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Reef Safety

Australian Reef Pilots delivers a world first in maritime safety

In what is considered a world first, a new and innovative service is available to shipowners concerned about safety and the quality of pilotage services in the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef. Australian Reef Pilots (ARP), one of the leading pilotage operators, has implemented an optional safety and performance warranty which came into effect at the end of 2002.

“We are so confident about the quality and experience of our pilots that we are prepared to put our money where our mouth is,” says Australian Reef Pilots’ Chairman, Don McLay.

The warranty is available to shipowners and is designed to reimburse an owner’s deductibles up to the amount of A$100,000 in the event of grounding if the cause, or the significant contributing cause, is through the error of one of Australian Reef Pilots’ pilots.

The Great Barrier Reef is a competitive pilotage environment. Australian Reef Pilots recognises that users have choices, and seeks to highlight its ongoing commitment to superior standards and its excellent safety record. According to General Manager, Alan Maffina, ARP is keen to differentiate the company’s performance and allay shipowners’ concerns over recent grounding incidents both in the Reef and at various Australian ports.

In 1991 compulsory pilotage was proclaimed for the inner route between Cairns and Cape York, and also for Hydrographers Passage. All vessels 70m in length and over, and all tankers, LNG carriers and chemical tankers regardless of length, are now required to engage a pilot in the specified district.

Australian Reef Pilots and its predecessors have been involved in marine pilotage through Australia’s northern shipping channels for about 120 years. It was the first sea-pilotage service in the world to achieve Quality Assurance to ISO 9002 standards, it has the most experienced group of AMSA licensed pilots, and the company has invested heavily in modern transfer infrastructure. In conjunction with its parent, Torres Industries, Australian Reef Pilots delivers a wide variety of marine and aviation services in Australian waters.

Website: www.reefpilots.com.au

www.reefpilots.com.au