AMS Group has extensive experience in the installation, maintenance, repair, and ongoing enhancement of Aids to Navigation.
AMS Group's management of more than 700 remote Aids to Navigation (AtoN) across Australia has established it as the foremost authority in overseeing national portfolios of critical assets and systems.
Our knowledge and expertise in this space is unrivalled in the southern hemisphere. As a sitting member of the International Lighthouse and Aids to Navigation Authority (IALA), AMS Group sits on three committees to develop international policy. AMS Group is peer elected to represent industry on the IALA industrial members council to enhance maritime safety and efficiency.
Comprehensive Service Solutions
AMS Group ensures all technicians are highly trained, prepared for extreme conditions, and independently able to recognise and manage site hazards risks. This assurance and systematic approach are based upon many years of experience and has enabled a workforce designed to be flexible and ensure outcomes are achieved – safely.
Engineering
We have a dedicated in-house team of engineers supporting the technical aspects of all projects.
Electronic Services
Our team of technicians offer end-to-end solutions from system design and installation to ongoing support and maintenance.
Infrastructure Services
Our experienced infrastructure technicians build, install, repair and remediate physical structures.
Remote & Isolated Response
The Australian coastline is regularly affected by harsh unforeseen events which can impact AtoN availability. Our field teams are highly experienced in mobilising during these events to be in position to repair an AtoN at the first opportunity.
Lighthouses
Lighthouses, a symbol of safety and a crucial component of the navigational support system along the Australian coast, have been instrumental in ensuring secure maritime travel for over a century. Many of these structures hold heritage status, reflecting their historical significance and the vital role they have played in Australia's maritime history.
Our comprehensive maintenance regime ensures these critical infrastructures are operational, even in remote and challenging environments.
Heritage Structure Maintenance
AMS Group are familiar with the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and maintaining obligations with this Act. We also has extensive experience restoring missing heritage fabric to heritage lighthouses. Over 20 years, AMS Group has worked on the following heritage related items:
- Heritage refurbishment
- Heritage structure modernisation
- Discovery and identification of heritage items
- Research and analysis on discovered or missing heritage items
- Developing, preserving, sustaining, and transferring knowledge on heritage items
- Specialised handling, packaging, transportation and storage of heritage items
- Decontamination and removal of hazardous materials from heritage items
- Repair, remediation and refurbishment of heritage items
- Storage of heritage items
- Installation of heritage items
Managing Hazardous Mercury
We are stewards of maritime history, safeguarding heritage lighthouses while addressing the intricate challenge of managing hazardous mercury. Our commitment extends beyond routine maintenance, encompassing both scheduled mercury interventions and swift responses to unforeseen events like earthquake spills.
We adhere to stringent protocols when handling mercury, employing full hazmat safety equipment and respiratory apparatuses. Our meticulous process begins with draining mercury from the bath, followed by rigorous filtration for reuse. Subsequently, the bath undergoes internal cleansing before being carefully raised and refilled to the requisite mercury levels, ensuring the lens floats as intended.
Central to our approach is the comprehensive cleansing of the entire lantern room, employing chelating agents to effectively eliminate mercury vapor and elemental mercury, rendering the environment safe for all. At AMS Group, our work not only preserves heritage landmarks but also ensures the protection of our invaluable maritime heritage for generations to come.
Capabilities
Our maintenance and support capabilities include:
- Design, installation, inspection, maintenance, repair, and ongoing enhancement of floating buoys, topmarks, daymarks, racons and supporting equipment.
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Regular inspection and maintenance of electrical and electronic systems including standalone power systems, mains power systems, communications systems and low voltage electronic equipment.
- Equipment inspections and changeout and overhauling.
- Development and implementation of detailed maintenance regimes.
- Ongoing monitoring, reporting, feedback, and recommendations provided by our expert team.
- Technical and systems support provided by a dedicated team of engineers and technicians.
- Expert understanding of the IALA guidelines.
- Client-tailored services to meet specific project needs.
Buoys
Floating buoys serve as an essential component of an Aid to Navigation (AtoN) system, providing information on safe passage, maritime hazards, or specific routes. AMS Group brings over two decades of experience in managing Australia's national and state based floating AtoN network and prides itself on consistently achieving above 99% availability across all systems.
Topmarks & Daymarks
Topmarks and daymarks are a fundamental component of Aid to Navigation (AtoN) networks, serving as a vital visual reference for mariners. Continuous maintenance and enhancement is essential to ensuring safe navigation.
Racon
A Racon (radar beacon) enhances radar visibility to aid in the identification of other Aids to Navigation (AtoNs) and landmarks. Racons provide mariners with increased confidence in the accuracy of AtoN information and are particularly valuable in challenging conditions and poor visibility.
Metocean Equipment
Metocean equipment including current sensors and tide gauges provide important information on tidal variations, sea level trends, and fluctuations in water level. They are essential tools for understanding coastal dynamics, and provide crucial data for navigation, environmental research, and coastal management.