History

AMPA had its beginnings in 1988, when Capt Richard Toone realising the disparate nature of Australia�s representation at the Melbourne IMPA conference canvassed pilots around the country to form an association.

The aims of the association were to give a united voice to all marine pilots on purely professional and technical matters

1. To promote understanding of a pilot�s role in the protection of the marine environment.
2. To exchange information with pilots worldwide.
3. To provide governments and port authorities with technical expertise in marine pilotage.
4. To advise on the training of marine pilots.
5. To liase with shipowners, importers, exporters and other port users on pilotage matters.
6. To represent Australian marine pilots internationally through membership of IMPA.

With the help of Euan Crawford of the NZMPA a draft constitution was formulated and sent out to prospective members.

The association was incorporated and launched in 1989 with the encouragement and support of pilots from many ports and the reef. All members received four newsletters per annum and an association tie. By 1993 AMPA had a wide representative membership and was invited to be a member of the AMSA navigation sub-committee. In 1994 the structure of AMPA was formalised and office bearers appointed.

At an AMPA workshop held in Brisbane in March 2003, it was decided to form a joint working group to develop proposals for providing alternatives to the current methods and systems of recruitment and training of marine pilots, having regard to the nature and extent of the anticipated shortage of marine pilots recruits in Australia.
Ex-Marine Board of Victoria chairman, Captain John McCoy LL.B., chaired the working group and it was agreed that its members would be Steve Pelecanos of AMPA, Lachlan Payne of the ASA, John Hirst of AAPMA, Robin Bourne of AMC and Ravi Nijjer of MCG.
The Pilot Training Working Group delivered its Final Report to AMPA in February 2005.

The McCoy Report
The McCoy Report identified an impending shortage of suitably qualified persons for recruitment into the marine pilotage profession if the current selection and training methods were maintained. It made a number of recommendations centred on the establishment of two alternative training pathways in addition to the traditional Master Class 1 route. The two additional alternatives were the recruitment of:
• Ab initio entrants having the necessary aptitude but without previous qualifications and experience; and
• Recruitment of mariners with maritime qualifications and experience and having the necessary aptitude but without qualification as Master Class 1.

The report also recommended the creation of The Australian College of Marine Pilots (ACMP) to oversee the new recruitment and training regime.

The IPTWG
In order to start putting the recommendations of the McCoy Report into place the original working group was expanded to 13 members to include the AMOU, State and Federal regulators and other stakeholders. This new group was known as the Industry Pilot Training Working Group (IPTWG) and its focus was on establishing the appropriate framework to ensure the McCoy Report proposals could achieve the endorsement of the appropriate bodies and/or authorities. In addition, much work was done on developing the curricula for the new alternative training pathways.

When the work of the IPTWG was approaching completion, it became necessary to establish theAustralian College of Marine Pilots. For this purpose an Interim Council of the ACMP was established.

The Interim Council of ACMP

• An Interim Council of ACMP was formed to do all the work necessary to set up the “College” and to ensure that its structure would dove-tail into the requirements of State and Government bodies.
• Those invited to join the Interim Council were representatives from the ASA, AAPMA, SAL, Maritime training Institutions and six pilots representing capital city ports, regional ports and the Great Barrier Reef. Peter Forster, a highly respected organisational consultant was invited to be the Independent Chairman and Richard Robinson of the Institute of Engineers Australia was there to give advice on the structure of professional bodies and how they can function and interact efficiently with industry.
• Australian and New Zealand regulators attended the meeting as observers as did representatives of the New Zealand Marine Pilots Association and New Zealand Ports.
• The Interim Council met in Brisbane on 21st November 2007 and reached agreement on a structure for the pilotage profession that would have the support of both the profession and industry and enable the profession to continue to evolve in a manner consistent with the needs of industry and the desire of the pilots to retain their position as world leaders in pilotage.

Interim Council Recommendations

• The Interim Council decided that there was no need for the Australian College of Marine Pilots and that the interests of all parties would be better served by expanding the role of AMPA to include the following:
  • Appoint a Marine Pilot Training Advisory Board (MPTAB)
  • Establish a Continuing Professional Development Standing Committee (CPDSC)
  • Establish an Ethics/Discipline Standing Committee (EDSC)

• In order to give pilotage the recognition and status of other professions, it was recommended that AMPA should be re-badged as the Australian Marine Pilots Institute (AMPI). The institute would be run by a Governing Council elected by its members. The interim council also recommended to replace the word “Australian” with “Australasian” to facilitate the future entry of New Zealand pilots.
• The AMPI Governing Council will appoint members to the MPTAB, which will include representatives of all those bodies that have a stake in pilotage. This Board will set the standards and monitor the integrity of the alternate training pathways.
• The CPDSC will be responsible for setting professional standards and endorsing appropriate Continuing Professional Education programs for retaining membership of AMPI.
• The EDSC will be responsible for establishing and overseeing a Code of Ethics and a Code of Professional Conduct. It was recommended that the Committee include an ex-Judge to ensure proper implementation of decisions.

AMPI Ltd.

On 19 September 2008 the Association’s members resolved to wind up the Association and to transfer funds to a new organisation to be called the Australasian Marine Pilots Institute (AMPI).  At that meeting, what was proposed was that the new institute (AMPI) be incorporated as an incorporated association.

The executive subsequently, received legal advice which indicated that the most appropriate structure going forward for AMPI would be a public company limited by guarantee. This is a form of non‑profit company similar to an association but with the added benefit of being able to trade Australia wide due to its registration under the Corporations Act.

While the executive considered the transfer of the former AMPA business to the new company is consistent with the resolution passed on 19 September 2008. 

At a general meeting held in Sydney 22nd October 2009, the executive gained ratification for the transfer of its funds to the new company and the adoption of the proposed constitution by members of the former association. In addition, the meeting gave further approval to wind up the Association by a special resolution.