Hello Maritime Enthusiasts
Greetings – With the federal election so recently behind us we can but speculate at the moment on changes in the maritime heritage, marine environment maritime industry and defence investment and naval engagement etc. etc – onwards and upwards.
First – the MMHN Board is sad to accept the resignation of Jeff Malley due to ongoing family commitments. Jeff’s contribution to MMHN during our establishment phase and leading the Skills Advisory Group has been immense. Jeff assures us that he remains staunchly committed to the MMHN and will continue to work with us in an advisory capacity. Thank you, Jeff and our very best good wishes for the future.
Contents:
(Click on the headings below for specific items, or scroll down for the full Update)
1. Australian Flag Shipping – all bodes well
2. World Ocean Day, 8 June
3. Mission to Seafarers News
4. Australian Maritime Museum (Sydney)
5. Melbourne Maritime Experience Centre
6. MMHN Yarra Northbank Maritime Heritage Trail / Greenline
7. Merchant Seafarers – Red Ensign Campaign
8. Maritime Industry of Australia (MIAL)
9. Company of Master Mariners (CMM)
10. OSSA and the Spirit of Tasmania
11. Queenscliff Maritime Museum
12. Port of Geelong
13. MV Steve Irwin – sad news for Melbourne
14. Bridges really matter
15. Wreck News – Better late than never ‒ SS Wollongbar II
16. Waterways rubbish – and ever more rubbish
17. Dredging the waterways project
18. MMHN Museum of the Month
19. Growing Naval Presence
20. Submarines always fascinating: Past present and future?
21. Submarine Institute of Australia
22. Blunts Boat Yard, Williamstown
23. Piers- Again and Again and Again
24. Australian Heritage Advocacy Post Election Report
1. Australian Flag Shipping – all bodes well
The OSSA election campaign to raise awareness among all candidates before the election elicited a heartening response from many candidates who were unaware of the urgent situation we face in this island nation. Also, there was pleasing bi-partisan and cross bench support too. The incoming Federal ALP Government clearly supports positive change as do the Nationals. At his National Press Club pre-election appearance, Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce made strong comments indicating an understanding and support for reform in Australian shipping policy.
2. World Ocean Day, 8 June
To consider the ocean without considering climate change is ludicrous. Ocean and climate are inextricably entwined. The ocean is the primary fundamental global connector – past present and future. It generates momentum – and will protect and restore our shared ocean and climate. MMHN applauds this global movement to celebrate and take action to support our shared blue planet, 8 June is World Ocean Day, the United Nations Day for celebrating the role of the oceans in our everyday life and inspiring action to protect the ocean and sustainably use marine resources.
The World Ocean Day concept was proposed by Canada in 1992. Community events are being held all around our coast and the world, even in land-locked countries. Click here.
3. Mission to Seafarers News
There are two new faces to welcome at the Mission to Seafarers:
- Former CEO of ANL Container Line, John Lines AM is the new Chair of the MtoS Board. John was awarded the Order of Australia for services to the Australian shipping industry, and the decoration of Chevalier de l’Odre du Merite Maritime from the French Government also for services to the shipping industry. John has served on various boards and working groups including Chair, Shipping Australia, and Chair of Australia, Asian Shipowners Forum. John is the Patron of the MtoS Victorian Art Prize and Exhibition and is an avid art collector. He established the significant collection of works held by ANL Container Line.
- Philip Cornish, former MtoS Board member and now interim CEO. Departing CEO Sue Dight managed the MtoS through seven years, some of these amid the pandemic and probably the most challenging ever at the MtoS. Obviously, the primary task of the MtoS continues. Philip reports a clear up-tick in seafarer visitation – from zero in recent years of lockdown to an average of 80 currently.
A reminder that the MtoS has much to offer land-based maritime enthusiasts e.g., for all creative arts maritime enthusiasts note that entries are now open for the 20th.Martime Art Prize and Exhibition (30 September-16 October). And for those with a musical bent, a reminder that the MtoS hosts Sea Shanties and Folk Songs every 2nd Thursday from 7 pm. Its free! For further information call: 9629 7083, Sadly still no news on the stolen weather vane.
