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What’s going on?JULY 2013

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CONTENTSBehind the director’s desk 3

the Go files 4

hard hats: did you know 5

Vessel uPdate 6

commercial news 7

senior officers conference 8

Go inshore news 9

master’s Journal 10

technical news 11

uPdate from shared serVices 12

adVice from a retired husBand 14

Payroll ProaGanda 15

hse dashBoard 16

surViVors thank… Go riGel crew 18

ecdis General oPerators course no 23 20

colleGe tour 2013 21

saVinGs adVice from the finance team 23

sinGaPore asia office uPdate 24

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Message from the Managing Director Welcome to the GO MARINE GROUP. I am delighted that you have elected to join GO and I sincerely hope that your career with us will be a long and rewarding one. Since our inception, GO MARINE GROUP has worked tirelessly to build our reputation and to be recognised for our integrity and professionalism in the way we conduct our business. We have set the very highest standards for the quality of service we provide and the responsible way in which we deal with our customers, suppliers and each other. The common values, policies, guidelines and standards on how you are expected to behave in the workplace, make the right decisions and do things the right way are defined in our handbook - the Code of Business Conduct. The Code of Business Conduct brings together our policies on compliance and ethical issues. Each individual at GO shares the same responsibilities and is required to follow the standards as set out in the Code of Business Conduct. This is without exception or compromise. For those who do not follow our Code of Business Conduct there are consequences, including disciplinary action. Our goals cannot be achieved without having your total support, so I urge you to: Read and Understand It If anything is unclear, it is your responsibility to ask Agree to It You are required to sign a declaration at the rear of the Handbook agreeing to abide by the Code of Business Conduct; this is a condition of your employment. Adhere to It GO expect you to follow the rules and uphold our values as outlined in this Handbook Our success and growth relies on each of us adhering to the standards set out in the Code of Business Conduct. By agreeing to live up to the standards of the Code, you play a big part in contributing towards achieving our goal of ‘Being the Marine Services Provider of Choice’. So, with your help, I am confident that our Company will continue to do the right thing, that we will continue to grow and deliver an outstanding service and our reputation for professionalism and integrity will endure. Thank you for commitment and support in this journey and, again, welcome to GO.

Dear all,

Firstly let me congratulate the crew of the GO Rigel, who successfully rescued 11 men from the capsized vessel offshore PNG last 20th June. To the Master, Frank White, and crew, it is a credit to your professionalism and seamanship for the way in which you conducted yourselves during the rescue operation to save our fellow seafarers in their time of need. Thank you.

As you are no doubt aware, the market is currently experiencing a down turn and we are seeing a number of vessels that have been working in Australia this year leave our coast.  In addition to some of our own vessels departing, we have seen some of our Client vessels depart, e.g. the Combi 1, Voyager Explorer and the Aquila Explorer.  With a number of vessels leaving the coast in relatively close proximity, and with more to depart in the coming months, there will be some changes within the fleet to minimise disruption to our permanent workforce.

It is not our intention to move personnel from vessel to vessel on each different swing, but it does become a necessity when the market turns, and of course our wish is to keep everyone employed.  Those of you who have accumulated leave may also be asked to take this in the coming months. Because the market demand is tight within our industry, our situation is no different from what other offshore vessel providers are experiencing, so I ask for your patience and understanding in this regard.

GO Management continues to tender and is working tirelessly with our Clients to ensure we secure further work in the Australian market.  With INPEX and Wheatstone coming along in the near future and companies like Woodside announcing new rigs ,GO’s broad and diverse range of capabilities will play a pivotal role in securing further work for the Company, which will in turn result in opportunities and long term employment for our seafarers.

The industry in Australia is small, and with the international market picking up, the opportunities at present are increasing for our fleet abroad more so than in Australia. However, this does not change our commitment to Australia and we shall continue to maintain a core fleet of vessels based here.

During the down time, GO’s Head Office will be working to ensure compliance across our fleet for MLC06, improving our internal processes and procedures and upgrading our crewing system from AMOS 1 to AMOS 2. 

At this time we will also undergo a change to the management structure of the business, so we are ready and fully resourced when the market improves.

Many of you may have heard rumours in the market of my departure from GO and the appointment of Mr. Ian Del Rosso and Mr. Tony Caccamo.

Firstly, I am not leaving GO.  To further broaden the capabilities within the Company, I will be heading to Singapore, but will remain the Managing Director of the GO MARINE GROUP.

Ian Del Rosso will be assuming the role as Chief Executive Officer.  To support Ian and to further grow our Company, Tony Caccamo will assume the role as Chief Operating Officer.  Both gentlemen will be based in the Perth office and will have responsibilities for all of our fleet, regardless of the country in which our vessels operate. 

Being high profile figures in the resources, oil and gas industry, both Ian and Tony have a thorough understanding of our business and will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Group

I believe in Ian and Tony’s capabilities and I know they will be a critical driving force in assisting me in taking the Group to the next level. Please assist me in welcoming both Ian and Tony to the Group and offer them your full support in their appointed roles.  Ian and Tony will be getting

around the fleet within the first six months of their appointment so they can meet you all personally.

To reiterate, I will remain as the Managing Director, supporting both Ian and Tony, who will report through me.  Together with you all, we are well positioned to build GO into a truly international shipping and marine services company.

As a step closer to realising our growth strategy, GO has, with the support of our banks, recently secured the purchase of the UOS Atlantis (to be renamed GO Spica). The 16300 BHP DP2 AHTS is a big addition to our portfolio of GO MARINE GROUP-owned fleet and further broadens our capability in the deepwater anchor handling market.

In addition, GO has recently taken delivery of the GO Explorer (MT6009L MKII support vessel) that will be gracing our shores in early July, as well as the sister vessel Loch Roag that is on long term charter in the North Sea. Both vessels are 66 man, Diesel electric, comfort class design, equipped with ROV hangers and 25T Active Heave Compensated cranes.

This edition of the newsletter is a longer version than has previously been printed. Apologies for the lengthy articles, but there is a lot going on behind the scenes and a lot to share with you all.

Stay safe and thank you for your support so far this year.

Behind the director’s desk insights from captain garrick stanLeY

Go manaGement continues to tender and is

workinG tirelessly with our clients to ensure we secure

further work in the australian market

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Full name: David Colin OldnallNickname(s): The Dustbin

Position in GO MARINE: Chief EngineerIf you could choose any position in GO Marine, what would it be and why? Managing Director - the top jobDescribe a day at GO MARINE: Start at around 0700, check emails etc; 0730 breakfast; 0745 down to the engine room for a handover, including all the paperwork, and to go over what has happened overnight; 0800 to 1600 watchkeeping in engine room, PM’s, paperwork etc; Then normally take a few hours off for exercise/films; Back to paperwork, emails etc till 2300, then to bed. What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Scratch

Describe your most embarrassing moment? Since joining GO—sitting in the office having my lunch and being told that the whole chicken I was eating could feed a family of 4. What is the highlight in your life thus far? Other than family (marriage, my son etc), passing my Chief Engineers Certificate.If you could have any super power what would it be and why? Telekinesis - the power to move objects, my footie team (The Dockers) would always win the Grand Final.Who are you most envious of? No-one.

What would people say is your weirdest habit? Full on Dockers supporter - I don’t think it’s weird. If you could be the opposite sex for the day what would you do?Sorry not printable.

the GO files

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Head Protection – Did You Know?The medieval knights in their shining armour had the right idea. When saving fair maidens or slaying dragons, they wore fur-lined metal helmets to protect their heads.

