Above Board Summer 2015/16

#9

SUMMER 2015

amc.edu.au

ABOVE BOARD

THE SECRETS OF LAKE ST CLAIR hining a light on the S underwater environment and how it formed

RESEARCHERS BREAK THE ICE Virtual model to help train teams to find safe passage through dangerous territory

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The captivating violence and unpredictable nature of cavitation

BEAUTIFUL CHAOS

CONTENTS 03 Peter Morris Medal Scott Laughlin honoured

for his contribution to the maritime industry 04 Lake St Clair secrets Shining a light on the

underwater environment and how it formed 06 Co-op immersion Work placements help give

students taste of the action 08 Breaking the ice Researchers develop virtual

model to help train teams to find safe passage 11 Growth agenda Peter Whitley takes up new

role to help attract students

THE PRINCIPAL 12 Cavitation crew Experimental group

studying fluid mechanics and naval hydrodynamics 16 Submarine study Dr Zhi Leong aims to

Professor Neil Bose

‘Our aim is to ensure that AMC is recognised as a mover and shaker for its maritime education, training, consultancy and research’

test the performance of submarines 17 Flow line focus PhD candidate Curtis

Armstrong has partnered with deepwater engineering specialists INTECSEA 18 Industry stakeholder survey 19 Logistical dream Hard work and a helping

hand lead to perfect job

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AMC’s top goal is to consolidate its position as one of the leading international maritime universities and increase the impact of its voice on global maritime issues.

Six academic staff members attended the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) Annual General Assembly 2015 in Rijeka, Croatia, in October. They presented on topics including the impact of changed education and training regulations for safer ships and crews; the use of authentic assessment to enhance seafarer student engagement; the implications of lack of global uniformity in assessment under the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) code on the outsourcing of seafarer employees; the challenges and opportunities in the migration from diploma to degree; and taking the concept to reality in distance delivery of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) STCW competency courses.

On the use of marine bridge simulators for research, an AMC paper was presented on how well the results translate into real-world operations. On the engineering side of shipping, staff presented on the use of electro-technologies for energy efficiency and low carbon emissions; the problems of the decade of delay in the ratification of the ballast water management convention; and as a progress report on an IAMU-funded project into how to measure and assess ship emissions.

IAMU has strongly supported the six aims of its Tasmanian Statement which was agreed to through leadership by AMC at last year’s assembly in Tasmania. These are the provision of quality sea time for cadets; to work with the maritime industry to focus applied maritime research; to link research to the IMO, the World Maritime University/IAMU journal and AGA conference papers; to achieve IAMU functional and regional cooperation; to strengthen membership and engage all members; and to find a common position and voice of maritime educators.

IAMU is implementing action through funding a call for projects which support the aims of the Tasmanian Statement.

Finally, AMC has been elected as the Chair of the International Executive Board of the IAMU for a twoyear term from April 2016.

Follow me on twitter @AMC_Principal

Cover image: Complex cavitating flow over a hydrofoil tested in AMC’s cavitation tunnel (CAVITATION RESEARCH LABORATORY).

ISSUE #9

PETER MORRIS MEDAL

3

ANTARCTIC VOYAGES FOSTER PASSION FOR ENVIRONMENT While safety is a critical aspect on any ship, it is highlighted when working in the harsh, isolated and unpredictable Antarctic environment.

Scott Laughlin’s commitment to safe, efficient maritime operations and environmental preservation in this region has been recognised with the prestigious Peter Morris Medal.

Mr Laughlin completed a Diploma of Applied Science (Nautical Science) in 1992 and embarked upon a seafaring career that took him around the world on container vessels and bulk carriers, as well as navigating the Australian coastline on cargo ships.

After seven years with the Australian shipping industry, he went to Antarctica on the Aurora Australis and has spent the past 20 years working as crew member and master of the research vessel. These voyages have fostered an awareness and appreciation of the Antarctic environment and a commitment to ensuring its preservation.

“I am passionate about our environment and the Southern Ocean along with its mood

SCOTT LAUGHLIN

The medal follows an annual competition to recognise an AMC alumnus who has made a significant contribution to the enhancement of the maritime industry in the area of safety, environmental responsibility, or the development of international merchant shipping operations and standards.

swings, the sub-Antarctic islands, Antarctica and, of course, the region’s abundant wildlife.

Antarctica is truly magical, a very special place that I will never get sick of, no matter how many times I travel there,” Mr Laughlin said.

“I think the most challenging thing is to learn how to navigate in the sea ice most efficiently without damaging the vessel and endangering the lives of people on board.”

In 2013, Mr Laughlin was awarded an Australian Antarctic Medal from the Australian Antarctic Division for his exemplary service ensuring that operations were conducted safely and with due regard to the Antarctic environment. In particular, he provided critical advice in a situation requiring the refuelling of Mawson station by helicopter due to troubling ice conditions.

