Greetings
An eclectic mix of maritime matters have emerged over the holiday period. 2023 promises to be a fascinating year in the maritime sector.
Contents:
(Click on the headings below for specific items, or scroll down for the full Update)
1. Australia’s Strategic Fleet Taskforce
2. MV Blythe Star Tragedy – 50th Anniversary
3. Port of Geelong
4. Wind-Assisted Cargo Research
5. Queenscliff – Port PPP New Ferry Terminal
6. Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
7. Memorials and Commemorations
8. World’s Deepest Subsea Tunnel Opens in Norway
9. Williamstown
10. Sydney Fish Market Redevelopment
11. Cruise Terminal
12. Elections Really Matter
13. TROVE – a major resource under threat
14. Rare Earth Mining on the Ocean Floor
15. Sub Hub?
16. Australian Mariners’ Welfare Society (AMWS)
17. Heritage Fleet Funding – HMAS Vampire Restoration Investment
18. Change of Watch – Sail & Adventure Ltd/Alma Doepel
19. Maritime Art Mystery
20. A ferry trip from Melbourne to Williamstown
1. Australia’s Strategic Fleet Taskforce
MMHN is pleased to note the new federal government has honoured its election promise in launching the ASF Taskforce in October 2021 by Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King who stated that Australia’s Maritime Strategic Fleet will strengthen our economic sovereignty and improve national security. Chaired by John Mullen, the Taskforce is to report by the end of 2023. Given Mr Mullen’s impressive experience in the maritime sector and with representation from the shipping industry, major charterers, unions, business representatives and the Department of Defence, this augurs well. The latest issue of The Log, the excellent journal of the Nautical Association, the work ahead is to guide the establishment of Australia’s fleet as quickly as possible and provide advice on what legislative and regulatory reforms are necessary to support Australian shipping.
See https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/strategic-fleet-taskforce-launched See also https://www.nautical-association.org/the-log
2. MV Blythe Star Tragedy – 50th Anniversary
MMHN has been contacted by Susan McKenna, daughter of the Chief Officer aboard the coastal vessel Blythe Star, Ken Jones, (who died 22/10/73) and Mick Doleman, an Australian seafarer and trade union official with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) who is the sole remaining survivor of the tragedy. The coastal trader Blythe Star suddenly capsized in October 1973 and sank off South West Cape, Tasmania; three lives were lost. This sinking triggered the largest maritime search operation conducted in Australia at that time. No sign of the vessel was ever found. The crew of 10 took to a small inflatable life raft and after 11 days the survivors were found ashore in rugged terrain near Deep Glen Bay on Tasmania’s south east coast.As Susan reports, the incident was of lasting significance: The Marine Inquiry into the Blythe Star loss really quite pivotal re instituting changes which greatly improved seafarers’ safety in Australian waters. Although the Marine Operations Centre was already in operation in 1973, the Blythe Star Marine Inquiry recommendations pulled everything together. Marine operations became coordinated Australia-wide and led to the establishment of AMSA, and adoption of the AUSREP maritime position reporting system was introduced to the Australian Navigation Act. A ceremony to mark the 50th Anniversary by unveiling a commemorative plaque is being planned in 2023 on the Hobart foreshore near the Tasmanian Maritime Museum to complement the permanent Blythe Star exhibit there. Further details on dates will be available in due course.
3. Port of Geelong
Victoria’s second-largest port, GeelongPort Pty Ltd, is now owned jointly by US infrastructure giant Stonespeak (70%) and Australian industry super fund Spirit Super (30%). Journalist Billie Elder reported (The Age, 21 November 2022) the sale for $1.1 billion. This is the first Australian investment for Stonepeak, which has US$52 billion ($78 billion) in assets under management and focuses on transport and logistics. As Victoria’s premier bulk port and a major driver of Victoria’s economy, GeelongPort facilitates more than $7 billion of trade annually.