4. Australian Maritime Museum (Sydney)
Another new face in the maritime heritage sector: Ms Daryl Karp has been appointed the new Director of the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) in Sydney and will take up her appointment in July. Daryl replaces Director and CEO Kevin Sumption, after ten difficult years. An excellent and inspirational account of Kevin’s work over the past decade may be found here.
5. Melbourne Maritime Experience Centre
What to share when there is no actual news but growing momentum? Each month MMHN reports on burgeoning maritime cultural tourism happening ALL over the world. Regrettably and impatiently, we report – not here, not yet! As you all know, a primary objective of MMHN is the establishment of a Maritime Experience Centre – a new form of high-tech cutting-edge museum to celebrate our maritime heritage and showcase our marine future. We encourage you to re-read the MMHN Objective here.
The bureaucratic path to achieving this outcome is politically labyrinthine and frustrating. But MMHN is stalwart (see next item). Maritime matters are never for the faint hearted. We invite you to share our frustration reading about what we envisage for the people of Melbourne now being installed elsewhere: The World Ocean Observatory (W2O) has launched the new World Ocean Explorer DEEP SEA exhibit, a first-of-its-kind immersive virtual aquarium. Funded by Schmidt Ocean Institute, DEEP SEA showcases the encounters and discoveries during Schmidt’s many deep-sea expeditions, most specifically their Australia Campaign in 2020. See more here.
All MMHN can say is – stay tuned and be reminded that a State Election looms.
6. MMHN Yarra Northbank Maritime Heritage Trail / Greenline
MMHN can report recent positive progress with this key MMHN objective – some would say success! On 16 April, the City of Melbourne announced an extension of Greenline (i.e., the redevelopment of the north bank of the Yarra (Birrarung) River) to Victoria Harbour. This is a project that MMHN has been fiercely lobbing for and helps achieve our ‘Birrarung to the Blue Lake’ walk. We congratulate the CoM for this initiative. Click here.
The May budget covers a $40 million investment for delivering floating wetlands with 600 metres at Birrarung Marr’s water’s edge. The entire Greenline project would appear to have an estimated cost of $300 million with the Council seeking one third each from the state and federal governments. It seems the newly elected Labor government has offered $20 million to kickstart the process.
MMHN strongly believes that the river and Victoria Harbour frontages form a great heritage and economic asset for the city. We will share our historical research on the Greenline project with the City of Melbourne to ensure that heritage is and respected recorded. Accurately. While MMHN is very pleased to note CoM plans we’ll be watching progress and implementation very closely.
Given the CoM timeframe for Greenline completion is lengthy, MMHN will continue to advocate to ensure that our maritime heritage is recognised. Where the Yarra north bank pathway at the Jim Stynes Bridge meets Docklands, MMHN proposes that CoM install informational and directional signage to direct people over to Harbour Esplanade, continuing on to encircle the heritage-listed Victoria Harbour all the way to the Ron Barassi Snr Park at the Bolte Bridge. MMHN is committed to providing accurate historical information for all CoM waterways signage on designated viewpoints along the entire Yarra and the Harbour. MMHN is grateful to the English-Speaking Union for funding support to develop this authoritative material.
7. Merchant Seafarers – Red Ensign Campaign
The OSSA campaign to ensure that the red ensign flies on Merchant Navy Day continues. Although OSSA endeavours to enlist support from the Minister for Ports, Melissa Horne, and Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll, on-going progress continue to be difficult. In contrast, a recent MMHN meeting with Justin Hanney, CEO of the City of Melbourne, was very encouraging. MMHN gained his 100% support to fly the Red Ensign at Town Hall on 3 September. Thank you, Justin!
8. Maritime Industry of Australia (MIAL)
A reminder that MIAL is Australia’s national shipping industry peak body. One major role of MIAL is advocacy: holding both sides of parliament to account, influencing decision makers, keeping our industry honest and enabling our nation to trade and bring in critical supplies. MIAL has collaborated closely with OSSA advocating the need for maritime industry reform at federal government level.
