the new design will be rolled out across the TIS cycling team to replace their current L-shaped handlebars. “We’ve trialled the handlebars at training and through what we call power meters, and we can actually measure the
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difference between the old set of handlebars and the new by doing trial runs,” Mr Gilmore said. “But more importantly, competition is our biggest way of testing any new equipment. We used the handlebars last year and actually broke the state’s record in the team’s pursuit, so it’s something we’re particularly proud of as an institute, but also just being able to validate the design that the Australian Maritime College has put together for us. The end product has been absolutely fantastic and it looks great, it certainly turns
It certainly turns lots of heads, people are very intrigued by the design
While studying the design of vessels and sub-sea structures may seem a world apart from competitive track cycling, the underpinning engineering theory can be applied to any field, he said. “The aim of this project was to optimise the shape of the handlebars to achieve the best performance for the cyclists. I redesigned the handgrips so they were more ergonomic, and adjusted the rise from the starting point to the handgrips so it was more supportive and comfortable,” Mr Ngo said. “As well as improving its shape, the structure of the handlebars needed to be robust enough to carry the body weight of the cyclists. By applying structural analysis on the prototype, I was able to optimise the shape, weight, and how much material was needed for the design.” A model of the best prototype was created and printed using AMC’s design software and 3-D printer, with the end result being used as a mould to build the first set of handlebars out of carbon fibre. TIS scholarship holder Zack Gilmore tested the handlebars at the Cycling Australia Track 2017 National Championships in Queensland and said he enjoyed their streamlined feel. ■
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Australian ports and terminals – it gave me a different experience of and unique exposure to the complexities of marine operations.”
LINDSAY PASKIN (VIVA ENERGY)
ALUMNI PROFILE Extensive seafaring experience has helped one nautical science graduate become a leader in his field – this time in an onshore role. Lindsay Paskin was the chief officer on an ocean-going ship and recently transitioned to a land-based role with one of Australia’s leading energy companies, Viva Energy. As a Marine Technical Adviser in the Supply and Trading team, Mr Paskin provides technical support to the marine activities of Viva Energy, mainly the shipping and handling of crude oil and petroleum products at the company’s Geelong Refinery and 24 marine supply terminals, as well as the sale and marine supply of fuels to commercial customers.
It’s a perfect fit for Mr Paskin, whose time at sea as secondin-command saw him in charge of the loading and discharging of cargo fuel and the maintenance of the ship. “My knowledge, skills and background on the water have allowed me to take a new approach to marine supplychain efficiencies and marine cargo-handling operations,” he said. “I spent my time at sea working with both international and
Growing up in a fishing family, with an affinity for boats, Mr Paskin’s first foray into a maritime career was working for a local ferry company while still in high school. A desire to pursue a career on larger, blue water vessels led him to AMC and the Advanced Diploma of Applied Science (Nautical Science). “The nautical science degree included both oncampus study incorporating extensive theory and practical components; and a distancelearning piece for guided study during sea-time phases. This two-tiered approach allowed me to exercise the theory in a practical environment – under the guidance of seagoing maritime professionals,” he said.
[The] two-tiered approach allowed me to exercise the theory in a practical environment
Having made the transition to land, as a master mariner Mr Paskin is in the unique position of being able to advise his team on marine issues and provide solutions. “We rely on ships to transport over 90 per cent of petroleum to our supply terminals. Having that knowledge base on the marine technical team allows us to very efficiently deal with problems as they arise,” he said. “I also may be able to view issues or identify problems that might not be readily apparent to someone who hadn’t had the experience at sea.” That was evidenced during Viva Energy’s recent work with the Royal Australian Navy, where Mr Paskin led the thinking to modify navy supply vessels to make them more compatible with the company’s terminals across the country. With a focus on finding safe, cost-effective and efficient outcomes, Mr Paskin’s aiming to stay on land and continue his career in the wider supply chain industry, where he can continue to draw on his maritime knowledge. ■
The role involves providing the supply team and refinery with shipping support, liaising with a range of stakeholders from harbour masters to ship owners to help develop and improve the supply chain, reviewing ships to ensure they are acceptable for use, and visiting and providing assurance to the company’s marine terminals and operations around the country.
VIVA ENERGY
Leader in his field: Nautical science graduate Lindsay Paskin.
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NAVIGATE YOUR MARITIME CAREER IN SYDNEY WITH AMC
The Australian Maritime College (AMC) is expanding into Sydney in 2018, delivering postgraduate programs and professional short courses from the Australian National Maritime Museum, in the heart of Darling Harbour. Our team of leading maritime engineering and, maritime business and international logistics academics will be delivering the following postgraduate courses in 2018: • •
Master of Engineering (Maritime Design) Master of Business Administration (Advanced) (Maritime & Logistics Management)
AMC Search will offer a selection of scheduled and on-demand short courses throughout the year.
amc.edu.au/sydney
Cricos Provider Code 00586B
Enquire to study in Sydney in 2018