08/07/2009 - The activities undertaken by CASA appear to have facilitated increased use of simulators for endorsement and other training. However, the ATSB remains concerned that there is no regulatory requirement for simulator training when a suitable simulator is available in Australia. ATSB safety recommendation AO-2007-017-SR-084 The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority address this safety issue.
31/08/2009 - CASA will address this issue and will commence a review of the legislation. In the course of that review, we will consider whether there is a need to mandate the use of simulators in connection with certain flight crew training requirements in the air transport sector, and other sectors where this may be appropriate. This work will commence immediately. It will certainly involve consultation with industry and may come to involve a risk assessment, a cost-benefit analysis and the preparation of a regulatory impact statement. As this is likely to be a protracted process, CASA is not in a position to specify a specific completion date at this time
12/04/2010 - CASA released a Discussion Paper (DP) in December 2009 on the subject of mandatory flight simulator training. The DP put forward a range of options to canvas the views of industry participants. Responses to this DP closed in February 2010. Numerous responses were received from a variety of organisations and individuals including airlines, pilots and flight simulator training providers. These responses are currently being reviewed and policy proposals are being developed. The subject of mandatory flight simulator training is a high priority for CASA and as such it is expected that a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) will be published in the 2nd quarter of 2010. This NPRM will put forward CASA's proposed policy on this issue which will in part be derived from the comments received on the DP. Depending on the results of an assessment of business compliance costs, the proposal may be subject to a formal Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) which may prolong the rule making process.
05/07/2010 - Advice from Adrian Roland, Acting manager AALU. NPRM is on track for release by end July. Parties will have 6 weeks to respond. Final rule making is expected.
26/10/2010- On 26 October 2010, CASA issued Notice of Proposed Rule Making - NPRM 1007OS 'Mandatory Flight Simulator Training - Proposed amendments to Civil Aviation Orders (CAOs) 40.0 and 82.0' for industry comment by 21 January 2011.
Investigation: MO-2008-003: Independent investigation into the drifting and subsequent grounding of the Sierra Leone registered products tanker Breakthrough at the Cocos (Keeling) Islands on 12 February 2008.
Safely action number
MO-2008-003-SR-049
Risk category
Significant
Safety issue description
The ship’s certification was issued by a management company to itself on behalf of the Republic of Sierra Leone, solely with the purpose of allowing the ship to sail on an international voyage and did not represent the ship’s actual management or that any effective inspections of the ship or audits of the ship's safety management system had taken place.
Action organisation
Sierra Leone International Ship Registry
Safety Recommendation outcomes
Sierra Leone Flag Administration has reviewed this case in order to establish an understanding of the situation.
The vessel was registered with Sierra Leone Flag with a special registration for one single voyage from Singapore to Nigeria (duration of the special registration is three months). The Recognized Organization, New United, issued the statutory certificates also for one voyage (duration of three months). In view of the grounding of the vessel in February 2008, we have requested the Recognized Organization to supply all information in regards to this vessel.
Kindly note that all statutory certificates issued on behalf of the Republic of Sierra Leone are duly reviewed by this Administration and any questions / concerns that the Administration could have about those certificates are presented to the issuing Recognized Organization and are duly explained to this Administration.
Investigation: MO-2008-009: Engine room flooding on board Great Majesty in Port Kembla, New South Wales, 27 October 2008
Safely action number
MO-2008-009-SR-020
Risk category
Significant
Safety issue description
The work permit system had not been effectively implemented on board the ship. Consequently, most maintenance and repair work was being carried out by ship’s personnel without the work permits and ‘Danger: Do Not Operate’ tags that were required by the ship’s procedures.
Action organisation
Parakou Shipping
Safety Recommendation outcomes
11/11/2009 - The company has revised its ballast water and work permit procedures and has advised ship's crews of these changes. The company also intends to measure the implementation of these procedures through on board inspections and audits.
Safety action release date
29/09/2009
Safety action status
Closed - action taken
11/11/2009
Investigation complete date
29/09/2009
Investigation: MO-2008-010: Auxiliary boiler explosion on board Saldanha off Newcastle, 18 November 2008
Safely action number
MO-2008-010-SR-039
Risk category
Significant
Safety issue description
While the Volcano Company safety bulletin warned of the dangers associated with servicing the VJ type burner, it did not inform operators that the burner could be replaced with a VJP burner (a similar burner fitted with a diesel pilot burner), or recommend that existing oil firing units could be modified.
05/01/2010 - The Volcano Company has advised the ATSB that they will:
1. Advise all operators of the occurrence of accIdent on board the bulk carrier "Saldanha" .
2. Advise all operators of the importance of adhering to the safety bulletin, regardless of the type of burner, and the fact that if the operation and servicing are not done as per our safety bulletin, ship crews will be exposed to the same risks as those seen on board "Saldanha".
3. Advise all operators that the "VJ" burner is a direct ignition type and that there is also another type of burner "VJP" fitted with pilot burner. If operators wish to have a burner fitted with a pilot burner, we will advise them that the existing burner could be replaced with VJP type burner or that it can be modified.
4. We will also put the same advice on our homepage for a certain period.
Safety action release date
22/10/2009
Safety action status
Closed - action taken
05/01/2010
Investigation complete date
22/10/2009
Investigation: MO-2009-004: Fatality on board Thor Gitta at sea off Western Australia, 21 May 2009
Safely action number
MO-2009-004-SR-008
Risk category
Significant
Safety issue description
Both the 6 hours on/6 hours off work routine for watchkeepers and the modified work routine for deck ratings used on board Thor Gitta, while complying with the ILO 180 and STCW requirements for rest, probably resulted in a cumulative level of fatigue in the crew.
06/11/2009 - We recognize the use of programs like FAID to indicate the possibility of fatigue, but we regard the indications given by such programs only as normative and not as given proof. It is our opinion that the 6 hours on/off work routine for watchkeepers and the modified routine for deck ratings on board Thor Gitta does not constitute a problem as long as the hours of rest are in compliance with the Order, ILO Convention 180 and part A, Chapter VIII of the STCW code for crewmembers engaged in watchkeeping. The Danish Maritime Authority disagrees with the statements indicating that the roster of the AB and the work routine for watchkeepers probably results in a cumulative level of fatigue in the crew.
08/01/2010 – The DMA has, in 2008, established a procedure on examination of rest and work hours, as well as outlook whenever a Danish or Greenlandic ship is involved in grounding or collision or has a very serious accident. In these cases, the Investigation Division gather relevant information and evaluate the information before forwarding them to various departments within the DMA for further consideration. The considerations focus on whether there have been violations of rules in force. Consideration is also focusing on questions in relation to the manning of ships and possible ned of changes.
