The ‘Tunnel Guy’ Digs In For Bulk Tanker Day

In a major coup, the National Bulk Tankers Association (NBTA) has secured Professor Arnold Dix as the keynote speaker for its annual Bulk Tanker Day to be held Wednesday, May 15 at Moonee Valley.

Dix recently featured on the ABC’s ‘Australian Story’ program. The story, titled ‘Man Underground’, provided an insight into the man known as “the tunnel guy”, including his career progression from barrister, to scientist, to truck driver, to flower farmer and, of course, his role in the amazing rescue from the Silkyara-Bardot tunnel collapse in November 2023 in India.

He is now heralded as a hero by many, including the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as the man behind the Indian tunnel rescue that saved 41 people. The PM recently noted: “I rise to acknowledge a truly great Australian, Professor Arnold Dix, and for what he has done in once again improving the relations between Australia and our great friends in India.” Read more here.

Additionally, Dix has contributed greatly to improving the safety of the bulk tanker sector, with his early work in the dairy industry leading to a dramatic reduction in truck rollovers, saving lives and laying the foundations for current initiatives including the NTI’s ‘Spilt Milk’ program and NBTA’s learning from near-misses project.

To this end, he is the perfect fit for Bulk Tanker Day, the conference theme for which is “the safest way”. It will cover key topics including tunnel access and safety, which aligns with Dix’s approach and expertise.

Bulk Tanker Day is the annual conference for the bulk tanker industry co-hosted by the NBTA and AFAC. The conference focuses on bringing industry together to improve safety, a commitment both organisations made in 2009.

Key topics included in program are: dangerous goods in tunnels, findings from ANE tanker explosion, learning from near misses, preventing truck rollovers, and maintaining mental health behind the wheel.

To register for Bulk Tanker Day visit here.