“The particular skills you need for working in the Antarctic include understanding the very unpredictable weather patterns and having a good knowledge of sea ice,” Mr Laughlin said.

“Everything you do down there is a learning process. Year after year you learn more and more – which is another thing that keeps your interest in the job.”

Mr Laughlin no longer works on the Aurora Australis but keeps active within the Antarctic scene as an ice pilot and consulting on the proposed new icebreaker to replace the Aurora.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS We are seeking nominations for the 2015 Peter Morris Prize. If you know an AMC alumnus who has made a significant contribution to the enhancement of the maritime industry, we want to hear from you!

Please visit our website for full details on how to nominate and the selection criteria: www.amc.edu.au/ peter-morris-prize

He is currently building a 16-metre aluminium yacht, Convergence I, and hopes to use it to connect voyagers with the natural wonders of this breathtaking region and help them better understand its rich environment through scientific research. ■ ABOVE BOARD

4

AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES

UNDERWATER ROCKY CLIFFS AND CHANNELS, SLUMP FEATURES AND EXPOSED BEDROCK TELL A STORY ABOUT THE GEOLOGICAL AND GLACIOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE REGION

Uncovering the secrets of Lake St Clair

ISSUE #9

AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES

A research project mapping the floor of Australia’s deepest glacial lake hopes to shine a light on the underwater environment and uncover clues as to how it formed.

Naval architecture student Sam Hunnibell used the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) UBCGavia to map the significant lake bed features of Lake St Clair in the Tasmanian Highlands as part of his final-year thesis.

The survey revealed underwater rocky cliffs and channels, slump features and exposed bedrock which tell a story about the geological and glaciological history of the region.

with lake bed mapping. The main research question was to discover how to successfully apply this technology to mapping lake beds, particularly for other lakes where access is impossible for small vessels.

The project was co-supervised

by Dr Vanessa Lucieer from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies and Dr Alex Forrest from AMC. The results will feed into Bare Earth Tasmania – a project run by University of Tasmania Professor Matt King that aims to create a digital elevation model of Tasmania, including the lake bottoms, to reconstruct past glacier environments.

“This research shows how AUV mounted acoustics can be used to accurately identify glacial features that occurred during the last Tasmanian glacial maximum 20,000 years ago. It provides the foundation for improving lake surveys, which could potentially impact future limnology research and geological surveys,” Mr Hunnibell said.

“Refining acoustic methods for different mapping applications such as lake environments is an important step in challenging our ability to adapt our skills and technology to answer relevant questions for all sorts of disciplines. It is exciting to be able to deploy our equipment in different environments and reveal features that have never been seen,” Dr Lucieer said.

While AUVs are commonly used to map the ocean floor there hasn’t been as much work done

For Mr Hunnibell, the final-year thesis research experience has armed him with invaluable

5

project management skills as he graduates from university to embark upon an engineering career.

“A key challenge that I had to overcome was developing an awareness of AUV mapping processes, from minimal knowledge about how they work to doing an extensive investigation into potential ways of improving the survey methods.

I also had to learn several new programs to analyse the data that we collected,” he said.

As well as developing technical knowledge, the project helped build effective communication and collaboration skills as he liaised with a number of different parties to progress each stage.

“Seeing results from a lot of hard work and effort is what inspires me and drives me to work on projects such as these, as the end result is very rewarding.”

The project team would like to acknowledge the support of the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service, the staff at Lake St Clair National Park and Mineral Resources Tasmania in this research endeavour. ■

PIC SUPPLIED

NEW FACILITY TO BUILD ON AUV EXPERTISE be procured Gateway AUV – a next generation hybrid underwater robot capable of operating in polar environments.

The Gateway AUV is part of the $24 million Antarctic Gateway Partnership, a Special Research Initiative of the Australian Research Council that aims to provide new insights into the role of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean in the global climate system. AMC Principal Professor Neil Bose said the development would bring a range of social and economic benefits to the Launceston

region. “This is an exciting new development for AMC, the University of Tasmania and the state of Tasmania.

It will be unique within Australia and one of just a handful of comparable facilities globally, allowing us to be on the cuttingedge of research in this field,” Professor Bose said.

Launceston firm Artas Architects was tasked with designing a facility big enough to house the Gateway AUV, which will be up to 8 metres long, more than 1 metre wide and weigh about 3 tonnes. Building works are

expected to be completed mid-2016 to coincide with the arrival of the new robot.

Overseeing the development of the new facility and the assembly of its fleet is a team of AUV engineers including Dr Alex Forrest and facility coordinator Peter King.

“Our major focus for the next three years will be to procure and customise the Gateway AUV in readiness for deployment in 2018, the final year of the Antarctic Gateway Partnership project. After that, we will then have the concentration of specialist

PETER KING

Building works will soon start on a new $750,000 state-of-the-art facility set to position Tasmania as a world leader in underwater robotic technologies.

