Much was recently made in Australian Government media announcements about the agreement between AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) and the Australian Navy over recognition of navy skills by the commercial world (AMSA) and recognition of maritime qualifications by the Australian Navy. 

However, the announcement by the Hon. Warren Snowden referred to officers only. This has not been a great difficulty in the past and has been overcome where necessities dictated.  However, thousands of navy sailors move from a navy life to a civilian career every year and very few of these are encouraged or welcomed into our merchant or commercial maritime fleets.

There should be a quite simple cross recognition of the Navy's Seaman and Technical seagoing skills which allows these sailors to move quickly and easily into Integrated Rating and Able Seaman positions in our commercial fleets. At a time when numbers in the seagoing maritime fleets are short, government, unions and the Navy should be addressing this with the same enthusiasm as portrayed in the minister’s recent announcement.  

The utilisation of people already trained in most seagoing skills (navy sailors) in the broader maritime industries is self evident, but what is not so is the benefit to the Navy. At a time when recruiting is low and people cannot see the benefits of a period of service in the Navy, the added attraction of leaving naval service after a period, say six years, and continuing a seagoing career where the monetary and conditions of service benefits are far more generous, could see young people see the benefits of a career in the maritime sector.

To the country, utilisation of our most precious resource, people, in an ongoing, essential part of our broader transport industries, is essential for viable offshore, coastal and maritime industries.

Our utilisation of the country’s maritime qualified people remains half empty.

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