Things have changed a bit. Our modern day hard hat was invented in 1919 by a Californian manufacturer of safety equipment. Edward D Bullard patterned his hard hats after the military helmets used during World War 1. He apparently had firsthand experience of the effectiveness of the “tin pots” – even with their limited amount of protection.

Bullard’s first version of a hard hat was made of canvas layered with resin. It was lightweight and sturdy, and it worked. It worked so well, in fact, it became standard equipment during the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in the early 1930’s. Further technical advances have resulted in a lightweight hat with an inner suspension system that is adjustable for comfort.

Yet, some workers still refuse to wear their head protection. Excuses range from: “It’s too heavy”, “It’s too hot”, to “It’s not actually doing anything”. But excuses can’t reverse a permanent disability caused by a preventable head injury.

Proper head protection can help prevent injuries caused by falling objects, bumps, burns and overhead chemical spills. It can also shield your scalp from irritating dusts.

When was the last time you checked your hard hat? Did you know it should be replaced every two years from the date of issue? When issued with a new hard hat, ensure your name and the date is on the inside sticker.

Things you should never do to your hard hat:

• Never carve or paint your name or initials in it, or place stickers all over it. These practices can weaken the protective shell. Instead, wear a colour coded hat if you need to be identified, for example, a green hardhat for short service employees.

• Never remove the inner suspension system. This system is designed to take the force of the blow.

• Never use a Hard Hat that has received a hard blow, even if it looks undamaged. There could be structural damage, so hand it over to your master or supervisor for replacement.

• Do not store items inside your hard hat (I.E Mobile phones), as stored objects as may increase your chance of injury.

• DO not use harsh chemicals to clean your hard hat. Only use warm water with a mild detergent.

• Keep an eye out for your colleagues and contractors

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This Hard Hat was removed from a contractor intending to use it whilst working on board a GO vessel.

WHAT LEVEL OF PROTECTION would this hard hat provide?

ZERO

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VESSEL UPDATE

Every time we visit the ships the first questions asked are “What’s the goss?” “What’s happening?” “Are there any new boats coming down?”

With this being my first article for the newsletter, let me inform everyone of what we know, what we are doing, and where we are going (from an operational perspective anyway).

The fleet is starting to spread throughout the globe, with numerous international contracts being awarded. This is keeping our ships operational despite the constant roller coaster ride of the Australian Oil and Gas Industry.

Whilst the ice is open, the next vessel to sail abroad will be the Sealink 161, which is heading to Sahklin in Russia to continue providing support duties for the Polarcus Alima. The Sealink 161 is just one of a number of vessels that have departed our shores recently, but, as the tides turn, the vessels will come back.

The GO RIGEL has left our coast on contract to Oil Search Ltd, providing supply duties for the Stena Clyde operating out of PNG. The GO RIGEL played a major role in the rescue of 11 crew members from the Mundi Navigator, which overturned in the Gulf of Papua. A special thanks goes to the entire crew onboard the GO RIGEL for their efforts and professionalism in the rescue of the seafarers.

Amongst all this, the GO ACAMAR (West Africa supporting Polarcus Adira), GO CAPELLA (Malaysia supporting Ensco 105) and GO CANOPUS (Vietnam supporting Ocean General) are continuing to perform successfully, with no immediate plans for return to Australia.

On the Australian coast, the newest ship to the fleet, GO EXPLORER, has arrived and been contracted to carry out ROV duties on the Coniston Field. The GO ALTAIR is providing ROV duties for PTTEP for the commissioning of first oil at Montara.

This ship has been a constant work horse over the past 3 years, with back to back charters and very minimal downtime. She has proven herself as a reliable, cost effective and versatile ship. Well done to all the crew who have sailed onboard the GO ALTAIR during this campaign. We are continuing to look for opportunities to further charter her in Australia and will keep you posted as to how we are progressing.

The FOS Polaris completed her charter in May with both Shell and PTTEP. GO’s new approach to managing this style of vessel worked out well, with both Clients being very appreciative of the performance of the ship and her crew.

The UOS Endeavour and GO Lesath are still working in Australia on various long term contracts, whilst the GO Sirius, UOS Discovery and Toisa Solitaire remain on contract for the next few months. There are no immediate plans for any of these vessels to leave Australian waters in the near future. The Nautika Pride’s contract has been extended for a short period.

On a manning front, we will say goodbye to the Combi Dock III, which is due for redelivery in Singapore at the end of September. The Combi Dock I was redelivered 20th of May.

It is, overall, the performance of all our ships and crews that is helping build GO MARINE GROUP into an internationally recognised company which will allow us to provide continuous employment for crew both within Australia and abroad. I look forward to being part of the continual growth in my new role as Marine Operations Manager.

LEE SEubERt

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Six months into 2013 and GO has continued the drive for fleet growth and market expansion. We have conducted some return business and gained new contracts, whilst the GO RIGEL has been redelivered from Origin Energy after a 500+ day contract supporting the Yolla project with zero lost time incidents.

GO OFFSHORE (Asia) Pte Ltd has been awarded the full management for 8 AHTS vessels previously operated by OSM and the technical and manning management for 4 MPSV type vessels from Karp Marine. These additional vessels are currently employed in Mexico, the Mediterranean, West Africa, Persian Gulf and SE Asian markets, which, although they come with their own challenges, the scope of such charters enhances both the GO MARINE GROUP fleet and commercial exposure.

To secure longer term contracts within parts of SE Asia, GO has recognised the need to comply with the cabotage requirements and is pleased to confirm the establishment of GO in both Malaysia and Indonesia. PT GO MARINE INTERNATIONAL has secured its first contract with Niko Oil,

supporting the SS Ocean Monarch for a firm period of 3.5 years offshore Indonesia. Our 16,300BHP AHTS GO SPICA will be the performing vessel which is a recent acquisition from ATL Offshore. This vessel complements the other two Moss 424 design AHTS vessels we have operating long term in Australia for Apache and Chevron.

GO EXPLORER is a further addition to the fleet. A long term bareboat contract on the MT6009L MKII design vessel with comfort and clean class design with accommodation for 66 has been agreed. The vessel will be mobilising to Australia for her first contract at the end of June 2013 to perform ROV works and subsea installations for Tamboritha to end-client Apache at the Coniston field. On return to Singapore, the vessel will mobilise for a long term ROV campaign offshore Africa.

Utilisation for the larger vessels within the fleet has been maintained at 90% over the past 6 months, whereas for the fleet below 8,000BHP the average is closer to 75%, due mainly to the smaller AHT vessels not securing sufficient work in Australian waters. This is being addressed to increase the overall utilisation of the fleet.

We look forward to hearing about tenders bid for commencement 2nd half 2013 and receiving new tenders for upcoming work scopes for our vessels.

AndREw tROttER

Commercial News

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Some 21 shipboard staff attended the Officers’ Conference held at the Perth Zoo on the 21st May, 2013.

The conference was opened by GO MARINE GROUP’s Managing Director, Capt Garrick Stanley. During his presentation, Garrick shared both the history of the Company and his vision for its future.

Garrick was followed by the GM Operations, Bill Kelly, who outlined the new Company office structure along with changes within the Company’s operations structure.

GM Shared Services Karen Clark’s presentation outlined some items from the internal survey. Karen explained the current status of cadet and staff training, along with the introduction of Peoplestreme, whereby ships’ staff can complete performance development appraisals.

The next session was very interesting. All attending ships staff were given the opportunity to state what the Company is doing well and what areas could be improved. Planned workshops with the attending staff did not occur due to time constraints. However, a list of items has been generated for the Company to pursue.