See https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/geelongport-sold-to-consortium-in-1-1-billion-deal-20221121-p5bzxu.html See also https://geelongport.com.au/about/
4. Wind-Assisted Cargo Research
From time to time, MMHN has shared research news from maritime academic Christiaan De Beukelaer aboard the century-old schooner Avontuur, carrying cargo across the Atlantic Ocean to investigate sail-assisted cargo. The voyage became an odyssey: 14,000 nautical miles from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Hamburg, via Guadeloupe, Honduras, Belize, Mexico, and the Azores. Christiaan has written a book Trade Winds: A Voyage to a Sustainable Future for Shipping, a travel story which builds on years of research into environmental pollution caused by the shipping industry – and most importantly what we can do about it. Christiaan extends an invitation to all to the launch of Trade Winds, to be held at Readings, State Library Victoria branch, on 9 February at 6pm.See https://www.readings.com.au/events/book-launch-trade-winds
5. Queenscliff – Port PPP New Ferry Terminal
Journalist Clay Lucas reports (The Age, 13 January 2023) that private company Queenscliff Harbour Pty Ltd was granted state government funding to redevelop the local harbour at Queenscliff. The revamped facility cost $20 million – $4.7 million public funds. They signed a 49-year lease with the Bracks’ Government in 2004 and a decade later, the Napthine Government extended that lease until 2074. In 2018, the Andrews Government put a further $2.3 million into restoring a wharf that is part of the facility. The lease of this maritime infrastructure asset is now up for sale, possibly at $30 million. Searoad Ferries own 27% of this maritime asset and another businessman owns the remaining 23% in private hands.
Queenscliff locals opposing the change express concern that the proposed sale is evidence that the public-private partnership (PPP) devised almost 20 years ago was a terrible idea: It’s moved from a working man’s harbour to a wealthy man’s marina … Most town residents had wanted to keep a working fishing fleet in operation from Queenscliff harbour, and the many old couta boats that once moored there. The old-time heritage charm of the harbour dissipated from our eyes because eventually old traditional users were priced out of the of the harbour and will never to return. Parks Victoria, the responsible authority for these harbour leases, reports that it has not been formally approached about the sale of the lease which cannot occur without PV consent. Other tenants involved are three separate pilot companies and Victoria Police’s water police.
Image: Searoad Ferry Terminal
6. Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
You will have noticed that the spelling of the Queensliffe Maritime Museum differs from the name Queenscliff town. Why? The museum was established to preserve and display the last lifeboat, the Queenscliffe, which served for 50 years until retired from service in 1976. The restored Queenscliffe now forms the core of the museum display, surrounded by rare artefacts and objects illustrating the lifeboat service since the 1850s.The Museum is a member of the Maritime Museums of Victoria (MMV). Note that OSSA is collaborating with this excellent volunteer-run museum over summer, mounting a Specialist Ships Exhibition at the QMM until early February.
See info@maritimequeenscliffe.org.au
7. Memorials and Commemorations
Many of us are grappling with the modern ‘monumental’ complexities – social and historical and often political. There has been much discussion in recent years on what our society considers to be ‘appropriate’ matters, people or events to commemorate. The Federation of Australian Historical Societies journal (December 2022 issue) looks at changes in memorialisation, attitudes and responses to our past, examining and discussing what, if any, actions may be or should be taken. So here are three examples for your consideration:
- Where do you ‘stand’ on the commemoration of 100 years of shipwrecks – in the form of a staircase? The Steps commemorate those who sailed on ships which made the dangerous voyage from Cape Jaffa (a headland on the south east coast South Australia located at the south end of Lacepede Bay to Port Macdonnell (originally known as Ngaranga), the southernmost town in South Australia. It was a hazardous route for many vessels between 1800 and 1900. The Steps have plaques which list the ships that were wrecked.
Image : Robe, South Australia.
