When boat owners see the Maritime vessel cruising towards them, they may think trouble is approaching. But from the perspective of the officers on board, they’re trying to ensure trouble stays away from boats.
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“We’re educating, we’re not hiding in the mangroves,” said Boating Safety Officer Mick Cleland, as he guided MA237 along Newcastle Harbour.
Officers from Roads and Maritime Services have been particularly busy on the region’s waterways in recent days, with Operation Boat Safe. During the weekend, in patrols between Seal Rocks and Catherine Hill Bay and on rivers and dams, 304 vessels were checked, 97 verbal and formal warnings were given, and 13 penalty notices were issued, mostly for lifejacket and offshore safety equipment breaches.
“The compliance rate is very good,” said Sonia McKay, Maritime’s Principal Manager North. “People are generally doing the right thing.”
The weekend’s focus was to ensure lifejackets were maintained properly and worn. The operation comes as new research by water safety organisation Royal Life Saving shows that in the Hunter-Central Coast region between 2005 and 2015, 29 people drowned while involved in a boating or watercraft activity. In 52 per cent of those cases, the person was not wearing a lifejacket.
Regulations for wearing lifejackets were tightened last year. Maritime officers believe most boat users have in recent years embraced the push for improved safety.
“Initially there was resistance,” said Ms McKay. “What we’re seeing now is people are automatically putting on their lifejackets. There’s been a real attitude change.”
To help spread the word on regulatory changes and water safety, MA237 had on board Boating Education Officer Stuart Everitt. He said officers much preferred to give advice than hand out penalties. “We’re not in the money-making business,” Mr Everitt said.
The Maritime vessel approached a trio fishing from a six-metre boat in the harbour. Mr Cleland talked to the skipper, Logan Conway, of Dubbo, inspecting his licence and the safety equipment on board, including the inflatable lifejackets.
“Are you aware of the servicing requirements for these lifejackets,” the officer asked. “Not really,” replied Mr Conway. So Mick Cleland provided an explanation and an instruction pamphlet. All the while, Mr Everitt talked to the skipper’s grandfather, Gary Conway, of Redhead, who conceded it could be hard to keep up with the rule changes but was glad to see the Maritime vessel around.
“They’re pretty important,” Gary Conway said. “They help keep the idiots off the water.”
Over the summer holidays, there has been no boating fatalities in the region. The Maritime officers are maintaining a strong presence as another peak boating time, Australia Day, approaches.
“You sleep well at night knowing you’ve helped make a positive difference,” said Stuart Everitt.
“We’re not just running around, pulling people up,” added Mick Cleland. “We surf, we fish, on our time off. We’re mariners. That’s why we do this [job]. We have a passion for marine safety.”