HSEQ Manager, Steve Wenban, who has since left GO to work at Chevron, delivered an informative update on the new changes with AMSA, the introduction of MLC 06 and the changes to the Navigation Act 2012. As these changes relate directly to GO MARINE GROUP’s core activities, it was a very interesting discussion.

The lunch break was followed by one of the highlights of the day – snake handling! While a few people were a little apprehensive, the majority thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

During the afternoon, Pauline Arnold presented a very interesting talk on Behavioural Based Safety. Pauline’s discussion included the background of BBS and the importance of adapting GO’s BBS system to enhance the behavioural awareness of ships’ staff.

Thanks must be given to the representatives of three major oil companies, who gave the attending GO staff overviews of their company requirements, all of which were well received.

Ted Kirkbride from Total provided an insight into the workings of Total.

Michael Tate and Raul Pereira from Chevron gave an outstanding presentation about the workings on Barrow Island.

Steve Pearce from Santos completed the company presentations.

The final session was led by the Technical Manager, Chris King.

General consensus from the attending staff was that the next conference, planned for November, should be more than one day.

SENIOR OFFICERS CONFERENCE

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Exmouth updateRecently, GO Inshore Exmouth has been providing services (Crew/Cargo) for EMAS, APACHE on the Coniston Project, with the vessels Boa Sub C and GO Sirius, which has been revealing the logistics and resources available within the Region.

Logistics and services are continuing with long term Agents/Clients when required in the area. With more demand and supply, the Exmouth Marina/Service Wharf has become a busy hub compared to same time last year (almost doubling).

New contacts and friendships have been made interstate and internationally, looking towards the future and the aspects to come.

Department of Transport-Exmouth conducted their annual Oil Spill Response Training, in which our locally based Masters and Crew were involved. All received understanding and knowledge of the equipment, environment and the importance of such training.

GO Inshore has secured another 20m Charter Pen in the Exmouth Marina.

Port HedlandDuring the month of May, Port Hedland had a record 100 vessel tie ups of our line boats. Well done to all crew involved during this very busy month.

The GO4IT is on a trial period with RIO and we have the Guardian back in our Port for the next 12 months.

With the help of the Commercial Department, we are in negotiations to extend our contract with the local Port Authority, if successful, GO will be adding to our inshore fleet with a new build Pilot vessel.

All in all it has been a busy quarter and we are well placed to expand our capabilities and growth potential.

Sponsorship Score board at Exmouth Football OvalGO MARINE GROUP is sponsoring the local Exmouth Football Club for the 3rd season, with some great wins on the board.

GO MARINE GROUP were also proud to sponsor the annual Exmouth-Whale Shark Festival weekend in May for the second year, which had a great turn out for the whole week end.

dampierThe end of financial year is normally a quieter time for Inshore and this year is no exception, although not as quiet as in previous years.

We have taken advantage of this quiet time and dry docked the Antares Star , during which we are completing some significant upgrades to ensure she remains a sought after vessel for projects like Wheatstone.

The new build vessels GO Minotaur and GO Centaur have been successfully launched and sea trialled, with impressive results. These vessels will be ideally suited to wharf construction and jack-up rig support.

The GO Amplitude and Gianna continue to offer support to all our ad hoc clients around Dampier, and July will see the return of the GO Azimuth to our fleet.

The Prime Mover, which commenced with GO on 1st July 2013, remains on charter to Chevron, supporting WA Oil at Thevenard Island. Congratulations to the crew on board this vessel, as they have not had an incident for the past year and continue to do a fantastic job for the Company.

CAMEROn MOIR MICHAEL wARREn CHRIS HEdGES

go inshore neWs

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my love affair with the ocean began at a very early age when, as my father relates it, we were at a friend`s house where, hung upon the wall, was a painting of a tropical island paradise with a buxom, grass skirted, island woman in the foreground and on the distant horizon a tiny yacht sailing on a calm, blue sea.

“Boat, boat” i excitedly exclaimed whilst pointing and pulling on dad`s sleeve.

“why, so there is” my father replied.

two decades later i was standing on the fisherman’s wharf in Geraldton in the pre dawn hours awaiting the arrival of the 12m fishing boat, Blue skies, on which i`d scored a job by virtue of a plying the skipper with masses of beer at the local pub the night before. it was a definitive moment in life. that day i worked harder than i`d ever worked before and i loved it. my life since leaving school could be best described as casual (my parents might have said “aimless”, but let’s stick with casual): casual jobs, casual university, casual relationships and attitude. the only real passion was surfing and the ocean, and now i had a found a way to make a living on her.

for the next 12 years i worked the rock lobster fishing season out of Geraldton; working out of town for half the season, living and working from the abrolhos islands for the other half. it was a hardworking and

exciting life, every day a work day and every day a play day. we’d leave every morning before sunup to pull the pots and be home early afternoon to party, play and surf. for a period of four years i would fly straight to canada at the end of the rock lobster season for the salmon fishing season, working the west coast of British columbia from Vancouver to Prince rupert. the work was relatively easy compared to pulling 45kg lobster pots all day, and i couldn`t believe i was having so much fun travelling along the inshore passage to se alaska and actually getting paid for it!

there were many highlights of the fishing years, but perhaps the one that is most indelibly imprinted in my mind is the storm, the time we were caught by the tail end of a cyclone in a 48’ bondwood boat whilst fishing the big Bank 60nm west of kalbarri. that morning the weather was moderately fresh, but it eased as the day wore on and by early evening we had pulled all the gear, set the anchor in 120m of water and the ocean had turned to glass with a lazy swell rolling through from the north. the vessel was equipped with only two v-berths in the bow, and as there were three of us on board i used to sleep on a mattress in the rope locker underneath the wheelhouse.

at 4am i was awakened by a loud smash! the wheelhouse windows were taken out by a large wave and i found myself standing knee deep in water. the wind was screaming and the bridge was a shambles, with every piece of electronic gear torn from the deck head where it had been secured. the engine, most fortunately, started at the first turn of the key. the other deck hand and i tied rope around our waists, secured one end to the pot winch and, with mattresses from our bunks bundled up in our arms, crawled out onto the foredeck to place them over the window frames and secure them in place with rope. we then went out onto the aft deck and proceeded to throw overboard the deck mounted lobster tank, which was wildly skating from side to side and threatening to smash the bulwarks to pieces.

MASTER’S JOURNALMaster’s

Journal

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Master’s Journal

as we moved to the foredeck to cut the anchor rope, the pre dawn light was now revealing the full might of the storm. the wind was from the east and the swells were rolling down from the north, rolling mountains and valleys stretching in either direction to the horizon and punctuated by great avalanches of white water. we steamed slowly east down into the troughs and then worked our way up the great slopes of the relentless swells, continually adjusting speed to avoid being caught beam on by the breaking sections of these magnificent swells. as we reached the shallower waters close to land and started to come into the lee of the Zuytdorp cliffs, the swells and the wind began to ease and in the early afternoon we steamed into the relative calm and safety of the murchison river. it was a truly memorable day and i felt honoured to have witnessed the might of the ocean....and survived.

By 1999 the novelty of fishing had well and truly worn thin. new challenges were needed and i was keen to move from the blunt end to pointy end of the vessel and use my newly minted master class five ticket. i secured a job as casual deckhand with total harbour services, which operated a variety of workboats, both single and twin screw, out of fremantle. the days were full of variety. an early morning start might see you running lines for a bulk carrier in kwinana, back to the yard to move barges and onwards in the afternoon to berth submarines at Garden island naval Base. it was a wonderful work environment, with a colourful cast of crew and i thrived on the new knowledge and skills i was learning from my more experienced work mates. daily i was amazed at displays of precision driving, as old, beaten up single screw work boats were used to manoeuvre barges around the congested harbour waters.

in 2002, having freshly completed my master four ticket, i was summoned into the offices of total marine service and informed that my time “on the little toots was over and it was time to play with the big boys” and so started my life in the offshore industry. i worked a year as the master of the total resource out of thevenard island, a then moved to the Z Pellor tug “total endeavour,” initially as mate and later as master.

in 2004 it was back to school, where i completed studies for a master 500Gt and then commenced a period of working, predominantly as second and chief mate, on osV, involved in supply, running anchors for pipe lay barges, static tows and barge handling.