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) facility will house a fleet of robots able to be programmed to survey the ocean’s depths and collect data on research missions.

This fleet includes UBC-Gavia and Mullaya, which are already based at AMC and used for various Defence and industrypartnered research projects, and the soon-to-

equipment and personnel required to pursue other research projects,” he said.

Five new staff members have been recruited to help run the facility, including lab manager Alfian Marzuki, who joins AMC from Indonesia, and facility co-ordinator Peter King from Newfoundland, Canada.

ABOVE BOARD

6

CO-OPERATIVE ENGINEERING PROGRAM

CO-OP

WHAT IS THE CO-OP PROGRAM? This integrated model of higher education allows students to extend their degrees by one year and combine university studies with periods of paid work placements.

The work placements, totalling up to 17

immersion WORK PLACEMENTS HELP GIVE STUDENTS A TASTE OF THE ACTION

Honing his skills: Toby Pearce.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVE Maritime engineering students Toby Pearce and David Gordon have honed their project management skills and gained vital industry experience during a work placement at Serco Defence.

months over the course of the five-year degree, are fulfilled under the supervision of professional engineers.

The program is available to students undertaking a Bachelor of Engineering in

The pair are both enrolled in AMC’s Co-Operative Engineering Program and were competitively selected by Serco to join its Contract Assets Acquisition Program in Sydney in late 2014.

Serco manages the fleet auxiliary support program on behalf of the Royal Australia Navy, and over the past few years this has expanded to include acquisition of assets including some much larger seagoing vessels.

The students joined teams preparing detailed maintenance plans for vessels including two new submarine support Escape Gear and Rescue Gear Ships that were built in Vietnam and expected to arrive at Garden Island, Western Australia.

Their time was split between working at program office in the Sydney CBD and on site at the Navy base in Woolloomooloo.

“As part of the asset acquisition team that buys new vessels, there was a great deal to learn about the engineering process,” Mr Pearce said.

SUPPLIED

ISSUE #9

Ocean Engineering, Naval Architecture or Marine and Offshore Engineering who have a minimum ATAR of 85 and maintain a credit average.

“I spent seven months at Serco and being there for an extended period of time allowed me to fully immerse myself as part of the team. I was able to see the range of vessel projects that Serco runs move through several different phases, including the end of some long-running projects, the beginning of another, and the different acceptance phases.

“I was able to work for several different members of the team including the logistics manager, safety engineer, engineering manager and the transition into service manager.”

Mr Pearce said his studies had provided a solid foundation heading in to the work placement, and he was pleased to note some parallels between the two experiences.

“The AMC lecturers do a great job of creating course content that reflects real-world engineering,” he said.

‘The students were quick to impress and keen to learn. Their academic levels and experience made them ideal support’

CO-OPERATIVE ENGINEERING PROGRAM

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE Participating in the Co-Operative Engineering Program not only allows students to grow their professional experience, it also gives companies the opportunity to strengthen their future engineering talent pool.

“The students were quick to impress and keen to learn. Their academic levels and experience made them ideal to support the teams, while freeing up more senior engineering staff to deliver improved business outcomes,” he said.

The students gleaned invaluable knowledge from working closely with experienced staff members and were supervised and mentored by Dr Alex Robbins, the Contract Assets Acquisition Program Engineering Manager overseeing the design and delivery of the vessels.

“The advantage of having two interns meant that I was able to give them greater responsibilities because they were able to work together to complete the tasks,” Dr Robbins said.

“Throughout their time at Serco they worked on several different vessels and spent the majority of their time in the office in the heart of Sydney CBD, although they were also able to travel down to Garden Island Navy base at Woolloomooloo. At one point they were fortunate enough to enter the dry dock at Garden Island to witness one of the vessels have its propeller replaced.”

Mr Lonsdale remarked that while there is a big difference between university and professional life, the students proved they were highly capable of making the transition.

“It was evident that the variety of challenges in AMC’s undergraduate course prepared Toby and David for the problem solving skills needed in a professional environment,” Mr Lonsdale said.

SUPPLIED

Serco Defence Corporate Engineering manager Michael Lonsdale said taking on two Co-op students had been a positive experience for the business.

7

Positive experience: Left, engineering manager Alex Robbins and, right, supervisor and mentor Michael Lonsdale.

On the job: The students joined teams preparing detailed maintenance plans for vessels.

“The Co-Op Program is ideal if you are looking for keen, hardworking junior engineers that are flexible and able to adapt to any situation.

It’s also an effective way of training potential employees for the future. We are looking to continue the program and potentially extend it to include sponsoring a PhD student.” ■

For further details or to register your company’s interest in participating in the program, please contact Industry Coordinator Mike Plakalovic on Michael.Plakalovic@utas.edu.au or +61 3 6324 5007.

