Members of the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers have responded superbly in every way to AMSA’s threat to their profession, their training and their safety at work. There should not be any doubt in the minds of the regulator that this issue will peacefully go away.
Members have made it abundantly clear it wont!
One of the first submissions to AMSA was from Dominic Worthington whose well written contribution included:-
“
....The proposed draft MO3 certificate structure does provide a FUNDEMENTALLY FLAWED career pathway for seafarers. The current career structure for Marine Engineers is clear and effective. The draft career structure is unclear, untested and unrequired.
It would be foolish in the extreme to amend the current system that is proving to be so effective in delivering highly competent and well trained Engineers for one which has obvious ‘shortcuts’ which reduce the level of professionalism within the sea going engineering community.
This lack of professionalism will equate directly to a reduction in the safety of all personnel at sea and a heightened risk to the enviroment and the wider Australian community.
This new structure will assist some people to gain their STCW engineering qualifications that would otherwise have been denied them due to the fact that they lack the skill, intelligence, fortitude and determination to succeed in the current qualification regime.
The fact that these people also lack the skill, intelligence, fortitude and determination to be a good Marine Engineer and may fail with disasterous consequences for their shipmates, the environment and the Australian community seems to have been completely ignored.
The question must be asked as to why the bar is being lowered? Why are standards being relaxed?
Why is the advice of the professional body that represents the Marine Engineers of this country being actively ignored on this matter?
The draft amended MO3 as it stands will drastically reduce the level of capability of the next generation of Australian sea going officers. This is clear from the lowering of the standard required to qualify for officer certification.
A reduction in the professional ability and standards of the Australian Merchant Navy Officer corps can only lead to hightened risk to all seafarers who sail with these officers and a hightened risk to the environment and the innocent Australian public....”
The submission from Michael Thomson included:-
“
....The changes to the Engineering section have made some progression towards a creating an easier pathway for myself to progress from Engineer Class 3. Although more needs to be done. It still stumbles heavily on trade recognition or previous experience as Class 3 or MED1.
To prove my point I will use my own personal case. I am an Engineer Class 3 (STCW) with 9 years experience at sea as a Chief Engineer. In this time I have been
On Watch March 2012 page 7
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