By 2007 i`d completed the sea time to allow me to complete the final stage in the ascent to the pinnacle, the shipmaster’s course. i spent another year working for total and was then seduced by the promise of greatness and rich reward to the bosom of Go.

i`ve been happily employed with Go for the last four years now, a seemingly permanent fixture on the Go altair and still enjoying my life on the ocean.....but i often wonder if now i was to look at that same painting of buxom women on tropical islands that so enthralled me at the age of three, would i still notice a tiny boat on the distant horizon.

STEVE COCKBAIN

Big project for Ops and Technical The soon to be Go SPICA. Now in the dry Dock undergoing a 5 year special survey, all engines overhaul, pulling the propeller shafts, complete colour change to GO colours, blast and re-apply the antifouling to the wet areas.

Technical NewsThere has been a lot going on.

• The AHTS Deep Sea 1 has been docked and the hydraulic system rebuilt. Gearboxes have been rebuilt and generator engine overhauled. The vessel successfully completed an anchor pre-lay job for Technip in the west. Now back in Singapore, she is mobilising for the next job with modifications to the bulk systems, control system and stern roller.

• We are mobilising the Go Explorer, a Multipurpose Support and ROV vessel for Tamboritha. She will be working off Mozambique later this year.

• The latest asset the AHTS UOS Atlantis has been renamed the GO SPICA - A 205 T bollard pull AHTS. She is very neat, clean vessel, which is now undergoing the first special docking at JSML yard Singapore and will be mobilised for Niko out of Indonesia.

• The Solitaire has been successfully adapted to carry IFO for All Seas. All Seas is satisfied. The job will be pipe carriage and IFO supply.

We have some technical challenges with vessels being moved abroad:

• The Sealink 161 is going to Russia (Sakhalin);

• The GO Canopus is in Vung Tau;

• The Go Acamar is going offshore Dakar;

• The Go Capella is working offshore Kemaman Malaysia;

• The Go Rigel is working offshore PNG.

CHRIS KInG

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shared serVices

Have Your Say: Summary Results

BACKgROuNdAs you may or may not be aware, GO conducts an annual company-wide employee survey across its corporate and sea going staff each year.

The survey provides important data on GO employees’ attitudes to, and understanding of, a range of issues about working for GO, including work-life balance, leadership, job satisfaction, recruitment and retention, payroll, employee recognition, remuneration, training and communication.

The survey offers the GO workforce an opportunity to comment on various aspects of their work environment. The survey results are crucial in helping Management evaluate the state of the Company, implement corrective actions and continuous improvements where appropriate and, therefore, the feedback from you is most welcomed and appreciated.

The ‘Have Your Say’ summary result provides an overview of results relevant to the entire GO OFFSHORE workforce (corporate and offshore).

While there were some new items for the 2012 Survey, much of the content remained the same as the 2011 survey, allowing a direct comparison across most items. Therefore, it was possible to see what changes have occurred in the past 12 months from items targeted to improve upon from the 2011 survey.

KEY pOSITIVE fINdINgSThe strengths identified were:

• The highest scoring individual statement in the survey related to job satisfaction, with a very high proportion of employees reporting that they know how to get their job done. Another statement which received very strong support was about the quality of working relationships, with a strong majority of employees reporting that they

have good working relationships with their colleagues and get the respect they deserve.

• Safety standards on-board vessels were rated quite highly (92%), in particular, on-board induction to the vessel i.e. orientation of muster points and vessel SMS.

• Access to flexible working options/arrangements, as well as employees feeling comfortable in accessing their supervisors and managers, are the positive workplace attributes highlighted time and time again throughout the survey by employees.

• With regard to recruitment and selection of corporate and sea going staff over the past 12 months, a vast majority were highly satisfied with the end to end process, which was a continued improvement on the high end result of 2011.

• In terms of high quality service delivery, a clear majority felt that the Payroll Team excelled across the board in delivery, accuracy and follow up when required.

KEY OppORTuNITIES fOR ImpROVEmENTOverall, the results generated from the ‘Have Your Say Survey 2012’ are pleasing and we are on the right track. While there has been improvement in a number of areas, the results indicate opportunities for further improvement, and in the next 12 months we will target the following areas:

CommunicationThis area had mixed results. 2012 saw an increase in the percentage of employees who reported that their manager or supervisor keeps them informed and in fact, employees are quite satisfied in how they can readily access them for support compared to the 2011 survey. However, there was slightly less agreement regarding the extent to which managers/supervisors listen to employees. The main area of concern was regarding

Update from

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shared serVices

change management and process improvements, with a decrease only in the number of employees agreeing that change is managed well.

During the next 12 months, GO will focus on improving our Supervisors/Managers in this area and ensuring that our office based employees are visiting our fleet more often.

performance management/development & AppraisalWhile there has generally been a notable improvement in this area, the results suggest there is further scope for improvement. Only a minority of employees felt their manager or supervisor dealt effectively with underperforming employees. Following a similar pattern to the previous survey and other similar surveys, just over half of all employees felt that good work performance was sufficiently recognised, although this also showed a slight increase compared to the 2011 results.

The results show that there may be a disconnect between a manager’s intention and his/her own confidence in dealing with these issues. As was the case for the 2011 survey, the 2012 survey found those employees who have had a formal/sit-down performance development discussion with their manager or supervisor hold greater overall confidence in the way performance and development s managed.

Over the coming 12 months, GO will look at ways to improve the process and introduce our own tailored performance development system.

prevention of Workplace discrimination, Harassment, Victimisation & BullyingAny form of discrimination and bullying in our work places will not be tolerated. To ensure employees understand the significance of our commitment to this, a face to face “Code of Business Conduct” familiarisation session has been running for the past 3 months and will continue to run until the message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated is clear to all our employees, onshore and offshore.

TrainingA lot of questions and comments throughout the survey were around the request for training and up skilling.

GO has been committed to training the offshore workforce to the tune of AUD $2.2M in the past 12 months and will continue to support development training as part of our long term strategic goals.

Short course training will be provided to employees who are required to have specific skills sets for the vessels on which they are deployed. Up skill training will continue to be offered to our

work force. However, the number of applications far exceeds the budget available.

Training requests for up skilling should be submitted using the Training Request Form and forwarded to Karen Clark (k.clark@gomarinegroup.com.au) or Casey Liddiard (c.liddiard@gomarinegroup.com.au).

permanency The survey also highlighted the number of employees who are seeking permanency with GO, which is great from a Company perspective, but disappointing to so many that we cannot accommodate, due to the fact that our permanency levels are at a record high and we don’t envisage this will change in the next 12 month period.

We are appreciative of the continued support and commitment of our long serving casual employees. As the business grows and opportunities arise in Australia we will continue to look at opportunities to offer permanency to you. Until this happens, we shall continue to offer our long term casuals work where available before engaging any casual new hires.

EBA updATEAs you aware, GO OFFSHORE is currently involved in detailed negotiations with the MUA, AMOU and AIMPE to replace our current agreements, which are due to expire end of July 2013.