SUPPLIED

ABOVE BOARD

8

SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY

CREW LEADS WAY WITH SIMULATED ICEBREAKER RESEARCHERS DEVELOP VIRTUAL MODEL TO HELP TRAIN TEAMS TO FIND SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT

Joining forces: Aurora Australis Captain Murray Doyle, researcher Paul Brown and Third Officer Katrina Beams.

A simulator that trains icebreaker crews to safely navigate polar waters is one step closer to reality after validation of the virtual model of the Aurora Australis at AMC’s Centre for Maritime Simulations.

“It’s pretty close to the ship’s operational parameters – when you’re steering and using the ship’s thrusters you get the same feeling as if you were operating the Aurora Australis,” Captain Doyle said.

“During that voyage I collected more than 40 days of data, photos and videos on the ship’s performance in conditions ranging from open waters to heavy seas, icebreaking and snowstorms,” Mr Brown said.

Aurora Australis Captain Murray Doyle and Third Officer Katrina Beams put the virtual icebreaker through its paces over three days of testing, providing feedback on the accuracy of ship-ice interaction. And the verdict?

This final phase of testing marked the end of the project’s practical component for researcher Paul Brown, who spent seven weeks aboard the real icebreaker collecting data on how she behaved in a range of conditions.

“All of this information was used to develop the simulated Antarctic environment and ice breaking part of the ship model.

“The aim was to create a virtual training tool that was as close to the real-world environment as possible, and there is no better person to validate our simulated model than the captain of the Aurora himself.”

CHRIS CRERAR

ISSUE #9

The three-year project was developed to meet the future training needs of companies such as P&O Maritime, who must comply with a new international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters that is expected to be introduced in January 2017.

It will be a mandatory requirement for all chief mates,

SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY

9

COURTESY P&O MARITIME

‘The aim was to create a virtual training tool that was as close to the realworld environment as possible’ masters and navigation officers to hold formal ice navigation qualifications.

Captain Doyle said there were a range of benefits to completing an ice navigation course in a simulator before encountering the real thing.

“Airline pilots are put in simulators well before they’re allowed to go near a cockpit of an aircraft, so using a simulator gives you a lot more confidence and training to actually do these things,” he said.

“It lays a basic foundation for what you will need to learn later on.

“The simulator will be an important tool for the training of new and existing officers – it will give them a better understanding of the interaction of ship operations in ice, leading to greater safety and efficiency and reducing wear and tear on the vessel.”

P&O Maritime has worked closely with Mr Brown on the project with the intention of using the virtual model of the Aurora Australis to train its ice pilots.

Mr Brown is now consulting with commercial arm AMC Search to develop and approve two new ice navigation courses using the

Helping hand: P&O Maritime intends to use the virtual model of the Aurora Australis to train its ice pilots.

simulated training tools. The aim is to have the products online next year in preparation for the 2016/17 Antarctic season.

“The real satisfaction will come when I see experienced ice navigators such as Captain Murray Doyle and Katrina Beams leaving here with their internationally-recognised qualifications. That really will be the icing on the cake,” he said. ■

For further information or to register your interest in the new ice navigation training program, please contact AMC Search on +61 3 6324 9850.

ABOVE BOARD

10 VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING

NEW PROGRAMS A comprehensive review of AMC’s VET program has led to the development of two new maritime logistics courses to help train workers in the wharves and stevedoring sector.

According to research from the Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council, there is an emerging skills gap with 63,000 people identified as needing training on the wharves in Australia.

Associate Professor Peter Whitley said the new courses were being developed at Certificate III and IV level and would be offered as early as possible in 2016, after formal approval.

“AMC is looking to grow its course offerings and has taken a strong view about developing new products around what the industry wants,” he said.

“One of the things that industry has identified is they want more training in maritime logistics.

“We already offer diploma and degree level qualifications in maritime and logistics management, and these new vocational courses will start to pick up on the training requirements for entry level positions.

“The courses will be delivered in different ways using blended learning and new technologies such as online learning. We want to make them as accessible as we can with the least amount of disruption to business as possible.”

Associate Professor Whitley said there would also be a restructure to the delivery of some of the traditional seafaring courses.

For enquiries about the new maritime logistics programs, please email peter.whitley@utas.edu.au or phone +61 3 6324 9672.

ISSUE #9

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING 11

WHITLEY TAKES UP NEW ROLE TO HELP DRIVE VET GROWTH AGENDA NEW COURSES, FLEXIBLE DELIVERY AND INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION AMONG KEY CHANGES TO HELP ATTRACT STUDENTS

AMC plans to significantly increase its VET student numbers by developing new courses to meet changing industry demands, improving flexible delivery options and expanding into key international markets.

Associate Professor Whitley has held senior executive positions across both the university and TAFE sectors and joins AMC from the Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE. He has extensive international experience rolling out vocational training programs in Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and sub-Sahara Africa.

