Fair winds and following seasOver the past five years of Malek

Pourzanjani’s leadership, the college has performed above expectations. Since 2008, AMC student numbers

have jumped 31 percent to reach an all-time high and operating revenue has increased by almost 45 percent. Meanwhile, AMC’s commercial arm, AMC Search, has almost doubled its revenue. Student numbers have reached an all time high of 1100 and revenue has jumped by 40 percent. Its commercial arm, AMC Search, has doubled its revenue in this time.

But it could be argued that Professor Pourzanjani’s greatest legacy is the significantly strengthened ties with the maritime sector and industry. None of it occurred by accident. It was part of a personal, professional agenda.

When he was appointed Principal in 2006, the Glasgow-trained deck officer hit the ground running. He describes his first six months as a “road trip” – on and off planes; building industry links.

“I was surprised to find that I knew a lot more about AMC than people in Australia did. Internationally it was well known, but there was little attention paid to the importance of AMC nationally.”

So Malek immediately concentrated his focus on developing relationships.

“A lot of it was simple; it was picking up the phone and starting a conversation. I was fortunate in the early days to have been so well supported by the key staff around me. My Executive Officer Jenni Rein said: ‘Here’s a plane ticket. Go and meet people!’“

Professor Pourzanjani brought a wealth of maritime industry and educational experience to AMC.

After ten years with the merchant navy, he left to undertake a BSc (Hons) in Maritime Technology at the University of Wales followed by a PhD at Exeter University, England. He stayed on as a lecturer in Marine and Systems

Dynamics, then joined Southampton Institute in 1991 and was appointed Professor and Dean of the Maritime faculty from 1996-2001.

It was his dual background as both a merchant seaman and a chartered engineer that helped

him earn the respect and admiration of key people within Australia’s maritime sector. With his trademark infectious smile, he recalls how dogged he was in ensuring AMC was promoted to all who would listen.

“When current Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese was elected, he had a long list of priorities and it was proving difficult to secure a meeting with him. I heard he was going to a conference in Germany. So I decided I had to go. The Minister didn’t know much about AMC then, but I had three days with him. He knows a lot now and we have have developed a successful working relationship.”

It is through relationships such as these that Professor Malek has contributed to national policy on issues such as workforce development in the shipping industry.

“One of my first priorities was to organise a Maritime Forum at AMC involving industry leaders, politicians and other educational providers. They are biennial now and each has a key focus, but the purpose of the first one was simply to get people down here – and they were gobsmacked at what they found!” he said.

But the departing head of the AMC says there is still more to be achieved; particularly in the area of applied research.

“I see growth in all three disciplines (Ports & Shipping, Maritime Engineering & Hydrodynamics and Marine Conservation & Resource Sustainability). We are doing things we need to do, but we could do more with research to solve industry problems. We need to be able to predict the problems that industry will face in the future and research these in advance. “

Malek believes there is plenty of scope for more post graduate students to play a role in this. He also feels there is more to be done in creating greater awareness of the maritime industry.

“Anything to do with the word ‘maritime’ is generally not on people’s radar. AMC can play its part, but it is a collective role. Everybody must come together to promote the sector.”

You can tell the decision to leave AMC for a prestigious post as President of the new Raffles University in Johor, Malaysia has not been made lightly.

Professor Malek Pourzanjani

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“You walk around the corridors and see the way our staff interact with students, and it’s so rewarding.”

It’s a long way from Antarctica to Canberra, but it’s been a journey worth taking for Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Principal Advisor Iain Kerr.

Iain, a former AMC student, served a year of his cadetship on the Rhexenor, trading between

South East Asia and every major Australian port from Cairns to Adelaide, including Hobart and Burnie in Tasmania.

He went on to gain an unlimited Masters’s certificate (including Part A of extra masters before transferring to a degree course) with four

years’ experience as master, everywhere from North Africa to Scandinavia and Arctic Russia.

He then taught at both Leith and Glasgow Nautical Colleges, before a sixteen year deviation into the aviation industry where he ended up with the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority.

Returning to the maritime industry in 2000 as a principal examiner and nautical adviser, Iain needed to renew his original qualifications and his colleagues recommended he upgrade and revalidate at AMC where he was very grateful for the guidance and support of AMC Search’s Cathy Wilson.

He enjoyed the course and found it very useful, with one of his memories being of the law update taught, to the awe of the class, by a master of the Aurora Australis. Little did he realise that within a couple of months, with a brand new STCW certificate and a brand new AMC beanie, he would be sailing as master in Antarctica himself.

The opportunity arose when a seafarer phoned about his ticket and, during the conversation, Iain asked him what ship he was on and where they went. The reply was the

Braveheart, a small ex-Japanese fisheries patrol boat, going to Antarctica, and looking for a master.

The AMC beanie therefore went to sea, on one occasion being blown overboard onto an ice floe and recovered from the stern with a boathook.

Iain later went back to Antarctica as master of the Australian Sir Hubert Wilkins, and then for three voyages as ice pilot of the luxury cruise ship Orion. His full time job is now in Canberra with AMSA as a Principal Adviser, which includes input into the several Antarctic issues AMSA is responsible for.

Iain says his course at AMC gave him not just an STCW certificate and a beanie, but a whole new Antarctic dimension to his seagoing career.