GO, with other vessel operators, is participating in negotiations with the AMOU and AIMPE via the industry negotiations. The vessel operators have had several meetings with the AMOU and more formal discussions with AIMPE will be held between 9th and 12th of July.

In relation to the MUA - GO has held five meetings to date and is finding that meaningful progress is slow, which is no doubt frustrating for all parties.

Our interest as your employer is to ensure that the outcome of the negotiations maintains the job security of our team members, and the on-going competitiveness of the business. In our view these two values are linked.

As these negotiations proceed, we shall continue to take the opportunity from time to time to communicate directly with you our views on progress, and to share the values and principles that the business brings to the outcomes we are seeking from the discussions we have with the unions. Updates will be sent to your email account.

Should you have any queries you should feel free to raise those directly with your immediate supervisor, the Company and, of course, you are also entitled to discuss these matters with your union representative. KAREn CLARK

Update from

13

Good evening Captain Vadim,

Today at 20:10 we have completed the Deen Dayal project and I would like to say thanks for

your good Co-operation, as you were the only boat running our anchors efficiently. During this project we used your vessel most

of the times as you were faster and could complete all operations efficiently due your good experience with Hermod in North Sea.

Anchor running went well, thanks. Appreciate good job of your crew.

Best Regards/Vriendelijke groet,Peter Selles

Captain sscv Hermod

13

14

it is important for men to remember that, as women grow older, it becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping as when they were younger. when this becomes apparent, try not to yell at them. some are oversensitive, and there’s nothing worse than an oversensitive woman. 

my name is Bob. let me relate how i handled this situation with my wife, carol. when i retired a few years ago from sea, it became necessary for carol to get a full-time job, along with her part-time job, both for extra income and for the health benefits that we needed.

shortly after she started working, i noticed she was beginning to show her age. i usually get home from the golf club about the same time she gets home from work. 

although she knows how hungry i am, she almost always says she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts dinner. i don’t yell at her. instead, i tell her to take her time and just wake me when she gets dinner on the table.

i generally have lunch in the Grill at the golf club, so eating out is not an option for us in the evening. i’m ready for some home-cooked food when i walk through that door. she used to do the dishes as soon as we finished eating, but now it’s not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after dinner, which is not what i am used to, as my fellow seafarers could understand. 

i do what i can by diplomatically reminding her several times each evening that they won’t clean themselves. i know she really appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to get them done before she goes to bed. 

another symptom of aging is complaining, i think.   for example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour, but, chaps, we take them for better or worse, so i just smile and offer encouragement. i tell her to stretch it out over two, or even three days. that way, she won’t have to rush so much. i also remind her that missing lunch

completely now and then would help her figure. i like to think tact is one of my strong points.

when doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs more rest periods. she had to take a break when she was only half-finished mowing the lawn. i tried not to make a scene. i’m a fair man. i told her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and just relax for a while. and, as long as she is making one for herself, she might as well make one for me, too.

i know that i probably look like a saint in the way i support carol. i’m not saying that showing this much patience and consideration is easy. many men would find it difficult, if not impossible. nobody knows better than i do how frustrating women get as they get older.

however, chaps, even if you just use a little more tact and less criticism of your ageing wife as a result of reading this article, i will consider that writing it was well worthwhile. after all, we are put on this earth to help each other. 

AdVICE fROm A RETIREd HuSBANd

14

15

pAYmENT SummARIES

The end of financial year has rolled around again and the payroll team have been busy closing out the end of year reports. Payment Summaries will be produced by ADP on Friday the 5th of July and will be available online to all current employees via their “ADP Secure Client Login”. A copy will also be posted out to all current and past employees on this date.

SupERANNuATION updATE

On 29 March 2012, The Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Bill 2011 was passed to incrementally increase the superannuation guarantee charge rate from 9% to 12% by 2019. From 1 July 2013 the first of the incremental increases comes into effect, increasing the rate from 9% to 9.25%. This will only impact employees who are currently receiving the minimum rate of 9% and will take effect from the first pay period after this date.

A number of proposed changes expected to take effect from 1 July 2013 were also announced by the Federal Government in April. These changes have been passed by the Senate and are currently waiting royal assent. Further information will be provided once they have been passed into law.

dETAIlS Of THE pROpOSEd CHANgES

Excess contributions to superannuation will be taxed at the individual’s marginal tax rate rather than the top marginal rate. The individual will have the choice of paying the Excess Contributions Tax personally or through his/her super fund.

Individuals will be able to withdraw the excess concessional contributions made from 1 July 2013 from their superannuation fund. The excess contributions will be taxed at the individuals marginal tax rate, plus an interest charge to recognise that the tax on the excess contributions is collected later than normal income tax.

Excess contributions cap is to be raised to $35,000 from 1 July 2013 for individuals aged 60 and over.

RESETTINg Adp pASSWORdS

We are still receiving a large number of password reset requests for access to view online payslips. A feature available to all employees is the ability to reset your own password by setting up a number of secret questions. These questions will then be used to help reset your password should you forget or lose it. This feature is available once you have logged in, by accessing the Change Password option from the menu and then selecting the Secret questions tab. It is a relatively easy process which will only take a minute or so to do and will help us to devote our time to other matters.

As always, Payroll is happy to answer any questions you may have regarding your pay. All email correspondence should be addressed to the payroll email payroll@gomarinegroup.com.au in the first instance and either Julie or I will respond.

GAvIn AndERSOnPAyROLL MAnAGER

15

Just kidding!Penguinsa man is driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back seat. the police stop him and say that he can’t drive around with the penguins in the car and should take them to the zoo. the man agrees and drives off.

the next day the same man is driving down the road with twenty penguins in the back, and again he is stopped by the same police officer who says, “hey! i thought i told you to take those to the zoo.”

the man replies “i did. today i’m taking them to the movies.”

16

SO - WHY HAVE A dASHBOARd?

The idea behind the dashboard is to facilitate additional communication between vessels - knowledge sharing, as well as sharing general HSE Tips/Information/statistics/incident awareness.

Have you ever wondered where all those statistics go and what they are used for?

THE fIRST dASHBOARd

The dashboard will not always be the same – content will change from issue to issue. However, let’s take a look at this issue.

It highlights some general tools to remember; these tools are critical to everyday life at Go Marine.

Safety Tips: Cross food contamination – Have you checked your vessel is doing what we say we do?

Incident Statics: Comparisons of the company’s statistics for the last three years– are we going to continue on this path?

Vessel Participation: comparison of Hazob/Safe Cards participation. How is your vessel’s safety culture? When was the last time you raised a Hazob? Or completed a safe card?

What have the managers been getting up to? Have they been on your vessel lately?

Do you know what the latest Safety and Environmental focuses are? Have you seen the posters?

WeLcome to the neW Bi monthLY hse dashBoard

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Environmental Safety

Environmental Focus Q3 2013

Spills to deck and sea.

If you become aware of conditions that could result/have nearly resulted in environmental harm (a hazard or near miss), report the incident to your Master immediately .

What are some of the immediate actions that should take place after a spill to deck or sea? • Call the master. • Stop all bunkering and cargo operations. • Muster crew as per SOPEP/SMPEP manual. • Identify the source of the spill and establish

the cause thereof. • Take immediate steps to control the spill,

try to prevent the oil from escaping overboard.

• Shut all valves. • Clean up the oil on deck by using

absorbents. Degreasing agents and solvents could be used, but only with great care. Spilled oil must never be washed overboard, nor shall degreasing agents or solvents be used on oil spilt in the water.

