boatwise SUMMER 2012 INFORMING RECREATIONAL BOAT OWNERS AND OPERATORS

Transcription

1 boatwise INFORMING RECREATIONAL BOAT OWNERS AND OPERATORS SUMMER 2012 Sullivans Cove Public MarinA Lesson Learnt Hookah Diving Safety A Tasmanian Safety Invention Interacting with Whales and Dolphins Reducing your Boating Carbon Footprint

2 FROM THE CEO This issue of Boatwise contains some great information about how to keep safe on the water this Summer, together with your boat registration renewal. The annual renewal fee plays a vital role in the provision and upgrading of marine facilities such as boat ramps, pontoons and jetties. The Projects Update section of this Boatwise provides a great summary of the tangible benefits the recreational boater receives. A component of the registration fee is also used to provide marine services, such as the VHF radio network, and to support the ongoing boating safety education program. MAST takes great pride in the transparency of its fees and the positive feedback from the recreational boater. As I mentioned in the last issue, kayaks and canoes are continuing to gain popularity around the State and users are tending to venture further offshore. MAST has been investigating the need to carry safety equipment on kayaks and canoes and released a discussion paper for comment. This paper also suggested the need to change the type of life jacket to be carried on a Personal Water Craft (PWC). The public comment period has now closed and MAST is analysing the submissions. An update will be provided in the next issue of Boatwise. Summer is upon us and so is the busiest time of year on the water. To ensure a safe and enjoyable boating summer: Check the weather forecast and tides Let someone know where you are going, when you are likely to return and how many on board Be courteous at boat ramps Make sure life jackets are worn and those wearing inflatables understand how they work Make certain all the required safety equipment is on board Go easy on the drink 0.05 is the limit Merry Christmas, have a great time on the water and, most importantly, keep safe. Lia Morris CEO Lesson Learnt A proper look out is always required...by all In January this year, a nine metre yacht with two people on board was running downwind in a 30 knot southerly, with a damaged mainsail after being hit by a storm front. The yacht was headed for Kettering and was east of Zuidpool when those on board noticed a fishing vessel coming out of Port Esperance. They monitored the progress of the fishing boat and although on a converging course, they were not concerned, having assumed the fishing boat had seen them. The fishing boat and her crew of five had left Dover and were headed to a fish farm further north in the Channel. The skipper noticed the yacht which, by then, was 1.5nm 2nm ahead of them and he assessed the course of the yacht was slightly to the east of his. The skipper of the fishing boat, thinking it was safe to maintain his current course, went to a computer work station but became distracted. Meanwhile the crew on the yacht continued to monitor the fishing boat and, as it came closer, were still not concerned. They thought the crew on the fishing boat were checking to see if they needed assistance considering their sail was flapping and they believed the fishing boat could pass on either side of them. As the boats came into close quarters, the crew of the yacht realised that the fishing vessel was not going to keep clear and attempted then to avoid a collision. Contact was allegedly made to the yacht s port quarter with some damage sustained. Luckily there were no injuries. The crew of the yacht did not see anyone on the bridge of the fishing vessel, but saw a crew member on the aft work deck. The fishing boat attempted to make radio contact with the yacht with no success. The yacht decided to head to Simpsons Point into sheltered water to retrieve the ripped sail and the fishing boat continued its trip north. The owner of the yacht submitted an incident form to MAST and as a consequence, an investigator was appointed and the investigation commenced. After interviewing those involved, the Investigator, in his report, considered both vessels contravened the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Colregs). Continued on page 3 Cover: Sullivans Cove available to boats of all sizes. Come alongside and enjoy the Hobart waterfront. 2 boatwise summer 2012

3 The investigator determined that the fishing vessel breached Rules 5, 13 and 16 of the Colregs. Rule 5 Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and of the risk of collision Rule 13 Any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken. Rule 16 Every vessel which is directed to keep out of the way of another vessel shall, so far as possible, take early and substantial action to keep well clear. The investigator also determined that the yacht breached Rule 17(a)(ii) and 17(b) Rule 17 (a)(ii) the stand-on vessel (the yacht) may however take action to avoid a collision by her manoeuvre alone, as soon as it becomes apparent to her that the vessel required to keep out of the way is not taking the appropriate action in compliance with the Colregs. (b) when, from any cause, the vessel required to keep her course and speed finds herself so close that a collision cannot be avoided by the action of the give-way vessel alone, she shall take such action as will best avoid collision. Lessons Learnt: Keep a proper look out at all times Never assume you are going to clear another vessel safely Never assume, just because you are the stand-on vessel, that the vessel required to give way will do so You think it won t happen to you! We all leave the ramp, the marina or mooring never expecting for one minute we may end up in the water and be in a situation where we or members of our crew are at risk. Alarmingly, statistics on boating fatalities from around the country that have been analysed by Associate Professor Dr Peter O Connor, who prepared a report for the National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) published in May 2008, show most incidents occurred in favourable environmental conditions. Seventy-one per cent occurred in nil to moderate wind conditions and seventyseven per cent occurred in calm seas. Sixty-nine per cent of the fatalities were tested for alcohol and drugs. Forty per cent tested positive for alcohol with twenty-two per cent exceeding.05 and a further sixteen per cent were positive for drugs, mainly cannabis. It was also found that if wearing a life jacket (PFD), boaties more than doubled their chance of survival. The Marine Safety (Misuse of Alcohol) Act 2006 is the relevant Police legislation regarding drinking alcohol and boating on Tasmanian waterways. Please remember that.05 is the limit. So take care when boating, even in favourable conditions. Go Easy on the Drink and stay under.05 this summer. Lake Barrington Rowing Course Requirements MAST, on behalf of Rowing Tasmania, would like to remind vessel operators on Lake Barrington of the requirements when operating on and around the Rowing Course. The attached map details these rules which should be adhered to at all times. Rowing Tasmania would like to thank all vessel operators for their courtesy and patience when regattas are being conducted or when rowing shells are using the Lake for either competition or training. boatwise summer