CHRIS CRERAR

“AMC’s history is strongly linked to shipboard training, and while that will continue to be a focus we must also look at expanding to meet the needs of the entire industry,” Associate Professor Whitley said. “The maritime industry extends to people that work on the wharves: the stevedores, transport and

He sees partnering with companies to tailor programs that meet their specific training requirements as central to growth in the University’s VET sector.

In a competitive marketplace, students and their employers are looking for flexible options that include access to online lectures and resources, on-site course delivery and periods of work integrated learning.

New role: Peter Whitley has taken up the newly created role of Associate Professor of Vocational Education and Training and Deputy Director, National Centre for Ports and Shipping.

Associate Professor Whitley said providing a superior level of service by improving and adapting course delivery options could be AMC’s key point of difference.

‘AMC operates within a global market and must look to new markets to achieve significant growth in student numbers’ “AMC operates within a global market and must look to new markets to achieve significant growth in student numbers.

South-East Asia and Latin

CHRIS CRERAR

Helping to drive this ambitious growth agenda is Peter Whitley, who has taken up the newly created role of Associate Professor of Vocational Education and Training and Deputy Director, National Centre for Ports and Shipping.

logistics personnel, and those responsible for managing staff and financial resources. We need to be exploring training for the whole workforce.”

America in particular are still on an upward track and offer the most potential for growth,” he said.

“AMC VET has the opportunity to position itself as a training provider of choice by partnering with trans-national companies and their trans-global workforce.”

Associate Professor Whitley is also aiming to help AMC capitalise on the changing global economy and increasing demand for technical skills and knowledge in the maritime industry. ■ ABOVE BOARD

12 COVER STORY

THE VIOLENCE, CHAOS AND BEAUTY OF CAVITATION

When fluid flows around an object at high speed, like water around a ship’s propeller, it may form bubbles like water boiling.

This phenomenon is called cavitation.

Instead of temperature increase causing the water to boil, a reduction in pressure causes the bubbling in cavitation. The process is violent and chaotic as bubbles form and collapse with enough power to erode metal. It also creates a lot of noise, which is a serious problem for vessels that require low noise levels for their survival.

EXPERIMENTAL GROUP STUDYING FLUID MECHANICS AND NAVAL HYDRODYNAMICS IN A BID TO REDUCE NOISE GENERATED BY SHIPS AND SUBMARINES

Associate Professor Paul Brandner is the leader of an experimental group studying fluid mechanics and naval hydrodynamics at AMC’s Cavitation Research Laboratory (CRL).

Bubble clues: A microbubble generator used to measure flow and model cavitation inception. It actually uses cavitation at tiny scales to produce the microbubbles.

CAVITATION RESEARCH LABORATORY

ISSUE #9

“Cavitation is of particular interest in ship and submarine hydrodynamics as it causes a range of problems for propulsion and control equipment including unpredictable flows, thrust breakdown, unsteady loads, vibration, noise and metal erosion,” Associate Professor Brandner said.

“Understanding cavitation is therefore vital in reducing the noise generated by ships and submarines, and important for avoiding detection or reducing environmental noise pollution.

Cavitation may also significantly reduce operability and ultimate life of equipment due to its destructive nature.”

The $10 million CRL was developed under the Commonwealth Government’s AusIndustry Major National Research Facilities Program through collaboration between AMC, the University of Tasmania and the Australian Defence

COVER STORY 13

World-class: The $10 million Cavitation Research Laboratory features a water tunnel (right) and bubble dynamics chamber (below).

CAVITATION IS ALL AROUND US SCOTT GELSTON

Hard at work: CRL Manager Associate Professor Paul Brandner with student Matthew Trump and Dr Katrina de Graaf.

Although rarely seen, cavitation is actually very common and applications for understanding the phenomenon are broad.

Cavitation happens in liquid flows in fuel injectors in cars, ships, aircraft, hydroelectric turbines and rocket fuel pumps. It also happens in biological and natural processes.

The snapping shrimp and mantis shrimp use cavitation to capture their prey, and cavitation can happen in trees when they draw groundwater up through specialised tubes called xylem.

It can also be found in the medical field, where ultrasound is used to create localised cavitation for noninvasive diagnostics, surgery and drug delivery.

CHRIS CRERAR

‘Our facilities are some of the most advanced internationally for the type of work that we are doing’ Science and Technology Group (DSTG).

the facility was commissioned in 2011.

It features a suite of modern world-class facilities including a variable pressure water tunnel, or cavitation tunnel, used for experimental modelling of the basic physics of hydrodynamic cavitation.

“Our facilities are some of the most advanced internationally for their size and the type of work we are doing,” Associate Professor Brandner said.

“A major part of our research program is studying the start or inception of cavitation which is dependent on tiny, micronsized bubbles present in all practical flows. Many of the physical processes involved with cavitation are common with bubbly flows generally, which are also studied in the CRL. Our tunnel has the unique capability that it can be

Research is largely focused around Australia’s future submarine program funded through DSTG, as well as related studies funded through the Australian Research Council and the United States Office of Naval Research totalling over $4 million since

365 THE TUNNEL CAN HOLD

tonnes

OF WATER AND HAS A MAXIMUM FLOW RATE OF 4.5 TONNES PER SECOND

artificially seeded with bubbles ranging from micron sizes through to tens of millimetres to create a range of flows of interest.”

