Is Potts Point on the move?

The federal government’s Maritime Safety Authority operates the IMO 9654749 Manning, a special uses Class A tanker vessel which provides vital oil supplies to other boats at sea to extend their operations. It is a crucial service which provides increased coastal surveillance and security of Australia’s enormous 60,000 km coast, among its other top-up and safety duties.

The IMO Manning is 1083 tonnes, 12 metres wide and 64.14 metres long with a drought of 2.3 metres. She was built in 2014 by Damen Shipyard, Gorinchem, Netherlands, and provides supplies at sea to the Royal Australian Navy, although not owned or operated by the RAN, and other vessels in distress as required.

Manning is the unsung hero of our maritime fleet.

It is therefore an Australian-flagged liquid cargo vessel.

An oil products tanker is broadly defined as a ship constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil in bulk in its cargo spaces.

IMO stands for International Maritime Organisation which keeps track of such vessels. Each vessel is given a unique seven-digit number which stays with it until it is scrapped. It never changes, regardless of the ship’s owner, country of registration or name. The records based on the IMO number provide an independent audit trail for each vessel.

The Manning, named after Manning Street. extends the geographical reach of Potts Point into international waters.

Has Potts Point gone global?

It docks regularly at the Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo for maintenance and repairs, its home port. See photo above.

As a domestic commercial vessel, the appropriate crewing for the vessel is set by the operator through the conduct of a risk assessment in accordance with Marine Order 504.

Oil is highly flammable and dangerous at sea. Manning therefore has very large NO SMOKING signs on the front of its accommodation block about 10 metres long, to emphasise the safety-aware aspect of its operations in accordance with the International Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals.

This is due to the inherent risk associated with the carriage of oil products and the potential for hazardous fumes to escape the cargo tanks.

IMO Manning is named in recognition of Manning Street, Potts Point, which in turn is named after former City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Sir William Patrick Manning (1845-1915). Manning was born in Chippendale and educated at nearby St Mary’s Cathedral School.

He was a member of council’s Finance Committee, the Electric Lighting Committee and Disposal of Refuse committee. He oversaw the remodelling of the Belmore Market and played a major role in the construction of the Queen Victoria Market Building. He Chaired the 1891 Royal Commission into illegal Chinese gambling and immorality and police corruption.

He had an association with Tusculum in Manning Street, a grand colonial villa built in 1831-5 by John Verge (1782-1861).

It’s a piece of Potts Point on the move.

With thanks to Australian Maritime Authority.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions