Harbour Master has ports in good hands

Now based in Launceston, he said it was “…great to come home.”

“Everyone has been fantastic since I arrived back at TasPorts, from the initial welcome and throughout the formal induction.”

Born in Sydney but a Tasmanian resident since 1987, Mick worked at the Port of Port Hedland (the world’s largest bulk export port) as a Marine Pilot since leaving the state in 2009.

“The last two-and-a-half-years was obviously challenging for everyone,” he said.

“I wanted to come home and work closer to home.

“There are obviously some significant differences between now and when I last worked here.

“The Safety Management Systems business wide have improved and the statewide Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) had not been introduced before I left.

“It is now much easier to monitor all TasPorts’ ports through the VTS which makes the Harbour Master’s task a little easier.”

While the Harbour Masters role is, amongst other things, responsible for “…overseeing the navigational safety function to ensure TasPorts’ ongoing compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements and obligations under the Deed of Agreement with Marine and Safety Tasmania and the Environment Protection Authority…”, Mick summarised his role like this:

“My main focus – and that of the Harbour Master position – is to assist everyone on and off the water as best I can.

“I am very much looking forward to working in the role alongside the team at TasPorts and very closely with all users of the state’s waterways.”