MODERNISING pilotage and balancing technology adoption with operational judgement were key themes marking the start of day-two of the Australasian Marine Pilots Institute conference in Adelaide.
Sessions examined digital navigation and pilotage decision-support, with presenters discussing bridge technology, distraction, alarm strategy and the ongoing refinement of portable pilot unit (PPU) competency.
A highlight of this session was a presentation by Captain Riley Oxenbridge, a Newcastle marine pilot who recently attended a CIRM (Comté International Radio-Maritime) conference in Lisbon, Portugal, to discuss ways to progress with bridge alarm management.
Chris Jones of CIRM followed up with a discussion on CIRM’s role and Captain Peter Dann discussed bridge distractions from a human factors’ perspective.
The session emphasised that while digital tools continue to enhance situational awareness, pilots remain the final safeguard, and manage technology in support of, not in place of, professional judgement.
Mid-morning turned to future-facing operational models and regulatory interfaces, including data-enabled safety insights, structured digital route exchange and globally informed pilotage methodologies.
Attention was paid to how ports, regulators, and pilotage organisations are shaping interoperability and information symmetry between bridge teams and pilots.
Session highlights included a live display of transit analyst technology by Captain Warren Wood, the development of route-exchange methodologies utilising S-421 framework, and an exploration of resilience versus compliance and high reliability organisation principles by Captain’s Marco Blanco and Craig Eastaugh.
A standout theme: resilience over compliance—moving from strict rule-following to learning and adaptive capacity in high-stakes environments.
The afternoon moved to evolving standards in pilot transfer safety, including helicopter operations and trauma-informed first-aid preparedness.
Session highlights included a presentation by Wendy Sullivan from Maritime Medical Solutions who discussed raising the the standard of care offshore through specialised, tailored training for marine pilots and boat crews.
Speakers shared real-world lessons and clear calls to lift standards across equipment, training, and decision-making in pilot transfers.
The final technical session focused on dynamic weather risk, decision-support systems and predictive models to support safer and more efficient pilotage in complex environments.
Session highlights included an in-depth review of present and future weather patterns in the Australasian region by Felix Levesque of DTN APAC, and an exhibition of weather predictive technology as developed by Dr Scott Beatty of Marine Labs in Canada.
AMPI president Captain Josephine Clark closed the day with reflections on this year’s conference and an introduction of next year’s conference, to be held in Darwin in June 2026.
The day concluded with the AMPI Gala Dinner, recognising excellence, strengthening industry connections, and celebrating pilotage’s contribution to safe maritime trade.
The final day shifted from plenary sessions to practical engagement, training, and industry networking. Delegates participated in port tours, gaining insights into operational realities and infrastructure supporting South Australian trade.
Parallel training programs ran throughout the day, including:
These sessions emphasised that excellence in pilotage is not only about technical skill, but also capability in investigation, human performance and peer-supported resilience.
WISTA Australia also hosted a breakfast discussion in celebration of the opening of their South Australian chapter, highlighting diversity, future workforce pathways, and leadership in maritime.
The day reinforced a conference-long message: pilotage is evolving through digital capability, human performance, and collaboration across disciplines.
Across three days, the AMPI Adelaide Conference showcased a sector embracing innovation while staying firmly grounded in professional expertise and shared learning.
Every session returned to the same anchor: pilots, ports and regulators working together to keep Australia’s maritime network strong, smart and safe for the future.