Jim Wilson

Australia’s Coastal Research Infrastructure (CoastRi) initiative has attracted $58 million from the Australian federal government. The objective of CoastRi is to gather data from diverse sources to enable Australia to better understand, predict, and address opportunities and risk facing Australia’s coasts. CoastRi reports that coastal changes are ongoing and intensifying with widespread impacts such as...

Shipping has always changed slowly, until it doesn’t. At certain points, a new development becomes too significant to remain outside the regulatory system. There are moments in maritime history when the industry shifts in ways that affect not only ships, but the wider system around them. The transition from sail to steam, the move from...

If the people, systems and decisions that keep a ship operationally safe are no longer all on board, how does the industry prove that safety is still under control? As maritime operations move toward autonomous and remotely operated ships, this question becomes central. Before asking when these vessels will become common, the industry needs to...

Dr Carla Boehl and Dr Devinder Grewal have been appointed to the Board of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) for three-year terms. Dr Carla Boehl is a lecturer and associate for WA School of Mines at Curtin University and is also an experienced Board Director and senior engineering leader with 25 years of experience...

Inchcape Shipping Services has opened a new office in Brunei Darussalam, strengthening its local presence in a strategically important market for offshore, naval and logistics operations in Southeast Asia. Brunei presents a key berthing and operational environment for naval vessels. The country also has a long established offshore and oil and gas tanker sector, underpinned...

Tokyo-headquartered general trading company Itochu has announced that the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore has authorised one of Itochu’s subsidiaries to carry out ammonia bunkering trials in Singapore. The Authorisation was granted following MPA’s review of ZETA’s submissions, which included comprehensive safety studies, risk assessments, and business plans for ammonia bunkering in Singapore. The...

By the Australian Mariners Welfare Society On 26 May the Australian Mariners Welfare Society held its quarterly Council meeting and Annual General Meeting in the SAL Boardroom. The Council is responsible for the governance of AMWS and the quarterly meetings are used to discuss relevant issues impacting on seafarer welfare and agree on the distribution...

The ANL Kokoda (IMO 9516765) will be the first vessel in the pilot programme for the Australian Strategic Fleet. The ship is a 2011-delivered vessel, built by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding and, at the time of the writing of this article, is reported by French beneficial owner, CMA CGM to be a Malta-flagged and Singapore-operated...

Now in its third consecutive year, Shipping Australia Limited (SAL) and WISTA Australia welcomed a sold-out room at the RACV Melbourne City Club on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, to mark the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime. This year’s IMO theme was “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence”, focusing on...

The Mission to Seafarers writes: “To the Editor:  We read your article of 15 May 2026, “Seafarers aren’t quite as unhappy as you might think” and felt it important to respond. Constructive discussion around welfare data is welcome and necessary. No survey is beyond scrutiny, and we remain committed to ensuring the Seafarers Happiness Index...