MIAL recently hosted a critical event on Decarbonisation of the Australian Maritime Industry: Australia’s maritime industry carries 95%+ of our freight task and is made up of a diverse suite of vessels and operators. All are major contributors to the national economy, facilitators of domestic and international transport, trade, and tourism, and are critical to our engagement in the global economy. For Australia to meet its ‘Net Zero by 2050’ goal, there is an urgent need to accelerate the necessary work to transition our maritime industry to low and zero-carbon fuels, in line with other important industries and contributors to the Australian economy. For more information click here.
MIAL has new face: Angela Gillham has been appointed CEO of Maritime Industry Australia Limited. Teresa Lloyd is to join Carnival Cruises Lines in July. We wish them both well in their new roles and very much look forward to continuing to work with them both.
9. Company of Master Mariners (CMM)
CMM Reports that Virgin Voyages (Sir Richard Branson’s cruise line) will base one of its luxury ships, Resilient Lady (2770 passengers), in Melbourne. Melbourne will be its home port from late 2023 offering a mix of itineraries across Australia and New Zealand (CM,The Log, May 2022). The vessel will embark on a 44-night trans-continental voyage, sailing from Athens to Sydney, before docking at Station Pier in Port Melbourne. Moving back from the future now: MMHN recommends that you look at the CMM website which provides a wealth of fascinating historical information on shipping, click here.
10. OSSA and the Spirit of Tasmania
MMHN highly recommends that you take the OSSA Virtual Tour of the vessel ‘live’ on the OSSA website. The OSSA VR Tour received an ‘Honorary Mention’ in the recent AMaGA Awards event. Well done all concerned. Click here.
In spring 2022, the Spirit of Tasmania will say far,ewell to Station Pier, Port Melbourne and commence operation from Corio Quay Geelong, which will be re-named Spirit of Tasmania Quay, at a $145 million purpose-designed terminal. See more here.
11. Queenscliff Maritime Museum
OSSA is presenting a new Pop-Up exhibition at the QMM – on June 14 and July 16.
See magnificent models, paintings, memorabilia and digital media. Members of OSSA will be present most days to guide you through.
12. Port of Geelong
Given the critical importance of ports around our island nation, port ownership up is likely to be contentious. Geelong Port is Victoria’s second largest port with 15 berths on two primary precincts – Corio Quay and Lascelles. Currently Port of Geelong Pis owned 50% by a consortium: Linx Cargo Care Pty Ltd and Infrastructure Investment Corporation (managed by Brookfield) and 50% by SAS Trustee Corporation. But there may be ownership changes afoot. In March 2022 an ACCC media release outlined preliminary competition concerns with the proposed acquisition of the Port of Geelong by the Spirit Super Palisade Consortium: The Spirit Super Palisade Consortium includes a range of superannuation and infrastructure funds including the Diversified Infrastructure Fund managed by Palisade Investment Partners. Investors managed by Palisade also wholly own and operate the Port of Portland, a bulk commodity port in south-west Victoria. The proposed acquisition will therefore lead to minority common ownership between the Port of Geelong and Port of Portland,
ACCC Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway said: There is concern that acquisition may substantially lessen competition in Victoria for the supply of port services for bulk cargo. For future large port users, there are very few bulk port options in Victoria. Between them, the Port of Geelong and Port of Portland handle over half of Victoria’s bulk cargo. This market structure is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. The ACCC’s final decision is scheduled for 9 June 2022. More information, including the statement of issues, is available on the public register: Spirit Super and Palisade Investment Partners Consortium – Port of Geelong, click here.
13. MV Steve Irwin – sad news for Melbourne
MMHN worked very hard indeed over many months to persuade relevant authorities that MV Steve Irwin is an immensely valuable maritime heritage asset for Victoria. Sadly, despite much persuasive evidence to the contrary (e.g., compliant ship surveys, three insurance policies, risk assessments including from AMSA, underwriters, surveyors etc.), the battle to convince risk-averse bureaucrats was lost. The tourism potential of the vessel was irrefutable – despite Covid constraints, visitation drew close to 10,000. The vessel was granted a single journey permit and successfully towed to Newcastle via Eden. In due course the plan is to re-locate again to Brisbane. It is a sad loss for maritime enthusiasts in Melbourne – and especially young folk who are aware and admire the ‘environmental warrior’ role of such ships in combating illegal fishing which is depleting our maritime fisheries so severely around the globe.
