VPRS 21312 Minutes of Manning Committees

Full description

The series consists of a minute book documenting the safety manning meetings of the Marine Board of Victoria (VA 1424). The Marine Board had responsibility for ensuring the safety of ships in Victoria.

Manning Committees were appointed by the Board to determine the minimum number of crew required on commercial vessels and fishing vessels. 

Handwritten inside the front cover of the minute book, the purpose and makeup of the Manning Committees is described as:

In accordance with Regulation 6(1) of the Marine (Safety Manning) Regulations 1981 as amended by the Marine (Safety Manning) (Amendments) Regulations 1983 – ‘Every Manning Committee shall be appointed by the Board, either of the request of the owner or master or of its own volition and shall consist of a chairman and such other persons as the Board considers necessary’. 

Each entry typically contains:

• Date of meeting
• Board members present
• Name, size, and owner of vessel
• Area of operation
• Proposed number of passengers
• Recommendation to the Board on regarding manning the vessel.

Minutes were initially handwritten, but from early 1990 minutes were typed and then pasted into the book.