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ALL IN A ROW: Marine Technicians from FIMA Sydney took time out in Darwin recently to enhance their competency logs and gain experience on patrol boats. r |
Photo: LAC Brett Turne |
Volume 49, No. 15, August 24, 2006
FIMA Darwin has given 15 AB/SMN Marine Technicians (MTs) from FIMA Sydney the opportunity to progress their competency logs and get some life at sea experience in Australia’s tropical north.
The initiative was instigated by FIMA Darwin (A/OIC WOMT Rob Drew) and with support from FIMA Sydney, CCSG, DNPR(E&L), COMAUSNAVPBGRP, DSCM and HMAS Coonawarra, the plan came to fruition when the 15 touched down in Darwin last month.
It is an initiative designed to have the dual advantages of providing sailors with every opportunity to progress, to completion, their competency logs and gain first hand experience of life on an Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB), Fremantle Class Patrol Boat (FCPB) or a Landing Craft Heavy (LCH).
Rarely do sailors who are contemplating becoming a member of the Minor War Vessel (MWV) fraternity, get the chance to try before taking the plunge and volunteering for what is a significant life style change.
The sailors are currently posted to the Sydney Skills Development Centre and in the FIMA Sydney workshops. They are all gaining an insight into life in the Top End and the differences in work and living conditions on the ships and in the support units that help protect Australia’s valuable fish stocks and guard our northern approaches.
Seagoing support has been received from HMA Ships Darwin, Townsville, Dubbo, Geraldton, Launceston, Bathurst (ATTACK 1), Balikpapan and NUSHIP Maitland (ASSAIL 2), allowing all 15 personnel to experience life at sea.
More experience will be gained as other units nominate training bunk availability. Some of the sailors have even gained trips to Papua New Guinea and Australian ports such as Geraldton, Cairns and Broome.
FIMA Darwin’s workshops and access to a variety of class of ships, combined with a highly skilled and motivated team of qualified Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Work Place Assessors (WPAs), ensure the training and guidance needed for a large range of MT tasks is met. When not seariding, the sailors have been integrated into a comprehensive work and training program specifically designed to maximise the time they have in FIMA Darwin to complete their competency logs and thus gain their Certificate III qualification.
The sailors were also involved in the FIMA Darwin technical display at the Royal Darwin Show.
