AMC IS A SPECIALIST INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA
Ready to respond
Green power
Specialised training course simulates what it’s like to be out to sea in the case of a maritime emergency
A research project discovers ways for prawn trawlers to work more efficiently and be environmentally friendly
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#8
WINTER 2015
amc.edu.au
A BI-ANNUAL PUBLICATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN MARITIME COLLEGE
Chilling out: Dr Vanessa Lucieer (IMAS), Dr Remo Cossu (AMC) and Dr Alex Forrest (AMC) on a recent research trip to Antarctica.
ANTARCTIC DREAM
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he Australian Maritime College is harnessing its autonomous underwater vehicle expertise to establish a marine technology hub as part of a threeyear $24 million Antarctic Gateway Partnership project. The partnership is funded through the Australian Research Council’s Special Research Initiatives scheme and includes the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and AMC; CSIRO’s Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship; and the Australian Antarctic Division. Chief Investigator IMAS Professor Richard Coleman said the funding complemented research programs and priorities developed in Australia’s Antarctic Science Strategic Plan to understand the
A THREE-YEAR $24M PROJECT IS SET TO FURTHER ESTABLISH TASMANIA AS A GATEWAY FOR ANTARCTIC RESEARCH role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the global climate system. “This project will further establish Tasmania as a gateway for Antarctic research, education, innovation and logistics, with research on Antarctic ice sheets and ice shelves, new understanding on polar marine ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles, and the development of specialist polar marine technologies,” Professor Coleman said. “The Antarctic Gateway Partnership program has four integrated themes of research, with a major focus on ice sheets, ice shelves and sea ice, and involves
collaboration with researchers from more than 10 countries. One of the largest uncertainties in estimates of future sea level rise is the response of the Antarctic ice shelves to the warming of the surrounding oceans. “To understand these dynamics we need to be able to take measurements beneath ice shelves and also under the sea ice, and to do much of this science in such a harsh environment we need new remotely-operated technologies.” Marine Technology and Polar Environments theme leader, AMC Principal Professor Neil Bose, said the project included $7.5 million
to build a next-generation hybrid autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of exploring hundreds of kilometres under ice. Work is underway to establish the AUV facility at AMC in Launceston, including the recruitment of four new positions. The aim is to research, design and build the autonomous vehicles over the next three years in readiness for deployment in 2018, the final year of the project. Guiding this research and development is AUV and fluid mechanics expert Dr Alex Forrest and marine spatial analyst Dr Vanessa Lucieer.
“We’ll be looking at how we can facilitate data collection using the AUV to answer the key scientific questions from each of the Gateway themes,” Dr Forrest said. “This will require an AUV facility that can develop multiple types of vehicles, with the support staff necessary to target those projects. “One of the biggest challenges now is the conceptual design phase. “We need to build a vehicle, we need to build it quickly, so what instruments do we need on board? What are the attributes that we want the vehicle to have? “In essence, these vehicles are relatively simple in design, but it’s their range, capabilities, instruments and data sensors that we want to expand upon in a novel way.”
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THE PRINCIPAL
Professor Neil Bose ‘Our aim is to ensure that AMC is recognised as a mover and shaker for its maritime education, training and research’
LEADING BY EXAMPLE TO MAXIMISE OUR MARITIME IMPACT
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MC’s primary focus is to be innovative, leading the maritime sector and making a valuable impact for our stakeholders and industry partners. Maritime universities and academies worldwide are akin to engineering schools 50 years ago, undergoing a metamorphosis from a “college” to a university sector. We have most things maritime included within our remit, including a commercial arm, and there is a tremendous opportunity
to lead internationally in this field. In education, we are strengthening our co-op engineering courses where engineering undergraduates spend up to 18 months in work placements. We are developing online approaches to seafarer training through our new e-learning studio and dedicated technical support staff, including the capacity to stream lectures. In training, and with support from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, we have delivered
innovative and highly effective courses for Torres Strait Islanders. We are developing an online competency-based assessment for marine radio licenses, and we are using a brainstorming approach to develop the next generation of maritime simulators. In research, we are developing one of the strongest groups internationally focused on human elements in seafaring and have been awarded funding for a next generation underwater vehicle (AUV/ROV) under the Antarctic
Gateway project with goals to measure and take samples from the extreme environments under glaciers and sea ice. We are making a feature of industry-based PhDs, especially in maritime defence; testing offshore transhipper designs in conjunction with an industry partner; and, through our Cavitation Research Laboratory with the Defence Science Technology Organisation, we are doing leadingedge work on cavitation inception. Over the next five years we aim
to consolidate our position as one of the recognised world leaders in the maritime sector. We will grow our expertise and activity in the offshore oil and gas and subsea sectors, including seabed mining. We will build infrastructure in areas that are internationally unique. Our aim is to ensure that AMC is recognised as a mover and shaker for its maritime education, training and research; as well as for its maritime leadership.
