Today, AMSA proudly celebrates World Maritime Day 2024 alongside the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
This year’s theme, ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First!’, highlights the crucial role of technological innovation in the future of maritime safety and environmental protection.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority CEO Mick Kinley emphasised that to fully leverage the benefits of the technological innovation in the maritime sector, we need to move quickly to ensure new capabilities can be adopted safely and securely across industry.
‘We want to take every opportunity to allow boats to navigate our waters more cleanly and safely,’ he said.
‘With one of the largest shipping tasks in the world, and 99 percent of our international trade carried by sea, we also need to consider the implications for ships moving in and out of our waters, including through some particularly sensitive areas of coastline.’
‘Our marine environments are some of the most pristine and ecologically diverse on the planet, with significant cultural and economic value to Australians.
Recognising the benefits of technological innovation for safety and the environment, Australia is committed to working with other nations to develop and apply the highest safety standards, ensuring new services are adopted safely and securely.
As Australia’s representative at the IMO, AMSA contributes to multiple global initiatives aimed at achieving these goals.
Australia also collaborates with countries on multilateral initiatives. This includes establishing a green and digital shipping corridor by 2025 under the Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement.
Mr Kinley also highlighted Australia’s commitment to enhancing navigation services for international ships and domestic commercial vessels in Australian waters. An example of this is the newly released report Navigation Services in Australian Waters – Outlook to 2035, which outlines AMSA’s response to digitalization and rapid advancements in how ships receive, integrate, display, and exchange navigational information.
However, he also emphasises that while advancement is vital, so are AMSA’s daily operations to uphold safety and protect the marine environment.
‘AMSA is highly focussed on safety, whether it be through responding to Maritime Labor Convention complaints; carrying out ship inspections; coordinating search and rescue efforts; or negotiating and implementing international conventions and standards. We are not afraid to issue a ‘red card’ to operators that ignore the rules.’
Australia has also chosen this most auspicious day for the global maritime sector, to announce its candidacy for re-election to category b of the IMO Council for the 2026–27 biennium.
The IMO sets standards for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Australia’s continued participation on the IMO Council allows us to help position the maritime industry to be resilient and responsive to change by shaping standards for the protection of the environment, seafarer conditions, international trade and sea transport.
Each year the IMO invites nations to illuminate prominent landmarks in blue for World Maritime Day. This evening, Australia will be lighting up Australia House in London, and lighthouses along our coastline.
Read the media release from the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
Learn more about Australia’s work on the IMO Category b council.