- What do you think about the grandiose Padrao dos Descobrimentos heroic monument commemorating Portugal’s maritime ‘discoveries’ of lands which were obviously not lost? Located on the northern bank of the Tagus river estuary in Lisbon where ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient, the monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery (or ‘Age of Exploration’) during the 15th and 16th centuries. The monument was conceived in 1939 by Portuguese architect José Ângelo Cottinelli Telmo, and sculptor Leopoldo de Almeida, as a temporary beacon during the Portuguese World Exhibition opening in June 1940. This monument to the Discoveries represents a romanticised idealisation of Portuguese exploration. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padrão_dos_Descobrimentos
- What are your views on the Australian Maritime Museum, National Monument to Migration? A somewhat problematic national memorialisation of migration – requiring a $500 tax deductable self-funded plaque promotion opportunity for migrant families. The next commemoration ‘ceremony’ will be held in May. The Melbourne Immigration Museum, which, having dismantled its major immigration exhibit, is now in effect a Multicultural Museum, had a project The Tribute Garden (1998-2002) designed by Gina Batsakis which no longer operates. The Immigration Museum of Victoria website now directs those interested in migration to Sydney.See https://www.sea.museum/nationalmonument and
https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/whats-on/tribute-garden/This is obviously not appropriate at all for the immense number of migrants who arrived at Station Pier – which is why MMHN advocates for a genuine Immigration Museum on the vast cavernous sheds on Station Pier.
Image: James Greer for Museum Victoria
A REQUEST: If you have encountered images of images of interesting or unusual maritime memorials, monument etc, MMHN would be delighted to receive them. Or if you have a view about the MMV approach to commemorating migration, email info@mmhn.org.au
8. World’s Deepest Subsea Tunnel Opens in Norway
A reminder that MMHN staunchly advocates for a radical re-think on the Port of Melbourne’s plan to construct an ‘at grade’ railway bridge parallel to the Bolte Bridge which will irrefutably adversely impact Docklands ferries and recreational boating. The plan is simply nonsensical when innovative undersea design solutions are found all over the world. MMHN fully acknowledges the Port of Melbourne’s difficulties in getting freight off the roads and on to rail – but not at the expense of waterways amenity – and especially when there are design solutions. Obviously, the short-term economic gain in building the cheapest rail infrastructure is false economy. In effect, it is trashing one public asset to enhance the performance of another. There are examples of innovative design solutions all over the world.For example Boknafjord Tunnel – part of the Rogfast project will become the longest and deepest subsea tunnel (26.7km long & 392m deep). Work commenced in 2014 with opening scheduled for 2027. Norwegian road infrastructure operator Statens Vegvegsen has officially opened the world’s deepest subsea tunnel, the Ryfylke tunnel near Stavanger.
9. Williamstown
January 2023 Action at last?
- Williamstown Local Port Area Plan
Parks Victoria (PV) report that: Procurement is underway to award the contract to develop the draft Williamstown Local Port Area Plan and that once the contract is awarded, the development of the draft plan will get underway throughout the first half of 2023. This project is funded through the Department of Transport. Parks Victoria is the Committee of Management for a large portion of Hobsons Bay at Williamstown including the foreshore area which is home to many boat and yacht clubs, and marine repair businesses. PV is the Local Port Manager for Port Philip and the ‘landlord’ for Seaworks, yacht clubs and local businesses. The site promotes Victoria’s maritime history in Williamstown, is a working port, and Melbourne’s key mooring site for visiting local and international tall ships and other historic vessels. - Williamstown Piers
Parks Victoria invited MMHN Board members to participate in a consultation meeting on 18 January regarding the five piers/jetties in Williamstown. Note: the Seaworks PV Lease actually includes Workshops Pier, Commissioner’s Jetty and Boyd Street Pier.See https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/projects/melbourne-region/williamstown-local-port-area-plan
Image: Parks Victoria website
10. Sydney Fish Market Redevelopment
Stark parallels can be drawn between the way in which waterside assets are valued and celebrated in Sydney, and the lack of regard for such public assets in Melbourne. In June 2020, the NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces approved the relocation of the Sydney Fish Market to the head of the bay. The new Fish Market Precinct is to open in 2024 and will attract global attention with visitation expected to double to over 6 million people annually.
Maritime heritage enthusiasts in Victoria are justified in feeling a tad frustrated and certainly envious of such investment. The NSW Premier claimed the intention of the Sydney Fish Market Redevelopment was to unlock yet another section of under-utilised harbour foreshore. Compare this ambition with the still unresolved planning debacle of heritage-listed Central Pier amidst the languishing Docklands Precinct.