Follow me on Twitter @AMC_Principal
GATEWAY TO ANTARCTICA From page 1
Robotic under-ice sampling is far more efficient and accurate than traditional methods as the vehicles can take broadscale measurements that capture spatial variability, rather than estimating it based on fixed-point sampling. “Another challenge is designing the AUV with enough flexibility so that it doesn’t become outdated and can accommodate new scientific sampling instruments that become available in the future, such as multispectral cameras or micro coring equipment,” Dr Lucieer said. It’s an ambitious project and one that is not without risk. “While working under ice is ideally suited for robotic exploration, it poses significant environmental challenges that require innovative engineering solutions,” Dr Forrest said. “Every time we deploy the vehicle, we have unexpected challenges. However, what makes a good team is how they respond and overcome these challenges.”
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Above Board is the bi-annual newsletter of the Australian Maritime College, circulated to around 10,000 alumni and other stakeholders worldwide. Contributions are welcome. Contact: media.office@utas.edu.au For course enquiries visit: www.amc.edu.au/enquiries For intending International students, detailed information on the content of these and other University of Tasmania courses, campuses, facilities, fees, refund policy, rules of admission and assessment, the ESOS Framework and an overview of the local Tasmanian environment, please visit the University of Tasmania’s International Students website: www.utas.edu.au/international Please be advised that not all courses offered by the Australian Maritime College and the University of Tasmania are available to Overseas/International Students. CRICOS CODE 00586B
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ABOVE BOARD ❘ ISSUE 8 ❘ WINTER 2015
Record numbers: Left to right, AMC Search Deputy CEO Cathy Wilson with team members John Courtney, Emilie Donovan, Christine Ring, Estelle Hudson, Tammy Smith, Debbie Jefferies and Anita Robson. PICTURE: CHRIS CRERAR
AMC Search training bolsters Launceston
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ecord growth in short courses driven by major changes to ocean seafarer training has kept the team at AMC Search extremely busy. A total of 3500 short-course certificates were issued in 2014, representing a 50 per cent increase on the previous year and bringing 4861 accommodation nights to Launceston from the students attending the courses. Launceston Mayor Albert Van Zetten welcomed this achievement and the broadranging benefits it brought to the entire region. “The Australian Maritime College is a tremendous player in the cultural, social and economic success of our city, and the fact it draws so many interstate and international students is fantastic for Launceston,” he said. “Not only is AMC a drawcard for northern Tasmania, it brings experts to our region. It allows partnerships between private enterprise and researchers, broadens our cultural understandings, and increases knowledge.” AMC Search is AMC’s commercial arm responsible for tailoring training to meet industry needs. It delivers between five to 12 short courses a week, varying in length from one-day refresher courses through to longer 20-day block training sessions. “AMC provides students with the training they need to go and work in the maritime industry; once they’re working in the maritime
Mayor hails benefits as short-course certificates double on previous year industry we give them what they want to either maintain their existing qualifications or to expand and grow,” AMC Search Deputy CEO Cathy Wilson said. She said last year’s significant growth could be largely attributed to changes within the International Maritime Organisation’s Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention introduced by the 2010 Manila amendments. These amendments state that every oceangoing seafarer’s qualification, which was previously issued in perpetuity, must now be revalidated or refreshed every five years. There are 27,000 seafarers working in Australia and they all have until December 2016 to upgrade their existing qualifications. AMC Search has been working closely with the largest shipping companies to ensure their people are put through the mandatory training as quickly as possible, but there are still many individuals and smaller industries that need to complete it. “We are making every effort to work with industry to make sure that we can get everyone through by the deadline; and we’ll schedule
extra dates and do whatever we can to get them through,” Mrs Wilson said. In addition to this, it is now mandatory for all oceangoing seafarers to have a security awareness endorsement. AMC Search was one of the first providers to offer a security awareness course, which they developed online and rolled out in April 2014. There has been great international uptake, with seafarers from Australia, the UK, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Europe completing the online course. Another major area of growth is in the delivery of company specific training courses, with AMC Search posting a 33 per cent increase in 2014 for this type of training. Company specific training is developed in consultation with the client to meet an identified need or defined outcome. For example, AMC Search has worked closely with three organisations operating out of the Gladstone terminal to develop an LNG mooring operations course and is in the process of developing an LNG firefighting course. “Company specific training courses now account for more than half of our business, and this is a testament to the hard work of the team and to AMC’s brand and how it’s perceived in industry,” Mrs Wilson said. More information at www.amcsearch.com.au
Ready to respond to crises PICTURE: SAM CARDWELL
Training course simulates what it’s like to be out to sea
