Maritime Safety Plan 2026 survey

 Maritime Safety Plan 2026 survey

https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/.../complete-a-survey1

The survey closes at midnight Friday 24 September.

Please complete the survey and add comments when given the option.  

If you dont like either Option A or B then do not complete these question and answer Question 11 Other which will give you the chance to express your opinion.

For example why must you wear only lifejackets  that meet Australian Standard  (AS 4758); or the International Standard (ISO 12402) ? 

What about a wet suit or a dry suit or even a survival suit?

Have you say BUT take the time to express your opinion at all opportunities.

Maritime Safety Community Consultation Live stream

 If you attended the Centre for Maritime Safety Community Consultation Live stream at 6:00 pm on Tuesday 14 September - few people actually did, then the following data or was it statistics, were presented:

*  131 boat fatalities over the 10 year to June 2020 They claim 79 were preventable and that 56 were in vessels less than 6 m

*  There are 1/2 million NSW recreational boat driver licences 12 years and over (adults)

 *  260,000 registered vessels (excludes SUP, Kayaks - on and in, rowing sculls and others)

 *  There are 56,000 registered vessels between the length of 4.8 to 6 m (the new limit)

 *  170,000 "safety" interactions undertaken place (I think in the previous year?)

  *  42,000 compliance audits

  *  13,000 fines/court attendance issued (Value of these is not given but may be between $1/4 to $1 million)

The data did not identify cold water shock deaths because this was grouped (if even identified and recognised by some local ambo or doctor) into drowning because that was the only appropriate box to tick.  This gives a false impression of the data.

 Neither did it identify if the body had suffer a stroke, heart attach or a medial event.

The fundamental unanswered question which is central to their drive of "Lifejackets save lives"  is how?  A lifejacket only gives the wearer additional flotation.  It will not save your life if you are far from help in cold water.  It will not notify the authorities that you need help.  In some circumstance it is a real disadvantage - trapped in or under an overturned vessel, trying to climb back into a high sided vessel or even stop you and others from pull you into a liferaft, Steber rescue vessel or over the flotation pontoons of a rescue RIB.

Maritime is looking to "simplify" the regulation to find a one size fits all silver bullet which as we all know is just the marketing spin.

The Association strongly support the appropriate use of the appropriate lifejacket - not only those with Standards Australia labels.

Do you have an experience or knowledge where the wearing of a lifejacket did not save the persons life?

This link will give you an idea of the dangers of being at sea? 

 Would a lifejacket have saved their lives?

https://www.maritime-executive.com/.../vlcc-s-chief-mate...

Swells in Drake Passage (file image courtesy Christopher Michaels / CC BY SA 3.0)

Maritime Survey Question 33 MSTRA??

 Have you taken the survey?

Question 33 is very interesting:

Maritime short-term rental accommodation(MSTRA) provides a new way for people to experience boating in an affordable and easily accessible way, allowing people to hire recreational boats overnight accommodation.

Do you think MSTRA should be available as a means of expanding access to boating?

ANSWER No

haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/maritime-safety

If this is to introduce people to boating it is misguided. If it is to get more money into marinas and the associated facilities it is again misguided.

Yes, this is Airbnb on water on a private recreational vessel. A boat is not a floating caravan in a park.

It is quite different from a commercial vessel for charter. The safety and documentation requirements for these vessels is extensive.

This Airbnb idea has been pushed for some time by people associated with BIA (Boat Industry Association) the commercial side of boating to get more licences and money.

Just to remind you that while in command of a vessel one has to be qualified and licensed and not drunk. This is true if moored or underway.

What if there is a fire in the marina or the boat is about to sink or they failed to turn off the cooking gas and an emergency situation occurred? Who will take command?

Would the same laws apply to an owner limiting the number of days one can stay on your vessel in any one location (21)? Or the number of days in any one year? I bet they would find a way round that legislation.

This came to light in 2018 as “Beds on Board” and the promoter has been pushing it ever since. Director Darren Vaux (President of BIA) then said “marina precincts would receive a welcome boost if the law is changed. Boat owners could offset the costs of ownership by renting out their vessels as accommodation.”

Introduction to boating? - did I miss that in the promotion?

The issue is, how did this question get into a Transport for NSW – Maritime survey?

 Have you taken the survey?

It is being promoted as a lifejacket “safety” survey but it is much much more.

It covers the allocation of Boating Now funds, the use of drones, retraining for your current licence and video cameras at boat ramps.

haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/maritime-safety

The Association will over the next few weeks give you some answers to the questions this Association has supplied. Feel free to cut and past and to open the discussion on what follows.

Question 29

To what extent do you think the Boating Now program has siccessfully improved maritime facilities in NSW?

Question 30

What improvements could be made to the program?

Question 30 Answers

The allocation of funds and the location of upgrades should not be solely in the hands of Councils but in licence boat users. The ramps should meet the published Guidelines and Standards. The upgrades and maintenance should be spread equally along the coast based on local and regional licence and boat numbers. Ramps should be grouped into usage rates (H, M & L) and a schedule of upgrades and maintenance introduced controlled by a local representative body. Boating Now should allocate Capital Costs for construction then Maintenance for real maritime improvements not local tourist facilities such as BBQ, Street lights and resurfacing car parks which should be the responsibility of the local Council. All proposals, design and sign-off should have the local boating community or body sign-off not some select (yes minister) group.

What do you think? Can you add more to this question if so post below or email the Association.

As every good politician knows “Take the survey” and vote early and often.