About AAPMA

Port of Launceston

The Association of Australian Ports & Marine Authorities Inc. (AAPMA) is the peak body representing the interests of ports and marine authorities in Australia. It has been in existence in one form or another since around 1910 and was incorporated under the New South Wales Associations Incorporation Act (1984) in 1989. In recent years, the direction and management have been fully reviewed culminating in a new mission statement, objectives and set of priority areas which guide the work programme of the Association. The priority areas are constantly reviewed to ensure that AAPMA best meets the needs of all members.
The mission of AAPMA is to provide leadership and support in areas of common interest related to ports, their interfaces and the achievement of their trade facilitation objectives.
AAPMA’s objectives are:-

• to represent and promote the common interests and views of Australia’s ports and marine authorities at a national and international level;
• to provide advice to, and seek to influence, Governments in all matters that affect ports and marine regulations;
• to promote public awareness, understanding and support for ports’ contribution to national, state and regional economic and social development and their focal role in the integrated transport chain;
• to provide a forum for;
• the creation, exchange and evaluation of views on strategic issues relevant to the efficient development, management and use of Australia’s ports and maritime facilities; and,
• sharing information and expertise to encourage the development of efficient practices and techniques for the general management of ports as well as nationally consistent technical policies, practices and regulatory environments;
• to act both proactively and reactively to meet members’ needs in all areas that can affect members’ activities and responsibilities; and, such other objectives as the Association may from time to time determine.

Organisation

The Association is governed by rules which were substantially reviewed in 1999. These rules provide for membership, Council, Executive Committee, general meetings, etc. The Association has a Council comprising all full subscription paying members. This Council elects a President and an Executive Committee which have the power under the rules of the Association to make decisions on the day-to-day management issues.

The current President is President Greg Martin (Sydney) and Vice-Presidents Kerry Sanderson (Fremantle) and Jeff Coleman (Brisbane). The other Executive Committee members are Robert Barnes, (TasPorts), Colin Stewart (Esperance), Leo Zussino (Gladstone), Stephen Bradford (Melbourne), Vincent Tremaine (Flinders Ports) and Gary Webb (Newcastle). The Association aims to have a broad representation of the interests of its members on the Executive Committee. The next election for office bearers will be held in October 2008.

Membership

All Government owned ports, some privatised ports and most state marine regulatory authorities are members of the Association, as is the Department of Defence through the Royal Australian Navy.

Subscriptions

Subscriptions are set annually. The basis for calculating subscriptions has recently been reviewed so as to make the subscriptions reflect the size, etc. of our members rather than simply being calculated on an equal State basis as in the past. This change makes the basis for the subscriptions more acceptable to privatised ports to both continue their membership or to join the Association.

At the present time the Association is financially strong.

Work Undertaken

The Association works closely with other peak maritime bodies, other industry associations and Federal Government agencies. It does not take up state issues in a direct manner, but looks at all issues from a national viewpoint. In many cases, local issues do become national issues through consultation for example, by State Treasuries, Environmental Agencies, etc.

The Association attempts to be pro-active in its consideration of issues rather than reactive to the extent that it can. To this end we are actively involved in many committees (both government & industry) which are considering initiatives/issues that affect ports. As examples, our pro-active approach to several environmental matters has enabled us to not only influence agendas, but strengthen our ability to protect our position against unwarranted government impositions - both federally (at a direct level) and internationally from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO); we work closely with the Australian Logistics Council, National Transport Commission and Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) in order to achieve a greater acceptance of, and support for integrated freight transport planning, harmonisation of regulations, as well as a better recognition of the role and importance of ports.

AAPMA works closely with AMSA on all relevant matters affecting Australia’s role in IMO.
In addition the Association works closely with working groups of the International Association of Ports & Harbours (IAPH) and through our members with the International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) both of which are advisers on port issues to the IMO. Our linkage to IMO (as well as our relationship with AMSA) allows us to influence the direction of international approaches to port and marine regulatory issues that may ultimately become policy issues in Australia.