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n a maritime environmental emergency having access to accurate, real-time information is vital to mounting an effective response. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) identified the need for a dedicated incident response reconnaissance capability to be deployed to a vessel which is experiencing a hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) incident. In partnership with AMC, a specialised training course has been designed for AMSA and Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) team members to familiarise themselves with the unique operating environment of a ship at sea. AMSA Marine Environment General Manager Toby Stone said Australia had an obligation to prepare for and respond to any pollution incident that happened in our waters. “During a HNS event on-board a vessel it is often too dangerous for the crew to get close enough to provide a proper assessment of the situation,” Mr Stone said. “This capability will give incident controllers back on-shore the eyes and ears on-board a stricken vessel and allow them to mount the most effective response.” AMC course co-ordinator Anthony Beckett said the HNS Reconnaissance Team Training course gave participants the skills needed to identify, assess and provide advice on incidents such as chemical spills aboard a ship. “The FRNSW hazardous materials team is already trained in how to deal with these situations on land; we needed to take this existing knowledge and apply it to the maritime environment,” Mr Beckett said. The course covered an overview of the maritime industry, vessel and cargo observations, sea survival training, practical ship familiarisation, boarding exercises, team simulations and exercises using AMC’s training facilities in Launceston and Beauty Point. “As you can imagine, manoeuvring around a vessel in full HAZMAT protective gear can be
Shipshape: A specialised training course has been designed for Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Fire and Rescue NSW team members to familiarise themselves with the unique operating environment of a ship at sea. PICTURES: CHRIS CRERAR
quite a challenge and the students had the chance to practice methods of boarding a ship in a nonemergency situation using our fleet of training vessels,” Mr Beckett said. “Responding to an incident at sea adds another level of complexity and being able to run through these scenarios using both real-life and simulated training environments is
an invaluable experience.” FRNSW Specialised Operations Manager Superintendent Paul Bailey said the training provided an extended capability beyond its usual land based operations. “It’s an invaluable opportunity to add to FRNSW’s globally recognised skills in HAZMAT and train in the Australian
Maritime College’s purpose-built environment,” he said. AMC Principal Professor Neil Bose said the course was a great example of AMC Search working closely with industry to meet their specific needs. “We were pleased to have the opportunity to work with AMSA to develop this training course and help build the skills
required to support our seafarers and help protect the national marine environment,” he said. The hazardous and noxious substances response capability operates within the established framework of Australia’s National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies, which is managed by AMSA.
Safety workshop helps get everyone up to speed
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new resource kit has been launched to help industry and commercial vessel operators comply with revised operational safety requirements. AMC and AMSA have worked together to develop a handson training workshop to help commercial vessel operators implement a simple but effective safety management system (SMS) tailored to their operations. From July 1, 2015 operators of all passenger and hire and drive vessels will be required to have an
SMS and comply with the revised standard under the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessels. Operators of non-passenger and fishing vessels will need to comply from July 1, 2016. AMSA Deputy CEO Gary Prosser said developing an SMS was about identifying and controlling risks, and providing assurance the risk controls are effective. “No one knows the risks their operations present better than the vessel’s operator and crew. The workshops provide them with the
information they need to create an SMS that works for their vessel and their business,” he said. AMC Safety and Survival instructors Michael Douglas and Phillip Lenthall have developed a one-day workshop in consultation with AMSA and Marine and Safety Tasmania. “For some vessels, with company support and infrastructure behind them there are resources to create a safety plan but for smaller operators it can be a more difficult task,” Mr Douglas said. “The feedback from vessel
owners has guided the development of this resource kit to give them and their crews a practical, hands-on workshop with all the information they need to develop an SMS.” Mr Lenthall added: “Including SMS requirements in our course materials helps to build a safety culture in the domestic commercial vessel industry, giving our students the skills to assess risks and develop systems to reduce risks. “To date, several workshops have been held in Tasmania and interstate and feedback has been extremely
positive. It is not intended at this stage for the training to be mandatory, however it is highly recommended and domestic vessel owners and operators are strongly encouraged to attend a workshop.” About 50,000 domestic vessels operate in Australia and there are plans to roll out the resource kit through industry peak bodies, associations and marine safety agencies across the country. For more information, visit www.amsa.gov.au
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Making waves with research Pool proposal gets plenty of attention
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Water wonder: Above, Dr Steven Schmied with a model of the Webber Wave Pool in the model test basin; below, an artist’s impression of the continuous wave pool in action at the Olympics. PICTURE: PAUL ROGET
