Bulletin - Vol 9 No. 1 January/February 2006

Looking after our lights

by Liliana Molina, The Courier Mail : edited by Steve Merson, Chief Editor LoA Inc
Published 23 January 2006

Australian Maritime Systems Managing Director, John Sugarman Photo: Peter Bull

Brisbane company Australian Maritime Systems (AMS) has won a second major contract with the Federal Government (Australian Maritime Safety Authority : AMSA) to continue providing equipment and services to maintain lighthouses and radars.

Major new maintenance contracts were won with the NSW Maritime Authority (the former Waterways Authority) for all their state-wide marine aids to navigation, as well as the Fremantle Port Authority in WA. The contract with Marine and Safety Tasmania was renewed for a further term, while audit and rehabilitation works for Marine Safety Victoria will also be supplied by AMS.

AMS is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of over 5000 marine aids to navigation. So, while lighthouses may seem a navigation tool of the past, visible warnings are still required and relied upon by mariners.

Managing director John Sugarman said part of the $137 million contract with AMSA was to also provide a dedicated towage vessel to respond to shipping emergencies along the Inner Route between Cairns and Torres Strait. With pollution control equipment, the vessel will be deployed to provide protection for the Great Barrier Reef in the event of oil spills, and to assist ships with propulsion or steerage problems.

Sources:
The Courier Mail - http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17902198%5E3122,00.html
The AMS website newsletter - http://ams.e-newsletter.com.au

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