The knowledge uncovered by Associate Professor Brandner and his team is used by modelling experts to develop computational tools to predict fluid flow as accurately as possible. What drives him is the sheer enjoyment of his work.

“Cavitation is captivating. It is beautiful and interesting. It is also chaotic. There is so much we don’t understand, and every time you think you’ve solved a problem, there is something new,” he said. ■ ABOVE BOARD

14 COVER STORY

CURRENT RESEARCH The Cavitation Research Laboratory team is working with national and international collaborators on three key projects investigating different elements of noise reduction for naval vessels.

Associate Professor Paul Brandner said the objective of the research is to determine how to make ships and submarines as quiet as possible.

AUSTAL

The first project, funded by a $1 million grant from the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group, will study the effect of microbubble populations and turbulent flow on tip vortex cavitation inception. It is part of a greater collaborative program with the Technical Research and Development Institute of the Japanese Ministry of Defence.

“An understanding of the physics and the ability to predict when cavitation starts is vital to improving the operation of ships and submarines and reducing radiated noise,” Associate Professor Brandner said.

‘Adaptive composite propellers are potentially quieter than metal propellers, as well as offering improvements in efficiency and fuel consumption’

“Lifting surfaces such as propeller blades and hydrofoils generate swirling flows at their tips, known as tip vortices, in which there are low pressures. For this reason, tip vortex cavitation is often the first type of cavitation to occur about propellers and hydrofoils.”

by the United States Office of Naval Research and the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group, and involves collaboration with the University of Michigan on the experimental program and the Universities of Minnesota and Iowa for complementary computational work.

The second project will study the complex bubbly wake ships leave behind that makes them vulnerable to detection.

The cavitation tunnel will be used to create test flows with varying bubble sizes to study the effects of turbulence and cavitation created by propellers and hydrofoils on passing bubble populations.

This $1 million project is funded ISSUE #9

The third project looks at the role marine propellers play in noise production and will explore whether composite propellers offer a solution for reduced sound radiation.

“Marine propellers are a harmful source of noise in the marine environment, disturbing animal behaviour, revealing the location of naval vessels and interfering with sonar operation,” Associate

On the radar: Complex bubbly wake trails behind a Littoral Combat Ship, leaving it vulnerable to detection.

Professor Brandner said.

“Adaptive composite propellers are potentially quieter than metal propellers, as well as offering improvements in efficiency and fuel consumption. We are aiming to provide advanced numerical capabilities that will enable quieter marine propeller designs.”

AMC is collaborating with the University of New South Wales to acquire experimental data sets to develop and validate computational models for noise prediction. The project is funded through a $1 million Australian Research Council Linkage Project grant and supported by Pacific Engineering Systems International, Bundeswehr University Munich, Germany, and RK Acoustics, UK. ■

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16 INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

SUBMARINE STUDY TAKES SHAPE Dr Zhi Leong is working on a three-year project to develop a set of numerical modelling tools to test the performance of submarines.

He will use numerical modelling and physical experiments to predict how generic submarine shapes behave when they are moving in water.

“The aim is to quantify the vehicle’s hydrodynamic characteristics through water as we can use that information to improve upon its performance – it gives us an idea how fast it can travel and how well it can turn,” Dr Leong said.

“Turning a submarine is not as easy as turning a car; when a submarine starts to turn it starts drifting. We need to know how it behaves so we can develop

AMC SEARCH MAKES A SPLASH

measures to have full control of the vehicle at all times in order to avoid hitting a seabed or another vehicle.

“With numerical modelling and physical experiments, we can investigate both the characteristics of the vehicle and the fluid around it.

“Once we establish a strong understanding of the characteristics, we can then predict the performance of a vehicle or even manipulate the vehicle’s features and the fluid around it to improve its performance.”

The project is funded by a $167,000 grant through the Defence Science and Technology Group and the outcomes will be used for future research applications for the next 15-20 years. ■

Ocean expert: Dr Zhi Leong aims to predict how generic submarine shapes behave when they are moving in water.

AMC Search has partnered with industry clients in Indonesia and Japan to deliver tailored on-the-job maritime training and develop the skills of instructors and operational staff.

A group of 30 Indonesian students were trained in vessel traffic services (VTS) operation at a new facility in Jakarta; while 40 employees from Japanese ferry company Sado Kisen completed a highspeed vessel safety course at Naoetsu port.

AMC Search Deputy CEO Cathy Wilson said there was growing demand for VTS operators due to significant expansion in the sector in Indonesia.