r Steven Schmied has spent the past 10 years chasing an endless wave. It sounds more like the soundtrack to a surfer’s summer than a PhD topic, but for this accomplished researcher it was definitely the latter. “I discussed a novel idea to produce continuous breaking waves whereby a pressure source, in this case a highly modified ship’s hull called a wavedozer, is rotated within a circular wave pool,” Dr Schmied said. “The proposed pool will be capable of creating waves suitable for beginner to expert surfers and could even help surfing to become an Olympic sport by providing guaranteed quality waves. The concept is that the inner ring has a sloping floor, or beach, to induce wave breaking from the wake of the pressure source. “In order to refine the technique, research was conducted to better understand the mechanics of surfable waves generated by moving pressure sources in restricted water.” The project, with industry partner Liquid Time Pty Ltd (trading as Webber Wave Pools), was a conjoint effort between AMC and Delft University of Technology, Netherlands (TU Delft). It resulted in Dr Schmied being awarded two PhDs in naval architecture last year – one from AMC and the other from TU Delft – rounding out an impressive list of academic qualifications in the fields of aerospace engineering, computer engineering and business administration. Fittingly, the project’s origins can be traced back to a surfing holiday at Lord Howe Island when Dr Schmied met surfboard manufacturer Greg Webber and they talked about the concept of a continuous wave pool. Dr Schmied joined Liquid Time as chief engineer and started
overseeing initial testing at TU Delft before securing academic supervision for his doctorate. Since 2008, he has been working with academic supervisors and students from both AMC and TU Delft to conduct computational and physical model experiments on the circular wave pool design. While there are other wave pool designs on the market, the doughnut-shaped structure is a world-first. The design also works in straight or oval shaped pools.
‘RESEARCH WAS CONDUCTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE MECHANICS OF SURFABLE WAVES’ Dr Schmied developed a method of scoring wave shape from a surfer’s perspective which proved valuable in focusing the research effort. At the end of the test series, high-quality continuous breaking waves with the desired plunging shape that surfers prize were able to be generated. However, the wave quality was shown to be extremely sensitive to any changes in the design parameters. “The immediate benefits of this scientific investigation will be realised by the industry partner by engineering the results into the Webber Wave Pool. The longer term benefits will be developed through more fundamental investigations of breaking waves,” Dr Schmied said. Liquid Time plans to continue the research program at AMC to help commercialise the pool designs, including modelling each individual pool before it is constructed.
More honours for Torres Strait training program
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n award-winning maritime training program that has honed the seafaring skills of the Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people and helped bolster the region’s economy has once again been recognised at a national level. AMC is the joint winner of the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC) Chairman’s Award, following its win at the TLISC 2014 Awards for Excellence for the same program. For the past 18 months, AMC has been delivering nationallyaccredited coxswain, marine engine driving, fishing operations and wild harvest diving courses as part of the Torres Strait Maritime Pathways Project. In November 2014, this contract was extended for two years and expanded to include integrated rating and near-coastal master qualifications.
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Of the 217 students who have taken part in the program to date, 87 per cent have completed their qualifications and 90 per cent have gained employment in the maritime sector. AMC Vocational Education and Training Manager Jarrod Weaving said these positive outcomes were a testament to the hard work and dedication of his team. “We are extremely proud of the success of this program, which is a direct result of the level of commitment and professionalism of our maritime training team,” Mr Weaving said. “To effectively deliver these courses we needed to rapidly gain an understanding of the local culture, research the geography of the proposed training area and become familiar with the training vessel chartered for the program. “We also had to take into account
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Recognised: Ruth Findlater (AMC), Sam Maka (Torres Strait Regional Authority), Jarrod Weaving (AMC) and David Stopford (AMC) at the awards ceremony. PICTURE: TLISC
that English is the second or third language for many indigenous people and adapt our teaching methods and materials to overcome these learning barriers.” AMC last year employed its first indigenous maritime training cadet,
Stanley Ansey, to help with any language or cultural issues that may arise and has gradually introduced new technology as a learning tool into the courses. The students are issued with iPads loaded with learning resources such
as quizzes, self-assessments and an engine room app that allows them to strip and reassemble a virtual engine identical to the model they work with in real life. Maritime trainer Ruth Findlater has found that many students feel more comfortable contributing in a classroom session using the iPad technology than via traditional methods. A number of activities have been developed such as using iMovie to create a safety video that can be used to brief passengers on a vessel. “The format of this particular assessment has proven a great success, with students commenting on how much more they had learnt about the safety items on a vessel when they had to incorporate them into a movie,” Ms Findlater said. “It also gave students the opportunity to gain confidence with speaking English as part of the presentation requirement.”
Antarctic centres
Chilly reception: Ocean engineering student Cameron Edwards joined a four-week research voyage to Antarctica on the Korean icebreaker RV Araon.
