Australian Ship Registration and Albany Friends Visit 9th - 18th June

Olivia's Registration

Olivia's New Name

In early April Peter emailed AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) to enquire about Australian Ship registration for our Olivia with them so that we could leave Australian waters and journey overseas at some stage in the future. In reply they informed us that before any further progress could be made they required a sum of $1550 to be lodged with them. The next step was to research our boat's history and find out who built her and who the previous owners were. After discussion with the previous owner, who had had Olivia for 16 years and emails to other people who may know, we came up against a blank. As we did not know the full history of the boat we had to advertise her details in the Government Gazette for two weeks (no charge) in case anyone objected to her being registered as our Australian Ship.

We submitted Peter's choice of preferred name (there can only be one boat with the name) and he imaginatively came up with Olivia, I, II, III. We got Olivia III. Now came to the part where we had to get our registration number engraved on plastic and a sign writer to make us the correct name and port of origin which had to be displayed in certain places on the hull (another $363). There are regulations about what size this signage must be, but of course it is a requirement for ships so the signs are huge. Ours are as big as can be managed to comply with the regulations.

Peter's brother, Clive, helped us with this whole process as he has done this several times before and his help was invaluable. Thank you very much Clive.

The Forts Visit Us In Horseshoe Bay

Graeme, Jane and Liz enjoying perfect weather at Maud Bay

One evening while we were relaxing on board in Horseshoe Bay the phone rang and Graeme Fort, from Albany, was on the line. He and Jane were in Townsville for three days and they thought they would like to catch up with us. It was arranged that they ferry over from the mainland and meet us here for the day. We had a lovely time motoring around to Maud Bay for a bit of snorkelling and lunch and afterwards motored to Radical Bay for a look there. Magnetic Island turned on a beautiful day for us. Very enjoyable.

The perfect Koala Pose

We found this fellow almost within touching distance at Arthur Bay Magnetic Island