A reminder that MV Steve Irwin was the flagship of Sea Shepherd’s Fleet — Neptune’s Navy. In late 2018, after over 10 years defending, protecting and conserving our oceans and marine life, the ship was retired from direct action. This vessel was instrumental in stopping illegal whaling in Australian protected marine sanctuaries. It was also key to helping stop the drilling in the Australian Bight, awareness of the health and vulnerability of our Great Barrier Reef, marine debris campaign in The Kimberley, removing tons of discarded fishing nets and freeing illegally trapped tuna, to name a few.
14. Bridges really matter
MMHN has a keen interest in bridges. In many locations bridges are critical maritime infrastructure – enabling, connecting or in some cases thwarting! maritime engagement, certainly in Melbourne. For example, the poorly conceived yet dominant Bolte Bridge has effectively curtailed Melbourne’s maritime engagement for the Antarctic ships. It had also limited the access of tall ships to Victoria Harbour.
MMHN recommends a forthcoming Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV) event on Thursday 30 June at 5:30pm for 6pm when architectural historian, Professor Miles Lewis in partnership with Engineering Heritage Victoria, will present The Rise and Fall of Iron Bridges. $10 / $20 at RHSV Gallery Downstairs + ZOOM. A taste for you: The earliest cast iron bridges were simple arches. But in the next century wrought iron, and then steel, became important bridge-building materials. The arch bridge was joined by the suspension bridge, the box girder, the parallel-chorded girder, and even more elaborate forms. And bridges fabricated in Europe were sent across the world to places like Latin America, Japan, and India. Exported bridges faced special problems. These prefabricated bridges will be the main focus of the presentation.
15. Wreck News – Better late than never ‒ SS Wollongbar II
The ABC reports “A real homecoming: Mariners on torpedoed WWII ship remembered at wreck site almost 80 years later”. In 1943, the SS Wollongbar II was en route from Byron Bay to Sydney when it was sunk in a Japanese torpedo attack which killed 32 of the people on board. The ship sank within minutes and only five crew survived. Seventy-seven years later, archaeologists from Heritage NSW found the wreck in 2019, sitting in about 100 metres of water, off the coast of Crescent Head on the NSW Mid North Coast. The discovery came after a fisherman pulled up a piece of wreckage and reported the finding. The ship had been on a mission to find survivors from the MV Limerick when it was attacked.
16. Waterways rubbish – and ever more rubbish
Melbourne’s 19th century waterways, including Docklands, were regarded as efficient industrial waste disposal systems: Noxious trades lined the lower banks of the Yarra River and upstream … slaughterhouses, tallow works, tanneries, glue works, bone mills, fellmongers, wool washers and soap works. In the 1880s the Health Committee of the City of Melbourne toured the river, shocked by what they saw. Open vats of offal, piles of drying bones and the hair and flesh from tanned hides, lay discarded in the open air. Animal carcasses floated in the water. Foul, black waste from industry poured into the river. See more here.
Perhaps this mentality lingers today? Rubbish littering and polluting our waterways somehow seems to be even more offensive and irksome than rubbish littering our streets. Sadly, sizable collections of floating rubbish captured in Parks Victoria litter traps are simply left to sit, degenerating often in prime CBD sites, including alongside parkland at Southbank. If such a pile of rotting rubbish had accumulated at some land-based curb-side location, it would be cleared away pronto as a health hazard. Quite the opposite occurs with such accumulations our waterways.
Since 1996, Parks Victoria (PV) has been the authority responsible for floating litter in our waterways. PV manages 18 litter traps on the Lower Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers and nine traps within the city’s boundary. Certainly, the volume is immense: Litter in the Yarra is an ongoing issue with up to three billion pieces of litter (approximately 2000 to 3000 tonnes) washes into Melbourne’s waterways through stormwater drains every year. All litter traps are cleaned via a barge system at least every two weeks and more often after rain or in winter.