Get your gear ON for the Above Board magazine. Send us a pic of you and your AMC paraphernalia in far off places, and some info about yourself, for potential inclusion. If you want to order AMC mechandise please visit www.amc.edu.au/amc-merchandise

Where did you get that hat?

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It’s a big task to make law “fun”, but Peter Cain, lecturer with the AMC Department of Maritime and Logistics Management rose to the challenge.

Peter has just returned from leading a successful set of workshops with Associated Marine Australia (Associated Marine) in Melbourne and Sydney.

Widely considered to be the leading marine insurer in Australia and New Zealand, Associated Marine insures major commercial shipping against loss and damage (hull insurance) and also against loss and damage for cargo carried on ships (cargo insurance).

AMC has a well-established relationship with Associated Marine. The relationship has included AMC running tailored week-long residential units from their MBA program for sponsored Associated Marine professional staff. On this occasion, Peter, previously a practising lawyer who has taught industry representatives in Singapore, Korea and Malaysia, was asked to design 2-day workshops on a maritime law topic (cargo claims).

“I have had great feedback and I already have numerous advance bookings for next year’s workshops.”

Damage or loss to cargo often coincides with damage to ships and the marine environment and are typically complicated and contentious. Cargo claims can prove to be “legal minefields” involving numerous parties such as cargo owners, ship owners, maritime service providers and marine insurers.

Associated Marine used the AMC workshops as an internal professional development exercise, bringing in staff from all over Australia. They also brought in clients of the company and insurance brokers. Peter is already working with Associated Marine on a follow-up series of workshops next year on the topic of hull claims.

‘’Working with industry is just a wonderful opportunity. Having a dialogue with industry is a win/win for both parties. AMC always benefits from learning about changing commercial practices and industry trends,’’ Peter said.

Shelagh Bock, Underwriting Operations Manager with Associated Marine and AMC MBA degree holder, helped Peter to organise the workshops.

“I have had great feedback and I already have numerous advance bookings for next year’s workshops.”

It seems that Peter may have accomplished the very difficult task of making the study of law enjoyable.

“In Sydney, a lovely lady said to me – ‘I don’t know if I should say this, but I am having fun!’,’’ he said. “Law can be pretty dry, so I’ll take that as a compliment!”

AMC working with industry

STAFFIN FOCUSNAME: Capt. Ian Rodrigues

POSITION: Manager of the Centre for Maritime Simulations

Greatest achievement at AMC?Managing the $7 million upgrade of the

Simulations Centre. It is accepted industry wide as the most sophisticated simulation centre and the benchmark in modern day ship simulations.

Why is an institution like the AMC so important to the maritime industry?

AMC is one of the few training and education establishments that is an industry service provider. Almost all of its trainees gain employment within the industry.

Facilities like the Simulation Centre are what set AMC apart from the rest. The CMS caters to all clientele of the maritime industry. From the pre-sea new entrant, to the deck watchkeeper, ship master, and pilot training. The sophisticated edge of port development and ship feasibility studies, and applied research, all are facilitated at the CMS.

At AMC we model the port not the chart. Our strengths lie in our ability to model ports, areas and ships in-house, and our ability to effect changes during studies is unsurpassed.

What did you do before joining AMC? I had a career at sea spanning almost 20

years. I started in August 1979, as a deck cadet with the South East Asia Shipping Co., Bombay, and progressed successively through the

ranks, becoming Captain in 1994, with Univan Ship Management, Hong Kong. I have sailed both internationally and with the Australian shipping industry and am able to apply my experiences for the benefit of the industry.

An incident worth remembering?On July 8, 1996, I was on board the Ro-

Ro M.V. Allison (ex Inagua Tania) at San Juan in Puerto Rico. The vessel was in port

undertaking cargo operations and at the same time undergoing a major engine repair.

Hurricane Bertha was hovering off the coast and was to pass north of Puerto Rico. A day or so prior, we were instructed by the US Coast Guard to evacuate the port. We couldn’t because one of the ships engines was still undergoing major repairs. Even if we tried on one engine, we could not outrun the hurricane.

In consultation with the US Coast Guard, a decision was made to stay put and take all necessary precautions to ride out the hurricane in port.

At around 1700 local time the last of the emergency service people left the ship and went to seek shelter. They told us we were on our own until the storm dissipated. There were 12 people on board. The maximum number of lines and wires were put out, gangways lifted, all deck items secured, one engine was running de-clutched.

At around 1830 hours Bertha arrived and announced her arrival with the loudest noise of wind howling I have ever heard. For about 30 minutes we were shaken, strained, whipped by rain, and blasted with the accompanying winds and rain that were in excess of 70 knots. Then, just as Bertha came, she went. All of a sudden... silence.

Did you know?The AMC website has a new Career Hub to support an ongoing relationship with our alumni and maritime industry contacts, as well as providing opportunities for our existing students.

Career Hub is a centrally-managed FREE service where you can promote any positions vacant within your company.

If you register on Career Hub you can upload jobs for free, manage job details and update contact details via the employer console. For a nominal fee, members can also have targeted emails sent out to students in specific study areas and/or majors.

For more information on Career Hub visit www.amc.edu.au/career-hub, or email careers.service@utas.edu.au or phone (03) 6226 2511.

Captain Ian Rodrigues

Peter Cain