The original Sydney Fish Market was established in 1871 at Woolloomooloo, the-then mooring site of the local Sydney fishing fleet. Melbourne’s magnificent CBD Fish Market (1890) on Flinders Street near the Yarra is long gone – demolished in 1959 to enable the construction of the Kings Street Bridge. A lack of vision is also evident in relation to Melbourne’s Heritage-listed Central Pier, the heart of world-renowned Victoria Harbour which was once the ‘engine’ enabling Victoria’s economic prosperity. The threat of further degradation exists, with Port of Melbourne plans for a rail bridge which would totally close off the harbour.
Waterways are recognised as economic assets world-wide. Savvy planning captures and optimises inherent economic value. For example, the planned Sydney Precinct will not only be an iconic new building, a drawcard for tourists and locals alike, but it will free-up circa 10.4ha of harbourside land, 100,000 sqm of commercial space, 5600 new jobs, accommodation for 2400 people, 3ha of interconnected public spaces, a new waterside park, ferry wharf, cafés, restaurants and retail spaces.
See https://blackwattlebay.insw.com/insw/blackwattle-bay
Image: NSW Government website
The MMHN proposal submitted to Development Victoria in 2022 will similarly capture and optimise the inherent economic value of our unique waterfront site. MMHN proposes that the soon-to-be demolished Central Pier be replaced by a Maritime Experience Centre (MEC), Maritime Garden and Promenade on a floating pier. Development Victoria and the Victorian State Government have yet to grasp this opportunity.
Image: The old Fish Market on the corner of King and Finders Streets, City of Melbourne.
11. Cruise Terminal
As the pandemic threat recedes, in our consciousness if not in reality, the economic opportunity of a resurgent cruise industry presents itself. The pre-pandemic economic data (2018-19) drawn from Cruise Lines Association (Australia) is instructive: At the start or end of a cruise, international visitors spent the most per day on shore, averaging $569 each, compared to domestic travellers who spent $436 per day. In a transit port, international visitors each spent an average of $211 per day on shore, while domestic travellers spent $174 per day; Cruise ship crew members each spent an average of $173 per day while in port, making a combined expenditure of $35 million in 2018-19; Cruise lines contributed direct expenditure of almost $1.1 billion – an increase of 4.6% on the previous year – on items including fuel, food and beverage supplies, port charges and fees, and administration. Note NSW received the greatest share of direct expenditure from the cruise industry, receiving $1.55 billion including $1.54 billion in the key gateway port of Sydney. Among other states, Queensland received direct expenditure of $490 million, followed by Victoria ($168 million), Western Australia ($109 million), South Australia ($67 million), Tasmania ($49 million) and the Northern Territory ($31 million).
See https://www.cruising.org.au/ccms_r?PageID=10267&tenid=CLIA
As Patrick Lawnham reported (The Australian, September 2021), It was the year of living without cruise ships for Australia’s ports, but time was not wasted in 2020-21 in anticipation of the laid-up liners’ return, even as the whole cruising industry, including port services, forcibly forwent several billion dollars in income. Port of Brisbane completed its $177m new International Cruise Terminal, Port Authority of NSW upgraded its Overseas Passenger Terminal at Sydney’s Circular Quay.
However, Victoria, unlike all other States in Australia, failed to take advantage of the pandemic induced hiatus in the cruise industry to invest in up-grading Station Pier – heritage-listed and the most shabby cruise facility in Australia.
MMHN notes that the Department of Transport Commercial Ports Strategy released in 2022 provides some indication that there may be a change in approach in relation to Station Pier, hinting at optimising the economic value of the cruise industry. It refers to an undertaking to prepare a business case for government consideration to support the future of cruise shipping in the Station Pier precinct and with Ports Victoria develop further advice on the best way to retain cruise shipping (p.36). It is important to note: within a 2 year timeframe.
See https://transport.vic.gov.au/ports-and-freight/victorian-commercial-ports-strategy
12. Elections Really Matter
Maritime Heritage enthusiasts – actually all heritage enthusiasts – around Australian are no doubt glad that the frenzy of both the Federal and State elections are now behind us. However, heritage advocacy efforts remain a top priority. The Federation of Australian Historical Societies (FAHS) reports that Funding for arts and cultural organisations in Australia is at an all-time low.