The Association works principally through its members. There are a number of working groups:-

• Port Operations and Technology Group (which includes OH&S and Hydrographic/Marine Surveyors sub groups).
• Accounting & Finance Group, (which includes an IT sub groups).
• Engineers Group.
• IR/HR Group.
• Environment Group (which includes a Sustainability sub group).
• Port Security Group.

All Groups have a wide representation from all states. These Groups exchange information and discuss issues that need to be investigated by the Association and its members and, in many cases, small specialist adhoc working groups are formed to develop a common view or approach to be taken on particular issues.

Commercial / IR/HR

• Longer term land transport and modal interface issues including urbanisation and port land and supply chain planning issues
• Economic impact of ports
• National tax equivalence regime
• Corporate governance – CLERPs 7 & 9.
• Comparison of corporatisation/commercialisation models and price regulation models
• Asset valuation procedures
• Identification of tax issues relating to ports
• Accounting standards, including the new International Accounting Standards
• Asset management issues
• Insurance and risk management
• Information technology requirements
• Capital structures - borrowing arrangements, capital investment funding
• Dividend policies
• Benchmarking of commercial activities
• Electronic commerce developments in manifest and dangerous goods reporting
• Issues in reporting to governments
• Australian competition policy issues
• National industrial relations issues - monitoring the Work Choices legislation and its effect on ports; port industrial relations matters
• Human resources issues – effects of an aging workforce, alcohol and drugs in the work place, performance pay, employer of choice

Pilot boarding ship: Port Kembla

Environmental

• Promoting ports environmental credentials
• Ocean Disposal Guidelines
• National Oceans Policy – Regional Marine Planning
• Marine pest incursion management
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Waste reception facilities in ports
• Marine Protected Areas
• International environmental issues especially from IMO member initiatives
• Sustainability - TBL reporting, developing specific port KPI’s, development of policies, strategies and guiding principles

Technical/Operational

• Maritime security
• New approaches to harbour pilot training
• National oil spill and chemical response plans
• International and domestic port operational and regulatory issues & practices
• Mooring lines & equipment safety issues
• Places of refuge, salvage and emergency towage issues
• Standards & guidelines for pilots, pilot boats, etc
• Ongoing technical issues resulting from Australia’s membership of the International Maritime Organisation; and advice to IAPH, IHMA on these matters
• Pilotage of RAN and foreign naval vessels
• Naval access arrangements to ports

The Association also runs seminars, conferences and working groups on a range of specific issues from time to time. For example, workshops have been held on Y2K issues (in conjunction with AMSA) with the maritime community, with Environment agencies etc. on environment policy initiatives and port environmental management plans, a public forum on Ballast Water issues, workshops on dredging and dredged spoil issues, and with AMSA on safe havens and salvage issues, etc.

Council Meetings

Two meetings of the Council of the Association are held each year to which all members are invited. The aim of these meetings is to brief members on current and future issues, provide a forum for discussion and to visit regional and capital city ports to see new developments.

Biennial Conference

The Association holds a biennial conference to which maritime interests are invited to discuss a range of topical issues. The aim of the conference is to have a series of papers and discussions that are relevant to current issues and provide an opportunity for substantial networking within the industry as well as provide the opportunity for members (and non-members) to meet, hold the Annual General Meeting and election of office bearers. The next Biennial Conference will be held in Brisbane in October 2008.

Value of Membership

Membership of AAPMA gives access to all information on, and participation in, discussions on a wide range of maritime issues of common interest and the ability to influence agendas and contribute to ensuring that members’ interests are protected. We strongly believe that a co-ordinated and considered approach to common issues in the areas that Association members represent leads to more efficient and acceptable outcomes rather than piecemeal approaches. AAPMA is now well recognised as an effective and responsible contributor to debates on national issues both at the federal level in Australia and also at the international level through our active participation in IAPH.

AAPMA
March 2007

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