Jim Wilson

Seven days of industrial action kicked off at one minute past midnight today.  Including today, there will be extensive industrial action for seven days at Brisbane and Darwin. The strikes are in the context of the the Qube / MUA enterprise bargaining. The industrial actions are as follows: An eight hour stoppage when a vessel...

Wellington is ditching the “Master’s Declaration and Biofouling and Ballast Water Declaration” and is replacing it with the “Biosecurity Pre-Arrival Report”. The new form will be available for use from 31 October 2024 and, from 01 May 2025, it will be mandatory to use the new form. The Pre-Arrival Report must be submitted to the...

A range of amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention – changing global law on seafarer recruitment, repatriation, accommodation, food, medical care and more – take effect on 23 December. Recruitment – a compensation system of some kind must be established to financially compensate seafarers for loss incurred because of a failure by a recruitment service...

Top officials will meet in Hong Kong for high-level summit on global trade and rising protectionism. The summit, titled ‘Risk & Resilience in an Age of Disruption’, will provide an essential platform for senior government officials, industry leaders, and policymakers. · The summit will focus on the challenges facing maritime trade as the world navigates...

Shipping Australia Queensland hosted a fabulous and glamorous Gala Night at The Gabba – the home of the Brisbane Lions, Brisbane Heat and Queensland Cricket – late last week. Jaz Mir, who is Shipping Australia’s Queensland Chairman, addressed the guests. “It’s a true honour to stand before you as we come together to celebrate the...

“We’re back!” that was the message from Shipping Australia CEO, Capt Melwyn Noronha to guests at our Newcastle Luncheon held earlier this week. Shipping Australia formerly regularly held events in Newcastle until COVID. Capt Noronha vowed to hold another event again next year in the city as a token of our commitment to serving shipping...

Australia’s own Reverend Tay Un, Principal Chaplain at The Mission to Seafarers – Sydney, has won the Mission To Seafarers’ “Shore-based Award 2024” which is awarded by the international Mission to the shore-based person who has made a significant contribution to seafarers’ welfare. Also of interest is that Captain Reda Elnadoury, who is employed by...

Shipping Australia was pleased to attend the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Australia’s Sea Heritage Foundation and the UK’s Merchant Navy Training Board to explore best practices in maritime apprenticeship training programs. The MOU establishes a framework for SHF and MNTB to collaborate in sharing insights and lessons learned from the UK’s...

Hey you! Yes, you! Fancy picking up an industry / university funded doctorate? Industry-related Ph.D opportunities are being offered by La Trobe University. The doctoral programme is offered in partnership with industry organisation from the private, government or not-for-profit sectors. “Students enrolled in the La Trobe Industry PhD undertake a research project that addresses real-world...

Two new pilot vessels have been launched by Fremantle Ports. The pilot vessels were designed by Southerly Designs of Port Denison and built under a AUD$7.6m contract by local shipwright Dongara Marine of Western Australia. The first of the 19.2m long pair is the “Kwilena,” which is word for “dolphin” in the Noongar language; the...