Drygalski
* The locations are approximate
The Drygalski Ice Tongue is a large floating glacier, extruding from David Glacier into the northern region of McMurdo Sound, located in Antarctica’s Ross Sea. It currently extrudes about 80km into McMurdo Sound, and is believed to be an integral factor in the development of Terra Nova Bay, using its considerable width (about 23km, currently) to divert ice motion.
Jang Bogo Station
Ross Sea
PICTURE: MICHELLE FOURNET
Southern exposure benefits PICTURES: CAMERON EDWARDS
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here’s a strong chance ocean engineering student Cameron Edwards can claim the title of coolest summer break after joining a four-week research voyage to Antarctica on the Korean icebreaker RV Araon. The purpose of the trip was to install oceanographic moorings to capture baseline data as part of a major study to map the ocean around Ross Ice Shelf and, eventually, the entire continent of Antarctica. It marks the start of a joint venture between the Korean Polar Research Institute (KOPRI), New Zealand’s National Institute for Water and Atmospherics (NIWA) and AMC. “We were measuring the flow underneath the Drygalski ice tongue, a floating glacier that is about 100km long and 22km wide located in the Ross Sea,” Mr Edwards said. “We deployed oceanographic moorings at 550m depth on one
side and 650m depth on the other side of the Drygalski, and we’re going to combine all that data in order to create a flow profile to see how the water underneath the ice tongue moves.” A range of specialist equipment including an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP), temperature loggers and CTDs (which measure conductivity, temperature and depth) were anchored to the ocean floor to collect data for the next 12 months before being retrieved and analysed.
Mr Edwards’ job was to oversee the installation and deployment of this equipment as well as help recover moorings from previous research trips. “Antarctica is a living continent, it expands and contracts all the time, so we’re hoping to see how the ocean interacts with the entire continent and have an understanding of the currents that go around it,” he said. “We’re mapping the fluid motion – where the currents are and where they’re going, how these currents
interact with the ice barriers they encounter and what this does to the erosion of the ice. It’s a first order study where we’re trying to get as much information as we can and then have the data available for further studies.” Together with his supervisor, Dr Alex Forrest, Mr Edwards will work on publishing a paper about the research findings when the moorings are retrieved. Further research and development is likely to feature prominently in his future. Mr Edwards has a keen
interest in exploration that was fostered during previous studies in astrophysics, as well as building autonomous robots as part of the student-run AMC Autonomous Technologies Society. “I decided that I wanted to explore but that exploration was more likely to happen in the ocean than in space for me,” he said. “The ocean is far more accessible, space costs a lot more money and we’re not at the point yet where we can throw someone out there for the weekend and just say, ‘Get me some data’. But we’re at the point right now where we can send someone out in a boat with an AUV and say, ‘I want you to get me data from here’. “And that’s the really exciting part, I would like to see the theory put into practice. I don’t particularly want to end up in an office crunching the numbers, I want to be out in the field, going out to cool places like Antarctica and sending AUVs out to explore it.”
NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES TO HELP LIGHT THE WAY AMC recently completed a professional staff review and is pleased to announce a new leadership structure that more closely aligns with the organisation’s strategic goals. Three new positions have been created to underpin this change and provide high-level support to the AMC Board, Principal Professor Neil Bose and General Manager Phil Leersen. Business and Student Cycle Manager – Martin Crees-Morris
This position focuses on the
student life cycle from application to graduation, vocational training and new business, with primary responsibility to grow student load. Mr Crees-Morris will manage a team of administrative support staff and review business practices to ensure a sustainable service can be delivered into the future. Operations and Facilities Manager – David Waldron
One of AMC’s key strategic imperatives is to continually improve its workplace health
managing all technical professional staff. He will also oversee the maintenance of AMC’s suite of teaching and research facilities. Assistant to the Principal and General Manager – Chris Carstens
Martin Crees-Morris
David Waldron
and safety policies, processes and outcomes. Mr Waldron is a highly experienced professional in this
Chris Carstens
field and will be responsible for maintaining the risk register and business continuity plan and
In addition to providing support to the Principal and Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching, Mr Carstens will assist the General Manager in the key areas of policy and planning, corporate strategy, special projects and business intelligence.
