Today I had the pleasure of officially opening the Australian Maritime College's new maritime simulator.

This state-of-the-art technology will assist in the delivery of essential training in coastal navigation, passage planning as well as the use of radar, electronic charts, automatic identification systems and automatic radar plotting aids.

The simulator will help students develop their seafaring skills by providing them with hands-on experience.

The College produces some of the world's best seafarers and is recognised as an international leader in educational programs associated with ports, shipping, ship-building, protection of the marine environment, fisheries and aqua-culture.

For an island nation like Australia, the Launceston-based College and the students it trains are vital to our national economy.

Australia has the 5th largest shipping task in the world. Each year, 3,700 ships carry goods into and out of the nation's ports, with 99 per cent of our imports and exports transported by sea.

The new simulator is one way the Rudd Labor Government is supporting our shipping industry. The project received $3.9 million in Federal funding.

In addition to investing in new technology, we are undertaking the first comprehensive re-write of the Navigation Act in almost a century. This will ensure the legislation reflects modern regulatory standards and better supports the contemporary needs of the shipping industry.

The Rudd Labor Government is also working with states and territories to develop a single national system of maritime safety laws for all commercial vessels. This reform will reduce red tape and duplication in vessel standards, survey and crew certification.