Page 22 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2021

DEFENCE TASMANIA – SPONSORED CONTENT
TASMANIA’S HYDROGRAPHIC EXPERTISE IN DEMAND
TASMANIAN COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS PROVIDE VALUABLE MARITIME SERVICES AND HIGHLY SPECIALISED SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE HYDROGRAPHIC AND OCEANOGRAPHIC DOMAINS.
Boasting the largest concentration of marine science and oceans expertise in the southern hemisphere, Tasmania’s hydrographic and oceanographic organisations are experiencing unprecedented demand.
With private sector, government and academic and research organisations all based out of Australia’s island state, Tasmania has become both a hub and a beacon for the marine sciences.
Organisations such as AMC Search, Offshore Unlimited, Veris Australia, TideTech and the CSIRO Marine National Facility are among recognised world-leaders in their respective fields, all headquartered in the middle of the strong, deep oceans below 400S.
Tasmanian Defence Advocate, Rear Admiral (Rtd) Steve Gilmore said Tasmania has extensive experience working with maritime security agencies, commercial
operators, and the Royal Australian
One of the most prominent Tasmanian-based hydrographic expert organisations is AMC Search, the training and consultancy division of the Australian Maritime College. Headquartered in the north of the state, AMC Search specialises in using the latest hydrodynamic modelling technology for realistic port and vessel interactions by simulating infrastructure and environments to test and optimise operations and systems.
More recently AMC Search has been conducting training
on the safe and effective operation of Autonomous Maritime Systems (AMS), both autonomous underwater vehicles and un-crewed surface vessels, to the Navy’s mine warfare and hydrographic teams from its specialised facilities at Newnham and Beauty Point in northern Tasmania. The training provided encompasses activities from logistics of AMS launch and
Navy to improve ship operations and maritime safety.
“It is no wonder the state has the greatest concentration of marine science and oceans expertise in the southern hemisphere”.
recovery to data extraction and analysis, the only such training program available within Australia.
Another Tasmanian company seeing increased demand is Hobart-based Offshore Unlimited.
Since commencing operations in
Not only are the services and
solutions we offer being used right
here in Tasmania for application
globally, we’re now seeing them
provided in oceans around the
world to better understand localised environmental conditions in the exact places that marine operations will be taking place.
2007, the company has established a modern fleet of support vessels servicing Australia’s maritime
needs including the oil and gas industry and science and aquaculture sectors, as well as conducting construction and hydrographic survey.
Recently, Offshore Unlimited partnered in the Department of Defence’s HydroScheme Industry Partnership Program, providing vessels to support hydrographic survey operations around Australia to build an Australian hydrographic survey industry capability for non-military needs.
Not only will this work benefit Defence, but it will be of value to the many non-defence users of high-resolution bathymetric and oceanographic data that will be collected under the program.
Also with offices in Tasmania is Veris Australia, a leading provider of spatical data services, employing more than 500 staff around the country.
Tasmanian hydrographic services are helping to improve navigational safety and marine operations, both above and below the waterline, helping to unlock new economic and commercial opportunities, boost security and defence, build scientific understanding and enable better environmental protection.
Even national organisations based in other locations like the Australian Hydrographic Office within the Royal Australian Navy are looking to Tasmania for services to support producing the official digital maps of Australia’s sea and coastal areas, to ensure ships and watercraft operate more safely in Australian waters.