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It’s less drag to go green PICTURE: CHRIS CRERAR
New study shows prawn trawlers can be environmentally friendly and efficient
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eveloping new systems to improve the efficiency of prawn trawling and reduce its environmental impact is the focus of an industry-supported research project. Currently, fuel consumption for prawn trawlers represents a third to half of operating costs. Researcher Dr Cheslav Balash says the vessel uses just 10 per cent of this fuel, with the rest attributed to the trawling gear. “Reducing the drag of prawn trawl systems is an important way to make this commercial fishing more sustainable. We’ve looked closely at three major drag components – the trawl net, otter boards and the vessel – to develop solutions for improving energy efficiency,” Dr Balash said. Work on the trawl net has focussed on connecting the drag of the gear more efficiently to the thrust applied by the trawler. This has produced a new hydrodynamically efficient trawl, called the W trawl, which has a third towing connection that transfers drag directly to the vessel and uses less effort to keep the net open. “In essence, we have transformed the V trawl into a W trawl. The drag of the trawl itself is not substantially different, but redirecting the drag strain means we can use much smaller otter boards and this reduces trawl system drag by 20 per cent,” Dr Balash said. The W trawl project was funded by a $194,000 grant from the Fisheries Research Development Corporation. A second research project looked at further developing the idea of using sail technology in otter boards for prawn trawling. This was done in collaboration with Dr David Sterling from Sterling Trawl Gear Services and Dr Matt Broadhurst from the NSW Department of Primary Industries. AMC’s flume tank was used to test various sails in a controlled environment before field trials in Moreton Bay, Queensland. It resulted in a batwing design that
New ideas: Above, Dr Cheslav Balash; below, left to right, alternative steering mechanism – the first occurrence of vessel and trawl gear to be tested concurrently in the AMC flume tank, batwing otter boards deployed at sea and a W trawl drag-tested in the AMC flume tank.
spreads the trawl more easily than the conventional flat, rectangular otter board. Using the combined W trawl and batwing otter board systems is expected to provide a drag reduction of 30 per cent. The latest project looked at the role of the vessel itself. Normally the vessel does not contribute greatly to the overall drag, but it can become
significant when weather conditions are not ideal. “When there is wind blowing onto the side of the vessel, the skipper needs to apply rudder and make the boat have an angle of attack to the trawling direction in order to withstand the side-wind load,” Dr Balash said. “This creates a lot more hull drag,
and for some trawl systems means the gear is fishing with a distorted geometry. We are developing alternative ways to steer the trawler under these conditions.” Preliminary testing has been done in the flume tank to estimate the amount of energy that could be saved by adjusting the tow points on the outriggers to steer the
vessel, instead of using the rudder. Dr Balash said the results of these tests were promising and support the hypothetical benefits of the alternative steering mechanism. The next step is to apply for funding to do more comprehensive model testing, produce a working prototype of the new technology, and conduct field trials.
UNIVERSITY YACHT KICKSTARTS PARTY
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MC and the University of Tasmania were well represented in the 2014 Sydney to Hobart yacht race by Cougar II. The TP52-class yacht bore the University’s colours and lion on its mainsail, completing the race in two days, 17 hours and 52 minutes to take out 13th in line honours. Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Mike Calford said sponsoring the vessel, skippered by Dr Tony Lyall, was a fitting start to the University’s 125th anniversary celebrations. 6
‘IT’S ADDICTIVE, THE ADRENALIN. IT’S THE POWER OF THE SEA’ “We are proud of the efforts of Tony and his crew – several of whom are alumni of the Australian Maritime College,” he said. “This is an event in which people work together to achieve the
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extraordinary and we consider that speaks strongly to our institution. The TP52s are a developmental class boat, meaning a high level of research and innovation is used in its race tuning.” Dr Lyall has been sailing since he was 10, and competing in the Sydney to Hobart for 18 years. He admits he is addicted to the thrill of ocean racing. “It’s addictive, the adrenalin. It’s just the power of the sea, it’s an unknown, you never know what you’re going to get,” he said.
High seas: The Cougar II crew hard at work.
PICTURE: PETER MATHEW
From making kayaks to hydrodynamic research Liam Honeychurch has steadily built a stellar career as a shipwright
Name: Shantha Jayasinghe Job title: Lecturer in Maritime Electrical Engineering
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love of wooden boats instilled by his father has steered Liam Honeychurch towards a niche career as a shipwright. For the past 18 years, he has gained experience with all forms of boat building, from shaping small wooden craft to refitting larger vessels, and is now responsible for making the scale models tested in AMC’s hydrodynamic research facilities. Mr Honeychurch started his boatbuilding apprenticeship at 16 at West Tamar Wooden Boats, Robigana, producing small craft such as canoes, kayaks and trailer sailers. “Dad would drop me off at Hillwood and I’d paddle across the river, throw my kayak over someone’s back fence and ride the rest of the way to work, and do the reverse on the way home,” he said. “I pretty much grew up on the Tamar River. My dad’s been mad keen on boats for most of his life and he got me into the boatbuilding side of things.” From there he completed a stint at the Hobart slipways, working on bigger projects such as the refit of tug boats and the CSIRO research vessel Challenger. He was the only boatbuilding apprentice in Tasmania at the time and had to move to Melbourne to complete his training. In 2002, he joined his father, Drew Honeychurch, to work as a technician in AMC’s maritime hydrodynamics facilities. Mr Honeychurch Sr has since retired and Liam has progressed through the ranks to be senior technical officer in charge of maintenance and operations at the model test basin and towing tank. They are the only commercially operating facilities of their kind in Australia and are in high demand for research activities, particularly collaborations with industry, and class laboratory sessions for
STAFF PROFILE
How long have you been at AMC? I joined AMC in February. Before that I was an electrical systems engineer at Rolls-Royce Singapore. Tell us about a major project you’re working on, or what your focus will be this year. My research focus is mainly on shipboard power systems and electric ship propulsion. One of the major projects I’m working on is developing advanced control techniques to improve power systems in hybrid electric ships against transients. What is your biggest personal and/or professional highlight? My biggest professional achievement so far is writing a chapter on energy storage interfacing for the book Power Electronics for Photovoltaic Power Systems, to be released in a few months.
