Australia’s leading pilotage company has won a national accolade for its work to protect one of the planet’s most sensitive and treasured areas – the Great Barrier Reef.

Australian Reef Pilots (ARP) picked up the esteemed Australian Shipping and Maritime Industry Award (Safe Transport Category).

Chief Executive Officer Simon Meyjes said the award recognised ARP’s unique world-class Safety Management System (SMS).

“Our SMS gives access to real-time information on pilot schedules, histories and qualifications; customer ships; environmental factors; and regulatory requirements,” Mr Meyjes said.

“It automatically alerts staff to any aspects of a booking that may breach the company’s strict safety and fatigue management requirements.

“It involves extensive check lists with a focus on human error management as well as equipment and operational checks and balances.”

The prestigious awards also acknowledged ARP’s focus on pilot training and development.

“ARP has created the only simulation model of the most complex section of Torres Strait, the Prince of Wales Channel and the reef,” Mr Meyjes said.

“Cruise companies like Carnival use our expertise in traversing Papua New Guinea’s Louisiade Archipelago.”

Mr Meyjes said ARP’s success at home had prompted the company to offer its services overseas.

“We’ve started providing safety audits at foreign ports to assess whether ships bound for Australia are up to standard,” Mr Meyjes said.

“We want to stop “ships of shame” visiting Australian ports.”

Mr Meyjes said his team was honoured to receive the industry’s top award.

“After more than 125 years of coastal pilotage, we are proud to be an industry leader and uphold our reputation as Guardians of the Reef,” Mr Meyjes said.

“We have the country’s largest and most experienced group of licensed coastal pilots on the water every day making sure ships are guided safely through some of Australia’s most challenging passages.

“We are proud to have the safest record on the reef.”

ARP has also been shortlisted for a Lloyd’s List Asia Award (Safety Category).

ABOUT AUSTRALIAN REEF PILOTS

• ARP conducts more than 2100 shipping transits per year off the Australian coast.
• ARP provides a vital service guiding large ships of all kinds through all of the challenging and sensitive passages in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait.
• ARP has four working pilot stations and a head office in Brisbane. It employs 44 marine pilots, owns or operates 11 boats and has access to six helicopters under lease agreements.
• ARP also provides customised, highly-professional pilotage services by specialist pilots for military vessels, super yachts and cruise ships.
• ARP operates under the ISO International Standard for Environmental Management 14001:2004.

Visit www.reefpilots.com.au for more information.

MEDIA CONTACT: Merrin Jagtman – Sequel Communications +61 7 3251 8145 or 0443 313 064.