AUSTRALIAN Pilotage Group’s pilot transfer services last week were suspended after concerns about safety and qualifications were raised.
An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson told DCN on 22 March AMSA received a report from Ports Victoria regarding the use of unqualified masters on APG pilot vessels.
“AMSA investigated and found the pilot vessel masters were certificated as required under the AMSA-administered National Law for Domestic Commercial Vessels. Responsibility for regulation of pilotage providers in Victoria, including local waters qualifications and licencing, lies with Transport Safety Victoria,” the spokesperson said.
They went on to say: “AMSA was made aware of claims of fatigue and has sought more information from the complainants”.
Transport Safety Victoria declined to comment for this article.
In a letter to customers seen by DCN, dated 28 March, APG general manager David McDonald said the company “continues to work collaboratively and proactively with Transport Safety Victoria to finalise the agreed pathway for return to marine pilot transfer operations and therefore marine pilotage in the ports of Geelong and Melbourne”.
The letter said APG had provided TSV with “all the required documents in relation to marine pilot transfer operations”. These included training plans and a safety management system for pilot launch operations. APG said these had been independently audited and verified under the ISO and ISPO processes.
APG and its parent company Auriga did not respond to requests for comment from DCN.
Port Phillip Sea Pilots, the other provider of pilotage services in the Melbourne area, said they currently service about 65% of ship movements requiring pilots in Melbourne and Geelong, and it has tailored its workforce to meet this demand.
In an open letter to its customers, PPSP said immediately following the suspension of APG’s services, the harbour masters consulted with them to explore options to keep shipping moving.
“It was made very clear to us we were under no obligation to begin to service vessels contracted to APG (Auriga), however PPSP management made an ‘in good faith’ decision to attempt to service ALL vessels requiring pilotage services in both ports,” PPSP said in the letter.
“As you can appreciate, this has been and continues to be a challenging logistical exercise with our workload suddenly increasing by 35 percent. We are determined to continue to deliver a safe and efficient pilotage service.”