Before conducting any task that has the potential to become a spill, ask yourself the following questions: Do I know the emergency response procedures associated with spills? Where are the closest spill kits? When was the last time a spill response drill was conducted? What is inside the spill response kit and do I know how to use the materials? Do I know my role if there is a spill to deck or sea? What locations on the vessel are at greatest risk of spills to sea? Do I know of and understand MARPOL Annexes I, II, III, IV & V Regulations?

Safety Focus Q3 2013

Hand and Finger Injuries

Some common causes of hand and finger injuries are: Carelessness, lack of awareness, boredom, disregard for safety procedures, distractions, using the incorrect tool for the job, and not wearing the correct PPE.

Effective prevention of hand and finger injuries requires a holistic

approach. No single barrier is effective enough on its own to

protect against hand and finger injuries. Therefore, control

measures in each level of the hierarchy of controls need to be

employed to provide an adequate level of defence.

What is my hierarchy of controls?

How can I avoid hand injuries? Know the hazards associated with the job, be aware of pinch points, hot areas, rotating equipment, loose clothing, jewellery, and never remove machine safe guards.

Your hands are one of the most complex parts of your body. Without your hands it would be extremely difficult to do routine simple tasks, such as opening doors, using a fork, or trying to tie your shoe laces.

GO Marine HSE Dashboard Vessel Hazob/Safe Cards JUNE 2013

HAZOBS for JUNE

2013

SAFE Cards for JUNE

2013

GALT 11 1

GACA 0 8

GEME - -

TSOL 1 2

UDIS 6 18

GCAN 50 50

GCAP 0 1

GSEA 8 4

GDS1 0 0

GRIG 0 0

GSIR 1 10

GLES 10 1

UEND 0 31

GENI - -

NPRI 2 1

GSPI - -

TSON 0 0

Overall 89 127

Safety Tip #1: Avoid food cross contamination by using the correct chopping board .

18

GO RIGEL made headlines in the Gulf of Papua New Guinea by responding to an emergency distress call from the Mundi Navigator, which capsized on the 20th June 2013. GO MARINE GROUP has acknowledged the heroic rescue mission successfully executed by the GO RIGEL crew.

GO RIGEL’s crew received various acknowledgments and letters of appreciation from various sources, including MPA Singapore, Charterer and the owners of the rescued vessel.

News clips of the rescue mission are:

tHAnK you, thank you very much, thank you for rescuing us, and thank you for looking after us very well until we arrived in Port Moresby’’ – these were the words of most of the survivors of the barge Mundi navigator, which capsized in the Gulf of Papua on June 20th.

Most of them could not speak – some still coming to terms that they had just cheated death, others just overwhelmed to be back on dry land again.

Oil Search Limited’s drilling support boat, GO RIGEL, had just berthed at berth 1 at the main wharf in Port Moresby on the evening of June 20th, delivering 11 PnG nationals who were rescued from the Mundi navigator.

It was a very long, tiring and stressful day for them. Although two people required some medical assistance, the other nine crew members were able to go home.

the GO RIGEL, owned by GO MARInE GROuP Pty Limited, is one of two boats and a helicopter contracted by Oil Search that were dispatched to assist authorities with the rescue mission, following an emergency call from the Mundi navigator in distress offshore in the Gulf of Papua.

the two boats and the helicopter provide support for Oil Search Limited’s current offshore drilling campaign in the Gulf of Papua, in Petroleum Prospective Licence 244.

“Oil Search Limited was happy to assist rescue the survivors,’’ said Gerea Aopi; Oil Search’s General Manager for PnG and Sustainability. “we are operating in the vicinity of where the distress signal came from and responded accordingly.

neWsfLash!!! sUrViVors thank… go rigeL creW

19

SOuRCES:

http://www.pngvillage.net/2013/06/24/survivors-thank-oil-search-limited-and-go-rigel-crew/#.UdFB8teQ-mR

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-20/eleven-rescued-after-barge-overturns-in-gulf-of-papua/4768388

name of vessel: Mundi navigator type: 50m long barge Project: working from Moresby carrying general cargo to outlying islands.

On the 20/6/2013 at approximately 0500 the GO RIGEL was alerted to a Mayday approximately 50nm from our current position. We responded in conjunction with a coast watch plane and, at approx 0930, retrieved all (11) crew that had been in the water from 0200. From the time of arrival on scene to departure was approx one hour. All local crew were in a pretty good way, except for one, who had a compound fracture of the right arm with the bone exposed through the skin.

At approximately 0200, the Mundi Navigator was heavy in water with cargo. Having been hit by a wave, the cargo shifted and the vessel listed to one side.  With the onset of taking on water the vessel kept listing until she finally turned over. The crew managed to scramble into a life raft until such time they also had to abandon that, due to it being ripped.  We estimate they were in the water for approx 8 hours before a Coast Watch plane spotted them and dropped 2 x 6 man life rafts.  The crew of the Mundi Navigator were in rafts for approximately 1 hour before being picked up by the GO RIGEL.  

Once the GO RIGEL was on scene and rafts were spotted, the FRC was deployed into the water to successfully ferry all survivors back on board safely.  After that we retrieved the life rafts that had been dropped by the Coast Guard.  All survivors were treated for shock and had first aid applied to all wounds, clothing and basic food (fish and fried rice) and water was provided.

The entire crew on the GO RIGEL reacted quickly, working efficiently and effectively in conjunction with each other to ensure that the crew were ferried back on board within a minimum amount of time. The Cook of the GO RIGEL provided first aid to the ship had the medical emergency (compound fracture of the arm), monitored all crew, managed to feed not only his crew but also the survivors with meals specially prepared to suit them given the current conditions to which they had just been subjected.  Due credit should be given to him as the main driver of the medical response, as he maintained a vigil watch on all survivors until  the doctors boarded once tied up at the wharf.  The doctors commended him on a fantastic job of first aid that had been applied to the compound fracture, which was done so well it was not redressed prior to being treated at hospital.

gO RIgEl CREW

20

As advised in the March edition of our newsletter, this year we are continuing to invest in the training and up-skilling of our existing workforce. We are currently training 50% of our workforce across all vessels in Confined Space Entry, Working at Heights and Gas Test Atmospheres. There has also been a focus on vessel specific training, which includes training in Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS), Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) and Marine Fauna Observer (MFO).

Some of the crew who have reaped the benefits this year are the Deck Officers currently assigned to the GO Lesath, UOS Endeavour and UOS Discovery. All three vessels are fitted with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System, and consequently the Deck Officers from these vessels have been attending ECDIS training courses throughout the year. The Generic ECDIS training course is being delivered to the GO Lesath Officers while the UOS

Officers are attending a course which combines training in both the Generic and Sam Electronics system, which is set up onboard the UOS vessels. Almost all the Deck Officers on these vessels have now been trained in ECDIS, with the remainder scheduled to attend courses over the coming months. The below picture was taken of the UOS Deck Officers who attended the ECDIS course in April 2013.

Short course training is approved and delivered only when it is a vessel or project specific requirement. Any requests for developmental short course training (i.e. not higher level study requests) should be submitted to training@gomarinegroup.com.au on a Training Request Form, but not before the form has been signed off by the Master in support of your application.

lYNdSAY SHEEHAN

there was a perfect man who met a perfect woman.There was a perfect man who met a perfect woman. After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was, of course, perfect.One snowy, stormy Christmas Eve this perfect couple was driving along a winding road when they noticed someone at the roadside in distress. Being the perfect couple, they stopped to help.