However, it is obvious that this system is inadequate. A land-based clearance system would enable a more flexible, frequent and efficient service. MMHN has now been advised that closer attention and more frequent clearing will occur in future, especially in the CBD district. But there is more to water-borne rubbish than aesthetic offence. Data about litter in our waterways is submitted for analysis by the non-profit group Tangaroa Blue with the objective of identifying where the problems commence upstream. See https://www.tangaroablue.org). It is simply unacceptable to claim that the configuration and water current are problematic and excuse poor service by responsible authorities. New technologies now available, e.g., Australian clean tech start-up, Seabin Project is helping to reduce plastic pollution in Sydney Harbour, see more here.
Yarra water edge at Southbank The Wet Dock – no signage or care.
Images: Jackie Watts
17. Dredging the waterways project
Parks Victoria is currently conducting a Dredging Campaign in CBD Yarra waterways, The objective is to reduce the amount of sediment in seven locations to enable safe boating access and to ensure the waterways are accessible for public use. Removing sediment from the water helps deep clean the river and results in substantial debris removal. The four-year dredging program has involved the removal of about 12,000 m3 of river sediment and will conclude in August. Dredged material will be transported by pipe to deeper sections of the river upstream of the Bolte Bridge. The cubic volume of rubbish is not known – but observers are astonished at what emerges. Someone should tally the number of bikes and scooters. Once the sites have been dredged, the low tide water depth at the dredging sites will be around two metres. See the PV website – River Users Update No.3. The water was apparently clear at the time of European settlement, but intensive land clearing and development soon resulted in the presence of microscopic clay particles in the water, maintained in suspension by turbulence in the middle and lower sections of the river.
Images from the current Dredging Campaign, including substantial debris removal from the Yarra.
18. MMHN Museum of the Month
This month rather than a particular museum, we highlight a topic currently featuring in several international museums
Refugees – Through the Maritime Heritage Lens
The innovative Svendborg Museum, Denmark, has a new exhibition honouring Vietnamese boat people (Vietnamese refugees arriving by sea). Australians are familiar with the exodus from Vietnam Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, more than two million Vietnamese fled the country, many in small fishing boats. The exhibition tells the story of who they were, why they fled and how they ended up in Svendborg. The ØK (Det Østasiatiske Kompagni/Danish East Asiatic Company) ship MS Selandia saved 62 refugees from drowning and pirates when they picked them up while sailing from Hong Kong to Singapore in September 1984. The Svendborg ship Alice Riis rescued 211 Vietnamese refugees and sailed them to Thailand in September 1987. A poignant detail from a report by the International Congress of Maritime Museums (ICMM) on the exhibition: The refugees were often so debilitated that they were unable to climb the ship’s stairs unaided so the ship’s crane hoists brought them aboard.
It is worth remembering that all refugees migrate – but the impetus for their migration is seldom viewed with understanding or respect. The National Maritime Museum (UK) is hosting a proactive exhibition Migration, Heritage and Belonging in partnership with two other UK museums M Shed (Bristol) and the Time and Tide Museum (Norfolk). The project aims to represent the diversity of migrant experiences, locally and nationally through community consultations, skills sharing and collecting of oral histories. Using collections that ‘speak to migration’ and reflecting on how this movement of people, goods and ideas has created the UK’s rich multi-cultural society, the project investigates the role that museums can play in social cohesion and representation.
19. Growing Naval Presence
Port visits of all types are on the increase after the COVID quarantine requirements have been lifted: HMAS Hobart visited Melbourne for the ANZAC Day long weekend with HMAS Parramatta visiting Geelong for the same period, both involved in community engagements for ANZAC Day and the port visit. HMAS Warramunga conducted an operational port visit to Melbourne to allow for the repair of the ship’s rotary wing aircraft. Between 11 and16 May HMAS Stalwart made its inaugural port visit to Melbourne from berthing at Station Pier. MMHN were invited aboard.