“VTS operators are responsible for coordinating the movement of all vessels in the harbour area, ensuring a safe passage without risk of colliding with other vessels or shore installations,” she said.

“The intensity and responsibility of their job is comparable to that of an air traffic controller.

“Indonesia is currently building and commissioning a network of 50 VTS facilities across the archipelago.

“Each of these facilities will operate 24 hours a day and require an extensive workforce of internationally-certified, English speaking VTS operators, supervisors, managers and technicians.”

SCOTT GLETSON

ISSUE #9

INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS 17

methodology, and conserving the environment in which they operate.”

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PHD PARTNERSHIP WELDS RESEARCH WITH INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE PhD candidate Curtis Armstrong has partnered with deepwater engineering specialists INTECSEA on a research project to help protect and get better performance from their riser flow line systems.

Riser flow lines act as the arteries to the oil and gas sector, transporting oil, gas and other chemicals through a hose-like system on subsea installations.

Their effective and safe design is paramount to the success of a venture.

Mr Armstrong will simulate the floating facility, its riser system and the environmental conditions in which it operates using response-based analysis (RBA) modelling. The three-year project is jointly funded by the Australian Maritime College and INTECSEA, part of Advisian consulting business Worley Parsons.

RBA modelling has already

been proven on ship-shaped floating vessels, but this project will be the first to apply it to riser systems.

“Risers are difficult to analyse because they are mostly flexible, hose-like structures of complex construction with spans reaching from sea-surface to seabed,” Mr Armstrong said.

“A lot can happen when this system is exposed to such a complex force of nature as the ocean. Another factor is that the riser system is joined with a floating vessel and its mooring anchors with their own dynamic responses.

“My research aims to develop RBA for riser flow lines when they are coupled with the other systems and help protect the arteries of the offshore oil and gas industry by preventing loss of assets through failure, reducing costs through efficient design

Flow line focus: PhD candidate Curtis Armstrong.

Until recently, companies have relied on data collected from ocean buoys measuring wave height and wind speed to determine the extreme conditions that will act on their multi-million dollar equipment.

This modelling approach is flawed as it predicts only ‘perfect storm’ scenarios, or the biggest possible wave that could hit the system.

It’s not necessarily one big hit that will break a structure, rather the many smaller ones that will resonate with its natural frequency and cause it to fail. RBA modelling will provide a much clearer picture of what happens when the system is exposed to every single data packet of the buoy that has been floating in the ocean for decades, not just the big hits.

Perth-based offshore engineering consultancy INTECSEA will provide in-house supervision and part-time employment for four months each year during Mr Armstrong’s PhD tenure. “This partnership is unique to my project and will provide a great experience meshing research and industry experience with a common objective,” he said.

The project was proposed by INTECSEA and the research and tools developed will be used by the company for its front-end engineering services.

The results will be applied to riser design and also integration of the risers with mooring systems and floating structures. ■ ABOVE BOARD

18 NEWS IN BRIEF

STAFF PROFILE Name: Professor Natalia Nikolova Job title: Head of Maritime and Logistics Management team and Deputy Director, National Centre for Ports and Shipping.

How long have you been at AMC? I joined AMC on September 4 from the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy in Varna, Bulgaria.

Tell us about a major project you’re working on.

As a researcher, my major project activity currently focuses on studies of computer intensive simulation and their application in hypothesis testing, with a focus on medical studies (analysis of efficiency of medical treatments and procedures).

What is your focus for the next 12 months?

To inspire and motivate people in the Maritime and Logistics Management group to broaden the expansion of our programs in the international arena, which can in turn attract more students from different countries to come here and study. It is also on my agenda to foster high-level research and encourage externally funded research projects. In my view, this is another way to diversify academic work and achieve high-quality academic performance.

If time travel was no barrier, which era, place or event would you most like to experience?

Perhaps I would go back to ancient times and search for the civilisations that were lost in history, civilisations of which we know little nowadays.

What are you reading right now?

I am going through a series of reading and video materials describing the history of maths and tracing mathematical knowledge from ancient times to present day.

ISSUE #9

INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER SURVEY The Australian Maritime College is committed to providing education, training, consultancy and research that is relevant and responsive to the changing needs of industry.

In 2015, the college sought feedback from industry stakeholders about its performance, what it was doing well and what could be done more effectively.

An online survey was distributed in January to identify key issues and opportunities. After this, Thompson Clarke Shipping were engaged to undertake individual interviews with nominated organisations to expand on these issues.

The first survey found that more than 90 per cent of respondents thought AMC’s courses were relevant to industry demands, and 94 per cent said they would positively recommend the institute to their professional networks.

AMC staff were considered to be competent and the infrastructure regarded as good. Most respondents were unaware of the detail of research programs, and those who were tended to refer to business-specific experiences.

A key issue was communication, with most respondents seeking more regular engagement and consultation from AMC. Most supported a regular e-news and also highlighted the importance of embracing social media.