Building blocks: Liam Honeychurch has carved out a niche career as a shipwright.
maritime engineering students. Both facilities provide a controlled environment to conduct experiments using scale models with a high degree of accuracy and repeatability, so all associated equipment is manufactured to exacting standards. Mr Honeychurch builds the experimental scale models at home using his custom-designed and built CNC router. In contrast to the traditional craft of wooden boat building, this method uses a highspeed computer-controlled spindle and rotating cutter to produce 3D objects or patterns for moulds to
make composite parts. Most of the models are built out of fibreglass or plywood, but Mr Honeychurch says he is increasingly working with carbon composite, or foamcore, materials. At the start of each project he is provided with a 3D plan of the ship to be modelled and scales it down to a ratio anywhere between 1:15 to 1:70. He has modelled a range of vessels including yachts, patrol boats, pilot boats, submarines and the less conventional gas cat – a concept offshore gas refinery facility developed for a research project. A highlight was building the
PICTURE: CHRIS CRERAR
parent model for the America’s Cup Challenge as part of a research project looking at the effects of scaling and measuring lift off the keel. It was one of the first models built on his CNC router. These days, model building consumes a lot of leisure time but Mr Honeychurch has recently hired someone a couple of days a week to help with this side of the business and plans to start tinkering on personal projects again. “I’ve got a powerboat that hasn’t been out of the paddock for the past two years, but hopefully that will change soon,” he said.
If time travel was no barrier, which era, place or event would you most like to experience? If time travel was possible, I would like to experience the 19th-century where electricity turned from a scientific curiosity into an essential tool for modern life and became the driving force of the second industrial revolution. What are you reading? A report issued by the Royal Academy of Engineering titled Future Ship Powering OptionsExploring Alternative Methods of Ship Propulsion.
Scholarships up for grabs for naval training
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cholarship packages are still available for qualified, highly-motivated students to undertake research in the areas of naval design, manufacturing and sustainment as part of the ARC Training Centre for Transforming Australia’s Naval Manufacturing Industry. The centre is driven by the University of Tasmania, University of Wollongong and Flinders University in collaboration with industry partners ASC Pty Ltd,
Babcock International, PMB Defence Engineering, Thales Australia, DSTO and DMTC. Successful applicants will join a team of 10 PhD candidates working on industry-submitted projects, including a 12-month internship with an industry partner. Two students, Andrew Short from the University of Wollongong and Rowan Pivetta from Flinders University, have already been recruited to work on the development of an inspection robot
for confined spaces investigations. Other areas of focus for the centre include corrosion protection, fluid structure interaction modelling and smart sustainment of naval platforms. “These projects are designed to make industry-ready graduates by developing specific skills sets such as applied fluid mechanics, spectroscopy, welding metallurgy, risk and reliability modelling,” centre director AMC Associate Professor Jonathan Binns said.
“Educating our graduates won’t stop with leaving them as subject matter experts. Topics such as commercialisation, IP management and on-the-job industry training add to the education and ultimate employability of every graduate within the Research Training Centre.” Scholarship applicants are expected to hold an Honours 1 (or equivalent) degree in engineering or science. Postgraduate research experience in engineering fields
with specific reference to industry application will be highly regarded. The packages offer a scholarship of $30,746 for three years to complete a Doctor of Philosophy in engineering once enrolled at one of the three universities. Each project has a generous relocation allowance for the internship placement and project support from multiple participants. For more information, email Jonathan.Binns@utas.edu.au
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Swapping ideas: Captain John Lloyd, left, and Captain Allan Gray at the third Master Mariners Congress held in Launceston.
Shaping up shipping to protect the environment
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Meet and greet: Defence industry representatives meet with prospective employees.
