Queensland may be home to some iconic assets, but when it comes to the maritime industry - nobody does it better than Tasmania.
That’s why the Pacific Maritime Training Services program, which has called Tasmania home for the last 28 years through AMC Search, should be staying in the world’s best maritime state.
The Queensland Minister for State Development wishes to move the facility to Cairns, but we know Tasmania is the obvious and logical home for the program.
While the Minister looks to “…put Cairns on the map as a global hub for maritime training…” that ship has already sailed.*
The record speaks for itself: Tasmania has been providing that centre of maritime excellence at the Australian Maritime College for decades.
AMC Search has been successfully delivering maritime training to the Pacific Patrol Boat Program and has continually improved and enhanced the training program to be a recognised global leader.
Queensland wants to find investment for infrastructure to house a training school, but we already have it right here in Tasmania, as well as the expertise, highest quality teaching staff and latest training vessels.
Tasmania provides on-campus accommodation, dedicated cultural facilities and catering services as well as workshops, multiple training vessels and a bank of simulators in the world-famous AMC Centre for Maritime Simulations.
Over the last 28 years, AMC Search has perfected a unique multi-nation training program that has successfully trained almost 2300 people from 12 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste in all aspects of running patrol boats.
Furthermore, Tasmania’s reputation as a world leading maritime and defence precinct will grow following the memorandum of understanding signed by Thales Australia and the AMC in 2019 which will see state of the art trials and a test facility developed in Tasmania for submarine and ship sonar systems using Tasmania’s unique deep lakes.
Our natural advantages, together with our growing maritime advanced manufacturing industry, are what sets Tasmania apart from the rest of the world, Australia, and especially Queensland, when it comes to being the prime location for maritime training and development.
Frankly, Queensland has missed the boat and cannot match 28 years of action, experience and expertise in Tasmania, coupled with our natural marine advantages.
This important training school rightfully belongs in Tasmania and that is where it should stay.
* http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2020/6/24/funding-to-help-cairns-tafe-maritime-bid-set-sail
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