There stood Santa Claus with a huge bundle of toys. Not wanting to disappoint any children on the eve of Christmas, the perfect couple loaded Santa and his toys into their vehicle.Soon they were driving along delivering the toys. Unfortunately, the driving conditions deteriorated and the perfect couple and Santa Claus had an accident.Only one of them survived the accident. Who was the survivor?The perfect woman, of course.Everyone knows there is no Santa Claus and there is no such thing as a perfect man.

21

College Tour 2013 As the HR Coordinator for GO MARINE GROUP, one of the best aspects of my position is that it is forever evolving. At the beginning of this year I was assigned the additional role of Trainee Coordinator, a big job to take on, but one that I am thoroughly enjoying.

In an effort to better understand all aspects of maritime traineeships, I embarked on a journey to visit the three major maritime colleges we frequently utilise for our trainees and existing crew – Challenger TAFE in Fremantle, Hunter TAFE in Newcastle, and the Australian Maritime College in Launceston.

Sitting right in the hub of activity at Fremantle Ports is Challenger. GO and Challenger have had a long standing relationship in respect to maritime training, with the college providing state-of-the-art facilities for the courses pivotal to the industry (including the newly opened maritime simulator training suite, which consist of Engine Room and Cargo Handling Simulators unique to Challenger). As Challenger was the first college I visited, it provided a fantastic opportunity to gain a solid overall understanding of how the traineeship system works, particularly in regard to the relevant government schemes and the various parties involved. The college is of great support to employers and has on many occasions provided me with guidance on industry policies and processes. Further to this, the visit highlighted how involved the teachers are with their students– GO trainee names were instantly recognised by staff and feedback on their positive development and growth was readily available.

Next stop was Hunter TAFE in Newcastle, where I met with the head teacher for Maritime. An absolute wealth of industry knowledge, this teacher had no issue with giving me a detailed rundown on how the college operates and what services and facilities are available. A guided tour allowed me to see for myself some wonderful resources for students – including a fully functional boiler, three deck simulators of various sizes (5 screens, 3 screens and 1 screen) and a dedicated GMDSS/ECDIS training centre.

Finally, it was down to cold Tassie to visit the Australian Maritime College. One of my key objectives of this meeting was to be able to walk away with a strong understanding of all levels of deck and engineering qualifications, from pre-sea training to master, watch keeper to chief engineer, and everything in between. The AMC Maritime Training Team Leader was well equipped to provide me with all this information and answered the many, many questions I had, as well giving me a thorough explanation

of their course structures. Whilst the college has courses running regularly throughout the year at set times, the courses are very flexible and can be catered to each student’s needs, depending on previous qualifications and experience.

Facilities wise, AMC boasts a world-class Centre for Maritime Simulations, offering real-time simulation

technology which has a team dedicated to its management and maintenance. In addition to this, the college has a full survival centre, fire fighting facilities, a functional training vessel at Beauty Point and on-campus accommodation.

The opportunity to visit Australia’s leading maritime colleges was a truly educational experience. Being able to see the colleges and their facilities first hand has allowed me to better understand the student’s experience, and information regarding courses and qualifications has equipped me to better assist our trainees in their studies. Finally, having the chance to personally meet people with whom I interact on a regular basis has only strengthened GO’s relationships with our key educational contacts. The strength of these relationships will further assist GO in providing pathways for our current and future employees, and advance the maritime industry as a whole.

CASEY lIddIARd

AMC bOAStS A wOrld-ClASS Centre

fOr MAritiMe SiMulAtiOnS, Offering reAl-tiMe SiMulAtiOn

teChnOlOgy whiCh hAS A teAM dediCAted tO itS MAnAgeMent And

MAintenAnCe

22

This is Steph Odey reporting live from the shores of the Finance Department at GO MARINE GROUP in South Perth!

Remember the good ole days when your parents would give you pocket money? A few of us would spend some of it and save the rest so we could buy new Nikes or the latest pair of jeans; others would blow it all away within five minutes, then borrow more from their money savvy sister or brother and some had already thought about how they were going to spend the cash before it even made its way into their hot, little hands.

Then one day we all had to grow up and work. Suddenly, we realised what it meant when our parents told us that, “Money does not grow on trees”. But despite the fact that we now understand the value of money, the majority of us are still in debt and are trying to find new ways to pay these off and save.

Today, our financial gurus Woody Wunsch (Chief Financial Officer), Keith Baxter (Accountant), Kayla Coppens (Accounts Payable), Rosie Luzzi (Accounts Receivable), Tanya Pegg (Accounts Receivable) and Janine Whyte (Accounts Assistant) will be giving tips on how we can swim away from debt and move towards the land of financial freedom.

why dO yOu think PeOPle get theMSelveS intO debt?

tanya: 1) The simplicity, ease and eagerness of financial organisations to offer the opportunity to “burrow money” e.g. increase your credit card limit, car and finance in one transaction. 2) The penalties and lack of willingness from financial institutes to assist in foreseeing unmanageable debts and managing/reducing them.  3) The disconnection between the ease of spending and monitoring of spending.  4) Keeping up with the Joneses or simply not being responsible for your actions.

Rosie: There are two types of debt – good debt and bad debt. 1) Good debt is buying a house, for example, because there is a positive feeling that you will get satisfaction in the long term.  You gain an asset that can last or be handed down to your children or family. 2) Bad debt is overspending on materialistic things that you don’t need, but think you need. It can give you short term happiness, but a lot of people don’t think of the long term effects it can have on you later on if you cannot pay off the credit card or car loan. Other examples of short term happiness with no long term benefits include addictions like gambling (e.g. casinos, horse racing) and drugs.

Kayla: It is almost impossible to get through life without having a debt of some sort (e.g. car loan, mortgage, credit card). I think the attitude of most people today (influenced greatly by what we see on TV and read in magazines) is that we want the perfect life. We are impatient and don’t want to wait for things. It is so easy to get wound up in sales and discounts on products that, before we know it, we have six different debts!

Keith: 1) They don’t have a budget. 2) They don’t monitor spending so don’t reference spending to budget. 3) They buy too many elaborate wooden legs. Three or four is plenty, with only one or two fancy ones.

woody: There is good debt (i.e. mortgage to buy your house that will rise in value), and bad debt (credit card debt not cleared each month, thus paying 20%+). Bad debt happens when you live without a budget or savings plan for later life and spend more than you earn each month.

whAt generAl AdviCe dO yOu hAve fOr PeOPle tO get Out Of debt?

tanya: Consolidate. Budget. Monitor. And, yes, it is going to be hard to work your way out.

Janine: Pay off your smallest debt first. With the money you would have been paying on that loan/credit card, increase the payment on your next debt with the next lowest balance. It is a sure way of paying off your debt and before you know it there will be spare cash to save.

Rosie: 1) Do not spend more than what you earn.  Have more coming in than going out. 2) As you get paid, put 75% of your pay to the debt that you owe and live on the rest until the debt is somewhat controlled.  You don’t want to be paying more interest off than the principal that is owed. 3) Organise with your work that a certain amount goes straight into another account that you don’t see so your debt can be paid off in instalments.

Kayla: 1) Try to consolidate your debts into one. It is easier to keep track of one number, even if it is a bigger one! You will also have to remember only one due date for payments, and you are less likely to get interest charges/late payment fees, so in a way, you’re saving a bit! 2) Shop around for the best interest rates. Just because you are with a bank, doesn’t mean you have to have a loan or credit card with them. If another financial institution has better rates, look into it. 3) If you have a large debt, don’t panic about it…you will overwhelm yourself for no reason. Give yourself small targets to meet every quarter, and when you meet these targets, it will be rewarding!