Open Day helps strengthen bond
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ndustry representatives from South Australia and Victoria had the opportunity to discover more about AMC and its national and international standing at the inaugural Industry Open Day. “Our relationship with industry is deeply valued and we hope that this event provided another opportunity for engagement and served to strengthen these bonds into the future,” AMC Principal Professor Neil Bose said. “Delegates toured our world-class teaching and research facilities and learnt about how their organisation could benefit from a stronger relationship with AMC through potential scholarships, co-operative engineering work-term placements, on-board seafarer training and other work integrated learning placements.” AMC is Australia’s national
‘OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH INDUSTRY IS DEEPLY VALUED’ institute for maritime training, education and research offering qualifications across the disciplines of ocean seafaring and coastal seafaring, maritime engineering, and maritime business and international logistics. “Our course offerings remain relevant to global demands, which is one of the reasons why AMC graduate employment outcomes are high and in demand worldwide,” Professor Bose said. Industry Open Day was followed the next day by the 2015 AMC Careers Exhibition. This annual event allows stallholders to showcase their organisation and students to learn more about their
prospective employers in a meet and greet environment. It is supported by businesses, professional institutions and government agencies from across the maritime sector in Australia. “The careers exhibition is an excellent forum for our students to gain some insight into the careers that are ahead of them and for industry representatives to promote their companies and scope out prospective future employees,” Professor Bose said. For further details on the co-operative engineering work placement program, please email mark.symes@utas.edu.au or david.harte@utas.edu.au
hipping is the most widely used mode of transport for world trade and ensuring its environmental sustainability is one of the most pressing issues facing the maritime industry today. About 50 master mariners and industry delegates from around Australia met in Launceston to discuss this and other key challenges at the third Master Mariners Congress. AMC’s Congress co-ordinator Captain John Lloyd said the conversation focused on the theme “diversity in shipping, technology and people”. “Shipping forms the largest transport task for world trade and, despite its environmental efficiencies per tonne over other forms of transport, it is under continued pressure to meet community expectations,” Captain Lloyd said. “With the development of larger ships, e-navigation, new technology in environmental controls and
automation ashore, the marine and port sectors have entered an era where companies need to differentiate themselves from others in the market. “The sector has great opportunities to demonstrate to the international community that it is taking significant strides to be the leaders in sustainable transportation by using new and emerging technology and by capitalising on the natural diversity of skills and attributes in its labour market.” Keynote speakers addressed themes including the future of the maritime workforce, challenges and changes in ship-based technology, and port-based technology in a changing world over the course of the two-day event. Captain Lloyd said the congress also proved to be a great opportunity for AMC alumni to return to the college and look at the advances it has made, reunite with old classmates and revisit old haunts.
Upcoming events Open Day Sunday, August 30 Find out more about studying at AMC, tour our world-class facilities, chat to staff and current students and view handson demonstrations, among other
great activities as a part of our annual Open Day. We encourage you to register your details, this will ensure you receive the latest program and event updates between now and the big day in August 2015.
For more information visit http://www.amc.edu.au/openday
STAFF UPDATES AND NEW APPOINTMENTS P eter Whitley has been appointed Associate Professor of Vocational Education and Training and Deputy Director, National Centre for Ports and Shipping. His previous experience includes the roles of Chief Executive Officer at the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE and Managing Director, VET and Regional Higher Education at Curtin University of Technology. Natalia Nikolova has joined us from the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna, Bulgaria, to take up the appointment of Professor and Deputy Director, National Centre of Ports and Shipping. Natalia has a strong background in business
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Peter Whitley
Natalia Nikolova
administration, holding a BSc and MSc in this area, and her research interests are in quantitative decision analysis, fuzzy-rational decision analysis, risk analysis, econometrics and statistics, and simulation modelling. Natalia will lead the Maritime and Logistics Management team at AMC, as well as enhance research
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Jon Binns
achievements, project activity, and educational quality in this important field. Jon Binns, Gregor Macfarlane and Irene Penesis have all been appointed Associate Professors. Jon has also been appointed AMC Associate Dean Research for a three-year term until February 28, 2018. He will work with national
Gregor Macfarlane
Irene Penesis
centres and the University’s research leadership teams to develop research at AMC, help with increase in HDR load and supervision, help the building of grant and research contract income and lead the postgraduate coursework programs. Megan Stride has been awarded the prestigious 2014 Rob Lewis Medal in recognition
Megan Stride
of her outstanding research into epitheliocystis, a widespread and fast-acting disease that affects both wild and farmed fish stock. The medal commemorates the contribution of Professor Rob Lewis, Chair of the AMC Council from 1997-2004, and is awarded annually for excellence in postgraduate research.