Aids to Navigation maintenance and Level 1 Emergency Towage Capability

AMSA seeks to identify suitably qualified contractor/s who can deliver either, or both, of the Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Maintenance and Level 1 Emergency Towage Capability (ETC) Services.

AtoN Maintenance

· The AtoN network consists of approximately 485 aids to navigation located at 380 sites around Australia’s coastline.

· It will be the AtoN maintenance contractor’s responsibility to maintain the traditional lighthouses, beacons, buoys, racons, Automatic Identification System (AIS) stations, broadcasting tide gauges, wave rider buoys, current meters and weather stations across diverse and remote locations.

· Maintaining and improving this service ensures that AMSA contributes in a tangible way to making coastal navigation safer and helping prevent loss of life and marine pollution that could result from wrecked or stranded vessels

ETC

· AMSA is also responsible, through the Level 1 Emergency Towage Capability (ETC), for emergency towage and first strike response capability in the northern Great Barrier Reef (north of Mourilyan) and Torres Strait. This service requires a dedicated Emergency Towage Vessel (ETV) to stabilise emergency situations and prevent or minimise any risk of pollution from such an incident.

· It is the ETC contractor’s responsibility for all aspects of the ETC operation including providing a suitable vessel, its maintenance, and the crew. When not required for emergency response, drills or training, the ETC can be made available to support AtoN maintenance within its area of operation.

While AMSA will consider different contractors for the two services, in practice there will need to be a close working relationship as the ETC is made available as the work platform for AtoN maintenance within its usual area of operation.