20. Submarines always fascinating: Past present and future?
An event: Captain Andrew Mackinnon CSC (Ret) of the Naval Historical Society will presenting on J class Submarines at the Waverley RSL, 161 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley (Melways 71C3) at 7pm on 27 June. The J-class submarines were seven submarines developed by the Royal Navy prior to the First World War in response to claims that Germany was developing submarines that were fast enough to operate alongside surface fleets. Six were completed during mid-1916, while a seventh entered service at the end of 1917. (Wikipedia)
21. Submarine Institute of Australia
An opportunity perhaps to better understand the national submarine quandary? MMHN recommends a visit to the website of the Submarine Institute of Australia: See more here. Follow the link in the top right to “Submarines in Australia” which provides a wealth of information including the rationale for submarines, and authoritative coverage of the various classes of submarine that have been operated by the RAN in the past, and currently. See also a link to the forthcoming 11th Biennial SIA Conference to be held in Canberra 7-9 November 2022, with the theme: Nuclear Powered Australian Submarines – Challenges and Opportunities. In the meantime, MMHN recommends the recent article in The Australian (10 May 2022) by Brendan Nicholson, click here.
22. Blunts Boat Yard, Williamstown
What a truly marvellous maritime heritage site! MMHN Board members Jackie Watts and Michael O’Brien were treated to a tour of the heritage works with Greg Blunt. What a delight to see, not only the overwhelming range of maritime boatbuilding tools which are artefacts in their own right, but they also observed the painstaking restoration work on OSSA tank test model (below)
Blunts workshop -MMHN Board members and Greg Blunt May 2022
23. Piers- Again and Again and Again
MMHN continues to wonder who might actually be in charge of our piers? The deplorable state of so many Victorian piers continues to dismay maritime stakeholders. Altona Pier is in strife. Parks Victoria states Recent dive inspections found that the outer section of Altona Pier, including the pier head, is not safe for public use due to failing piles and immediate closure of this section was recommended as a safety precaution while investigations are underway. Click here.
MMHN recently reported three Williamstown piers had been closed indefinitely by Parks Victoria. However, the Department of Transport reports that $650,000 worth of works is scheduled to commence to repair and replace piles beneath the iconic Gem Pier. See more here.
MMHN sincerely congratulates advocates for the restoration of Flinders Pier on their successful campaign demonstrating admirable grit and determination. It should not be so hard for a community to induce government to do what is so obviously the right thing to do. A case in point is the continued neglect of heritage-listed Central Pier in heritage-listed Victoria Harbour. When it emerged that the State Budget allocated $11 million for work on piers, the ever-optimistic MMHN contacted Development Victoria to see what % of the $11 million was be spent on Central Pier. The answer was zero. Further, Development Victoria had not even spent the $3 million allocated last year for public consultations about re-purposing the pier. Such apparent bureaucratic apathy continues to shock. Does Heritage-listing of public assets count for nought.? What precisely, then, is point of heritage-listing? Should Development Victoria relinquish control if it is unable or unwilling to fulfil its obligation to protect significant heritage assets? A question for the State election perhaps?
24. Australian Heritage Advocacy Post Election Report
During the Federal election campaign Australian Heritage Advocacy Alliance (AHAA) contacted 3000+ heritage stakeholders around the nation and 1300+ individual candidates seeking a response to the AHAA Heritage Survey to ensure that (a) ‘Heritage’ was on the political policy agenda during the election and (b) draw attention to the urgent need for heritage policy reform. Very heartening responses were received from 250+ individual candidates from across the political spectrum as well as party-wide positive responses – most notably from the ALP and the Greens. AHAA deliberately targeted candidates because they are most likely to be active and influential in their community beyond the election period. Hopefully they will now better understand the significance of genuine heritage protection. For further details of the AHAA campaign and responses click here AHAA intends to follow-up with all successful candidates from all parties in order to pursue AHAA proposals and any commitments made.
State Election looms. Given the key roles and responsibilities of the State Government and State Agencies, AHAA will work with Planning Democracy and other like-minded heritage stakeholder groups to work towards policy reform to establish genuine and effective planning and heritage protection in Victoria. Anyone interested in working with AHAA simply email: info@ahaa.org.au
Do keep well in these most interesting times.
Until next month,
Kind regards
Jackie
Dr Jackie Watts OAM
Chair,
Melbourne Maritime Heritage Network
0400 305 323 or email info@mmhn.org.au