Winterfest 2023 (WF23)

20 November - 1 December at the AMC, Tasmania

Program Information

The Australian Maritime College (AMC) along with AMC Search are excited to be hosting Winterfest (WF23) from 20 Nov – 1 Dec 2023 at the AMC’s Beauty Point campus in Northern Tasmania.

WF23 will build on the success of WF21. Again offering an activity where Robotics and Autonomous Maritime Systems users can come together to collaborate, build relationships and progress individual and collective capabilities in a relaxed and friendly environment.

WF23 will form part of and run concurrently with the inaugural International Conference on Maritime Autonomy and Remote Navigation (ICMAR Nav) https://www.amcsearch.com.au/2023-icmarnav

WF23 Week 1 (20 – 24 Nov 23) will focus on practical Autonomous Maritime Systems operations on the Tamar River around Beauty Point.

WF23 Week 2 (27 Nov – 1 Dec 23) will see the International Conference on Maritime Autonomy and Remote Navigation 2023 (ICMAR Nav 23) being held 27 – 29 Nov 23 at AMC’s main campus in Launceston. IMCAR Nav 23 will include an observer-focused practical observation period at Beauty Point 30 Nov – 1 Dec 23.

WF23 participants are welcome to attend IMCAR Nav 23 or to continue with separate practical activities during Week 2. The observer-focused practical observation period will provide an ideal opportunity to demonstrate equipment and capabilities.

Registration

Winterfest offers a great opportunity to showcase physical autonomous maritime systems, their supporting systems and your capabilities. It will also facilitate the building of relationships and connections between defence, academic and industry representatives.

AMC staff will be operating and demonstrating systems from AMC’s Autonomous Maritime Systems Laboratory https://www.amcsearch.com.au/amsl as part of WF23. These will include our ISE Explorer, REMUS100 & Iver4-580 AUVs, our EduCat & WAM-V16 USVs and our Blue ROVs.

Anyone from Defence, Academia or Industry with an interest in and who operate Robotics and Autonomous Maritime Systems or supporting systems such as vessels or ROVs are invited to register to attend WF23.

To formally register and request to participate, please email AMC.Winterfest@utas.edu.au providing the following information:

  • Company/Organisation?
  • Number of staff you would like to attend?
  • What dates would you like them to attend?

Note: You do not need to attend the full 2x weeks.

  • Details on the type and capabilities of the equipment you would like to bring?
  • Areas of interest, specific objectives or activities you want to achieve?
  • Point of Contact details, ie Name, Email & Phone?

Once participants are confirmed, detailed planning of activities and the development of a WF23 schedule of events will be completed. This will be undertaken as a consultive process with participants to ensure that your objectives are supported.

WF23 participants who wish to attend the ICMAR Nav 23 Conference should ensure that they register separately for the conference. This can be done via the ICMAR NAV Eventzilla Registration Page

Location

WF23 will be held at the AMC’s Beauty Point Campus. Beauty Point is around 45mins north of Launceston on the western side of the Tamar River.

Address:

Australian Maritime College (University of Tasmania)

Beauty Point Campus

Wharf Road, Beauty Point, TAS, 7270 Australia

Sponsorship

WF23 will be run by AMC as a ‘non-profit’ activity. To offset the cost of hosting the event, offers of sponsorship for the ICMAR Nav Conference https://www.amcsearch.com.au/2023-icmarnav would be greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in being a sponsor, please email the conference organisers at ICMAR.Nav@utas.edu.au.

Meet the WF23 Planning Team

Chris White is an Ex Royal Australian Navy Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officer. After spending 20+ years in the Navy culminating in Command of Australian Clearance Diving Team One, Chris joined the AMC in 2013 as a Maritime and Management Instructor. Over the last 6 years, Chris has headed AMC Search’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and Autonomous Surface Vessel training and consultancy services. Chris will be overseeing the planning for and execution of IMCAR Nav and WF23.

Jake Veldums is an Ex Royal Australian Navy Combat Systems Supervisor. After spending 10+ years in the Navy Jake joined the AMC in 2022 as the Defence and Autonomous Systems Training and Project Co-Ordinator. Jake will be leading the detailed planning of WF23.

Jake and Chris can be reached via email at AMC.Winterfest@utas.edu.au.