Finance & Accounts

Savings Advice

22

From The Finance Team

23

Keith: 1) Reduce/eliminate interest by paying off higher interest debt with lower interest debt e.g. refinance home loan to pay off credit cards/personal loans. 2) Make a budget and monitor spending to ensure the budget is adhered to. This requires discipline and that is why people don’t do it. To help with the discipline remember to feed chocolate to the parrot. 3) Steal a ship. 4) Keelhaul the person to whom you owe money (they rarely come back).

woody: Once you can make a decision to spend less each month than you make, you can chip away at it. Cutting up all credit cards, but keeping one for emergencies can help, too. Don’t try to live up to your families’, friends’, neighbours’ or colleagues’ expectations on spending - spend within your own comfort zone. If you need an excuse to cut back your spending, think about the environment and how your reduced “footprint” is helping to save the planet!

hOw CAn iMPulSe buying be Prevented?

tanya: Don’t go shopping! Have a friend/partner to help you. Determine the reason behind the impulse shopping – is it emotional and why?

Janine: Never carry money or bank cards. That way if you really need it and want it you can go back for it.

Rosie: 1) Avoid going to places that may tempt you to impulse buy e.g. shopping centres, casinos, TAB etc… 2) Put a portion (55-60%) of your money in a term deposit account where you can’t touch your money until time of maturity. 3) Take up a hobby, sport, spend time with friends and family that can give you long term satisfaction rather than buying things that are not necessary that can give you short term happiness.

Kayla: I have no idea.

Keith: 1) Don’t go window shopping to see “what is nice” or what you might like to buy. 2) Decide what to buy and how much to spend before you go out and then go get it. 3) Just because something is cheap doesn’t mean you need it (as my father-in-law used to say, before he died you understand, “that’ll be useful if I never use it”). 4) Don’t let your partner out of the house.

woody: Don’t shop without a specific purpose, unless for little things that don’t cost much. Don’t shop because you are bored or depressed.  If either of these occurs, get outside and take your dog for a walk or go to a gym or club where other people’s activity can help motivate you, phone a friend or family and just “catch up”.  Coffee is still pretty cheap! A positive attitude about yourself eliminates the need to “impulse” buy!

hOw CAn PeOPle SAve?

tanya: Start young.  Teach children at a young age the value of money and the positives of budgeting and saving.  Lead by example.

Janine: Have a savings account that is not linked to your bank account. The only way to access the money is by going into the branch and arranging it.

Keith: 1) Have a target, both amount and timeframe. 2) Put the money aside because it won’t happen unless you make it happen. 3) Common advice is to put your savings

aside before you spend on anything else, e.g. direct debit or have part of your wages put into a separate account. 4) Lay-by. 5) Buy low, sell high.

woody: Make extra payments on your mortgage to stay ahead, and direct some money each pay to a special account.

whAt’S the beSt SAvingS PlAn yOu’ve heArd Of?

tanya: Travelling and third world countries - really makes you appreciate what you have and how lucky you are.  No, seriously... with current technology, there are some fantastic apps out there.  Which one to choose is dependent on the individual and his/her personality. I am still old fashioned.  I use MYOB on the trusty old clunker, the home desk computer.

Rosie: My personal best savings plan is, each month when you get paid, pay all your bills and mortgage repayments off first.  See what’s left over in your account. Work out how much it will cost you for food for the month and to live. Then the rest, divide into half and put 50% on your mortgage and the other 50% in savings.

Kayla: The best way I have found to save money is by using a cash flow budget. Having something to save towards helps as well. It helps you not spend that extra $50 on something you really don’t need! I use excel for my budget. I create a row for income, and then a row for each type of necessary expense, e.g. mortgage, food shopping, utility bills, car expenses, health insurance and savings. Make sure you include one row for miscellaneous expenses. I create one column per day (or per week if you wish) to enter your expenses. I make sure my cash flow balances to my bank account every week. You will be surprised at how much you really spend on miscellaneous expenses and you will be able to find ways to cut back on some things.              

Keith: 1) Buy a nice piggy bank that has to be broken to get the money out. You will then not be tempted to dip into it before you have reached your target. 2) Hollow out your leg and put your loose change (notes less than $50) in it. You will be surprised just how much you will have at the end of the day/week/life, but be careful not to do a hammy in the good leg as time goes by.

woody: Spend less each month than you make, and try to spend more on rising assets like your house, shares, super, and less on falling assets like cars, holidays and booze/cigarettes.

So there you have it, shipmates! In summary, avoid borrowing money for items that will give you short term happiness, invest in rising assets, have a budget and stick to it, do not pay for anything you do not use, question what you are buying and have a positive attitude about yourself. If all else fails, follow Keith’s advice and try to steal a ship - but if you’re caught, forget my name and don’t call me for bail as my money is tied up in savings.

A big thank you to those in Finance who contributed their pearls of wisdom today. I’m sure many people will find your advice helpful, or at the very least be reminded of the importance of saving. I would also like to contribute one last point before saying “Bon Voyage”. Invest in your health as it can cost you everything if you lose it.

Wishing you good health. StEPH OdEy

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singapore asia office UpdateAs many of you know Singapore Office has, in one day, inherited a fleet of 25 vessels to manage, and as a result has propelled GO MARINE GROUP into a truly worldwide company, now trading in 5 continents. Thankfully, the two coldest continents presently escape our clutches.

GO Offshore (Asia) Pte Ltd, (GOA) expanded on the 1st February 2013, with a range of vessels from 4000 bhp through to the large ROV vessel newly named GO Explorer. Additionally, we expanded the staff overnight from 3 staff to 23, and on the 22nd April 2013 moved into new office premises in the Central Business District. We were lucky to have found premises that belonged to an ex shipping company which was 75 % equipped for our needs and which has a board room, meeting room, kitchen area, store rooms, offices and open plan desk spaces. Thank you to the “moving team” for the smooth move, where almost everything was available from doors opening, so Pei Pei, Dayana, Greg and Michael – thanks for a job well done.

We are happy to say that we have successfully undertaken our initial ISM audit and are fully accredited to manage vessels for several flag states. Our new office has been fitted out with

computers, servers and software, and with the full support and assistance from many people in the Perth office, we have trained and introduced our policies, procedures and software suites into GOA.

So, being truly worldwide, GO group now operates in Mexico, West Africa, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Arabian Gulf, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, and potentially in East Africa, while, of course, Australia is represented through Perth Office.

Singapore now has its own Purchasing department, Crewing department, Marine and Technical departments, Commercial and HSEQ all working with the same systems and updating the Perth office several times daily.

How did we do it? Long hours from many staff? Dedicated and determined attitude? The chance to double the size of the company available tonnage overnight? Directive from above? Madness? It’s an easy answer - all of the foregoing! Many times over and over again. It has certainly been a challenge for all existing GO staff and a long stairway to climb for the inherited staff to accept new contracts, adapt to new policy and procedures, believe in the future and become the new staff of GOA. From me, personally, comes a large thank you to all the staff in Perth and Singapore who have assisted in any way to make this happen. It is an achievement and a milestone of which to be proud. It is certainly one to progress and improve. The foundations on which to build a strong structure have been laid.

Over time the name GO and the GO logo will be seen more and more around the various parts of the world and our service commitment as a group will be delivered to more and more clients.

At the time of writing we have the MD in town, undertaking staff MLC training from AustalAsia group, and we have three senior staff attending next week for training, meeting staff and preparing for the delivery of the next vessel, the Deep Sea 2, into the group fleet. At the time of writing we also have the Deep Sea 1 outside the window, safely at anchor at AEW at Marina South. Unfortunately, some may argue, the smog is obscuring the logo, and indeed the ship, but we are hoping this will clear quickly and she will have sailed into her next charter.

CHARlES mIlNE