MMHN joins with the Australian Heritage Advocacy Alliance (AHAA) and the Federation of Australian Historical Societies (FAHS) in encouraging you to email your MPs voicing your concern that so much is being neglected and reminding them that funding the community history and heritage movement across Australia is at least as important as funding sporting clubs, carparks and swimming pools or the Grand Prix. MMHN recommends you download the flyer Historical Societies: Strengthening and Promoting Communities here.
The AHAA website lists numerous examples of national heritage assets Lost and Threatened. See https://ahaa.net.au/heritage-lost-threatened/
13. TROVE – a major resource under threat
Continuing this worrisome theme – MMHN draws your attention to alarming news of Trove, an invaluable digitised online heritage resource or service provided by the National Library of Australia (NLA). Trove has revolutionised heritage research – by both digitising newspapers and other material, and harvesting digitised content from the collections of other organisations, making them globally available. Trove is arguably the most significant collection of Australian stories and cultural heritage. Trove is a collaboration between the National Library of Australia and hundreds of partner organisations around Australia. Cut backs in NLA funding will result in a decline in heritage research capabilities across Australia.
14. Rare Earth Mining on the Ocean Floor
What’s down there, and why should we care? In 1974, sailing from Long Beach, California, a revolutionary ship funded by eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes set course for the Pacific to open a new frontier ‒ deep seabed mining. According to The Conversation the real target was a Soviet ballistic missile submarine that had sunk in 1968 with all hands and what was believed to be a treasure trove of Soviet state secrets and technology onboard. The expedition, called Project Azorian by the CIA, recovered at least part of the submarine – and it also brought up several manganese nodules from the seafloor.In recent years, of greater environmental sensitivity, tension around such resource extraction has certainly escalated. These fragile ecosystems deep in the oceans are little understood and the mining codes to sustainably mine these areas are undeveloped. Under a treaty governing the deep-sea floor, the international agency overseeing these areas could be forced to approve provisional mining there as soon as spring 2023, but several countries and companies are urging a delay until more research can be done. The Metals Company completed an exploratory project in the Pacific Ocean in 2022 finding scattered across vast areas of seafloor in parts of the Pacific and Indian oceans and deep abyssal plains in the Atlantic nodules. They are valuable because they are exceptionally rich in 37 metals, including nickel, cobalt and copper, which are essential for most large batteries and several renewable energy technologies. France and New Zealand have called for a ban on deep sea mining.
15. Sub Hub?
16. Australian Mariners’ Welfare Society (AMWS)
MMHN is delighted to make contact thus month with another significant maritime organisation in Australia ‒ the Australian Mariners’ Welfare Society (AMWS). The Society was formerly the Sydney Sailors’ Home (SSH) which commenced in 1863 and opened officially in1865 in the Rocks area of Port Jackson. In its first year 1100 + seafarers accessed services and accommodation. In the 1970s, the NSW Government compulsorily acquired this valuable property and SSH vacated in1979. A Supreme Court ruling in 1998 broadened the scope of the SSH charitable activities beyond providing accommodation and removed the restrictions on supporting projects outside NSW. Compensation for the site ultimately provided the sound financial basis for future AMWS services. In 2002 the SSH became the Australian Mariners’ Welfare Society (AMWS).
Chair David Parmeter details the diverse assistance currently provided by AMWS: Financial support to the Missions to Seafarers & Apostleship of the Sea (Stella Maris) at 39 centres around Australia, maritime scholarships, Tall Ship training experiences, accommodation for Australian ex-seafarers of modest means, donations to causes helping seafarers and their families in recognition of their contribution to society, representation on relevant councils and committees. AMWS is managed by a Council of volunteers with a paid secretary. A Scholarship Scheme was established in 1999 for young people planning a career at sea. In accordance with the Constitution of the AMWS, these scholarships are offered to students of Maritime Training institutions recognised by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Successful applicants must be children of ex-seafarers – Navy, Merchant Marine or Deep-Sea Fishermen of low or less than moderate financial means. Currently, the Scholarships are valued at $3000 each biannually and students can apply for support over more than one semester. Scholarships have been provided to students at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston and to students at TAFEs in WA, NSW and QLD. Financial support is also provided to young people aged 15 to 19 to undertake voyages on Sail Training vessels – Young Endeavour Sydney, One & All in Port Adelaide, Windeward Bound in Hobart and the Leeuwin in Fremantle. AMWS also provides support for the international Maritime Humanitarian Response assisting victims of piracy and their families.
