LETTER TO DCN: Tightening the laws on temporary licences

SIR,

One of the key components of the policy announcements by the ALP this week was to stop the abuse of temporary licences.

AIMPE has highlighted the abuse of the temporary licence system and proposed to the Senate Committee Inquiry earlier this year that:
Any vessel operating in Australian waters [the Exclusive Economic Zone and extended continental shelf] for more than 30 days should be required to register under the Shipping Registration Act.

This would mean that vessels operating under repeat temporary licences would be required to transfer registration to Australia including:

• Luga [ex Alcem Lugait]- 440 temporary licence voyages since 2012;
• ICS Silver Lining – 395 temporary licence voyages since 2012;
• Stadacona – 231 temporary licence voyages since 2012;
• Glory Atlantic – 215 temporary licence voyages since 2014;
• Gas Defiance – 117 temporary licence voyages since 2013;
• Gas Shuriken - 105 temporary licence voyages since 2013;
• UBC Canada – 52 temporary licence voyages since 2017;
• Adelie – 49 temporary voyages since 2017;
• Acacia – 26 temporary licence voyages since 2017.

The above vessels are examples of inter-state trading ships that are operating continuously in Australian waters under temporary licences.

The business model is clearly not a temporary arrangement it is a long-term operating model designed to avoid the application of Australian laws which comes with Australian registration and obtaining a General Licence under the coastal trading legislation.

AIMPE will be seeking the amendment of the Shipping Registration Act and State & Territory legislation to require that all vessels operating continually in Australian waters are registered in Australia.

Martin Byrne
Federal Secretary AIMPE