AMC Principal Professor Neil Bose said as a result of this feedback, a new quarterly e-news would be introduced from 2016 to complement the annual print edition of Above Board.

“AMC is strengthening its position as one of the top international maritime universities and we will continue to work towards our vision of inspiring and shaping the maritime world.

The transition to being part of a university has bolstered AMC’s global brand and enhanced our visibility, enabling us to attract world-class academics and teaching staff,” he said.

“Our training, education and research programs are extremely

applied in focus, ensuring outcomes are relevant to the end user. We pride ourselves on being a leading advocate of industrypartnered research and have programs in which PhD students work part-time in industry or are engaged in placements as part of their research. We also regularly engage co-supervisors and advisors from industry to ensure that the research is of value.”

Professor Bose thanked those who participated in the survey, acknowledging the focus on one segment of AMC’s stakeholder group meant its findings may not be representative of all stakeholders. Future surveys may be expanded to include broader groups such as: alumni, current and future student cohorts; professional associations; global maritime research and teaching communities; government and other public/private maritime policy entities.

UPCOMING EVENTS The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Australian Maritime College are jointly hosting Ergoship 2016 in Melbourne from April 6-7, 2016, with a cocktail reception on the evening of April 6.

A maritime human factors conference with the theme “Shaping shipping for people”, Ergoship

2016 aims to provide a national and international forum for the exchange of applied scientific knowledge in the field of human factors within a maritime context.

For more information visit: www.ergoship2016.com.au

STAFF UDATES Captain Clarence Pietersz (pictured right) joins us from Sri Lanka to take up the post of Nautical Science lecturer. He previously worked as Acting Dean and Head of Marine Simulation in the Faculty of Maritime Science at Colombo International Nautical and Engineering College maritime campus.

Mike Plakalovic (pictured far right) has been appointed Industry Co-ordinator for the Co-operative Education Program and joins us from the Human Resources team at the University of Tasmania.

Professor Neil Bose’s appointment as AMC Principal has been continued until January 31, 2021. University of Tasmania

Acting Vice-Chancellor David Sadler announced the extension, saying Professor Bose had made significant progress in establishing a stronger strategic focus; improved financial performance, research and scholarly activity; and enhanced consultative processes for AMC since his appointment in February 2013.

Dr Shuhong Chai, Dr Roberto

Ojeda and Adjunct Professor Stuart Cannon have been appointed to a second term on the International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC) technical committees.

They will serve on the subsea technology, ultimate strength and special craft committees respectively.

ALUMNI PROFILE 19

HARD WORK AND A HELPING HAND LEAD TO DREAM JOB Martin Valencia has landed his dream job in logistics thanks to his own tenacity and assistance from the University of Tasmania’s career mentor program.

The 21-year-old says he was destined to enter the maritime field as he grew up watching his cousins and uncles work as seafarers and his father in various roles including maritime engineer, technical superintendent and shipowner’s representative.

He is now working as a freight forwarder at APC Logistics in Sydney, where he is responsible for the transportation of national and international cargo.

“My role essentially is to have the cargo move from seller to buyer efficiently and effectively; that means liaising with customs, transport companies, shipping lines and clients,” he said.

“It’s an exciting and dynamic role. Every day I get exposed to different types of supply chain situations and every cargo has its own logistical needs for it to be moved on time in the right condition. I am able to apply the knowledge I gained from my studies to see the bigger picture.

Being a freight forwarder is great as I’ve learned how unique and challenging the logistics industry can be, and it inspires me to

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Mr Valencia continued this family tradition, albeit following a different stream, when he moved from Japan to Australia in 2012 to undertake a Bachelor of Business (Maritime and Logistics Management) at AMC.

work even harder to exceed expectations on a daily basis.”

Mr Valencia says the advice and guidance he received under the University’s career mentor program helped him to secure employment in Australia.

As an international student without a work visa or permanent resident status, he faced a series of setbacks during his job search and was close to calling it quits due to the number of rejection letters he received.

However, with help and encouragement from his mentor who was a logistics industry professional, he polished his resume, sharpened his interview skills and learnt how to turn his international background from being a challenge to an advantage.

“After taking my mentor’s advice, I was able to get through all the

High hopes: Martin Valencia is working as a freight forwarder at APC Logistics in Sydney, where he is responsible for the transportation of national and international cargo.

interview stages and land my dream job at Sydney,” he said.

“I really do think without the career mentor program and my mentor I would be back in my country regretting not being able to pursue my dream to work for the logistics industry in Australia.”

With the foundation of his career now well established, Mr Valencia plans to continue building on it to fulfill his aspiration of being a successful maritime and logistics professional capable of handling large key accounts and any challenge that comes his way.

“After a few years, I hope to establish my own maritime and logistics firm and have a name for myself in the industry,” he said. “Dreaming does not cost anything they say, but I intend to realise them no matter what the cost is.” ■ ABOVE BOARD

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