AMWS recognises the dire impact of the pandemic on the lives of seafarers. Stringent limitations on international travel resulted in difficulties with crew changes resulting in excessive periods at sea away from families, or reaching vessels to earn a living. David Parmeter writes: While this is a global problem, the crisis has been compounded in Australia by different states imposing their own rules and restrictions on shore leave for crews and access to vessels means the vital work of the seafarer welfare organisations is difficult. AMWS is a member of the Australian Seafarers’ Welfare Committee ensuring compliance with the 2006 International Labour Convention. While AMWS is proud of its history, the focus on supporting the young and meeting the challenges facing seafarers of future. Operations and structures of the AMWS will change as necessary.
For further detail see the AMWS website www.marinerswelfare.com
17. Heritage Fleet Funding – HMAS Vampire Restoration Investment
While MMHN obviously applauds investment in our national maritime heritage, we note with concern the demoralising struggle to source funding for maintenance, such as that experienced by those valiantly striving to save our heritage fleet (eg, Alma Doepel, Wattle, Castemaine, Wyuna). We observe that the process by which funding decisions are made is unclear to many maritime stakeholders.
HMAS Vampire was built on Sydney’s Cockatoo Island in the 1950s, with its keel laid in 1952. The ship was one of three Daring class destroyer ships built in Australia. A decommissioned warship usually on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum, it has been moved through Sydney Harbour to Garden Island for $3 million conservation work funded by RAN. The HMAS Vampire was moved by three tugboats from Darling Harbour as the ship has no functioning engine.
18. Change of Watch – Sail & Adventure Ltd/Alma Doepel
Long-time Chairman, Alan Edenborough, having led this project for the past 15 years is retiring but we are pleased to note that, as Alan reassures us: I am not walking away and will continue to take a very keen interest in the project and help out on an ad hoc basis where I can. Peter Harris, Alma’s Restoration Director, recruited Alan to the project in 2008 when the ship was on static display alongside the town wharf at Port Macquarie, NSW. Alan worked with Peter to restructure the Board of Sail & Adventure and to develop the plan for Alma Doepel’s 700nm return voyage to Melbourne. Alan acknowledged the many hands and immense energy necessary to reach this point of the restoration.
Matt McDonald was unanimously elected by the S&A Board as the new Chair. Matt has been a member of the S&A Board since 2012. His association with the Alma Doepel commenced as a Youth Sail Trainee in the 1990s which led to his diverse maritime career including as a Ship’s Master and now the CEO of Searoad Ferries. Matt has been instrumental in the work to transition the organisation to the ‘Waypoint Foundation’ and is passionate about what the ship can do for the next generation of young people.
19. Maritime Art Mystery
20. A ferry trip from Melbourne to Williamstown
And before we go, MMHN thoroughly recommends Jon Faine’s article, Yarra ferry trip tells a tale of Melbourne’s development, some grand, some awful (The Age, 22 January 2023). As Jon writes, The sooner we embrace the tourism potential of historic vessels the better, from this nostalgia-stricken customer’s point of view. Wherever you travel around the world, the story-telling power of vintage machinery – horse and carriage, trains, trams, ferries – makes for a compelling premium-tourism option. And on development: Compared to Docklands, the river development celebrates its available space rather than being exploited to cram in as much as possible.
Jon’s analysis of the dereliction to build the Melbourne Museum where Jeffs Shed now stands is compelling reading and points to the need to have an iconic building in Docklands, such as MMHN’s proposed Maritime Experience Centre.
Until next time, do keep well.
Jackie
Chair,
Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network
0400 305 323 or email info@mmhn.org.au