4 Hookah Diving Safety in Tasmania Diving is a very safe recreational activity however there has been, on average, one fatal diving accident each year of the last decade in Tasmania, based on an estimated participation rate of 22,000 divers. There are no reliable data for numbers of dives undertaken in Tasmania, and the best estimates of participation are derived from fisheries licence statistics. Current statistics do not allow identification of divers by the type of breathing apparatus used; for example scuba versus hookah, nitrox or mixed gas (open circuit and rebreathers). The hookah apparatus is a type of surface supply breathing apparatus (SSBA). The majority operating in Tasmania consist of an internal combustion petrol engine driving a low pressure air pump that supplies air to the divers. Many owners and divers using hookah are not aware of the risks they are exposing themselves to. Of the many potential hazards of diving with the hookah apparatus, the most serious ones are carbon monoxide poisoning, failure of air supply and entanglement. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is in the exhaust of all internal combustion engines. For hookah diving it is a constant hazard, because regardless of the care taken with setting up the air intake, weather conditions may lead to accumulation of exhaust fumes around the boat, which is then pumped down to the unsuspecting divers. Entanglement falls under the same heading as failure of air supply. Tasmania has heaps of kelp and irregular reefs that can tangle the hookah hose. This may prevent return to the boat or ascent. An accessory air source allows disconnection from the hookah hose, and again a safe, slow swim to the surface. Hookah divers need to be very familiar with diving table calculations because, due to continuous air supply, they are very capable of exceeding table limits. In addition, whoever is supervising the hookah in the boat needs to know its operation in detail, including how to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. If you are diving with another hookah diver, it is not unreasonable to ask them how they were trained, and indeed inform them of your training. The Royal Hobart Hospital Hyperbaric facility treats divers with decompression illness (DCI) annually and recreational hookah divers are over-represented in the decompression accident statistics. There are many risks associated with hookah diving and recreational hookah use falls through many cracks of legislated and educational scrutiny: Recreational hookah is not subject to State or Federal Occupational Health and Safety legislation Recreational hookah equipment can be purchased and operated without any training. Data from Royal Hobart Hospital indicates that less than thirty per cent of all hookah divers involved in accidents had any diving training and even less had specific hookah training There is no requirement for regular maintenance or air quality testing for recreational hookah divers. All hookah maintenance and air testing is at the discretion of the owner There is no legislated requirement for hookah divers to wear accessory air sources Courses on operating and diving with recreational hookah are virtually non-existent Hookah divers have theoretically unlimited air supply, which allows them to exceed safe decompression limits This segment was provided to MAST by Associate Professor David Smart BMedSci, MBBS(Hons), MD(UTas), FACEM, FIFEM, FACTM, FAICD, DipDHM, CertDHM(ANZCA) Medical Co-director, Department of Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine, Royal Hobart Hospital. Hookah pump QUESTIONS FOR HOOKAH DRIVERS Do you have scuba diving training? Do you have specific hookah diving training? When did you last service your hookah apparatus? Have you ever had your hookah air quality tested What is the air output of your hookah apparatus? Do you have an accessory air supply? What are your emergency procedures? The full article should be read by all those involved in hookah diving and can be viewed at Those interested are invited to a Diving in Depth talk at the Keith Millingen Lecture Theatre, at the Tasmanian University Lecture Theatre at 43 Collins Street on Tuesday, 4 December at 6.00pm. Entry is by way of a gold coin donation. 4 boatwise summer 2012

5 HOW TO BE SUNSAFE on the water Sun exposure and water activities go hand in hand during the Tasmanian Summer. Whether sailing, fishing, diving or swimming, Cancer Council Tasmania recommends people are mindful of the following advice before undertaking any water-based activity. Reflective surfaces, such as the ocean, sea foam, and boat decks, all increase your risk of sun damage. These surfaces reflect ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which, in some cases, can double your dose of UV radiation. In fact, the ocean reflects up to 8 per cent; sea foam up to 30 per cent, and boat decks can reflect almost 10 per cent 1 of UV radiation. A cool sea breeze or sea spray may cool us down and give us the illusion that the sun is not that strong, however, when UV levels reach three and above, the UV radiation can damage skin, eyes and lead to skin cancer. UV radiation from the sun cannot be seen or even felt and levels can be high on cool or overcast days, so it is important you do not rely on clear skies and high temperatures to determine when you need to protect yourself from the sun. Cancer Council Tasmania recommends you plan your day using the SunSmart UV Alert to protect yourself from the damaging effects of UV radiation. You can find the alert at or download the free SunSmart app on your phone. Remember: Sunscreen should not be your only line of defence. Keep in mind the SunSmart principles to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide. It is critical to protect your eyes from the damaging reflection of UV off the water by wearing wrap-around sunglasses that meet Australian Standard 1067: 2003 (Category 2, 3 or 4). Wear a hat that protects the face, head, neck and ears and wear clothing that covers as much skin as you can. Where possible, try to keep under shade. Always apply a SPF 30+ broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen 20 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreen can lose its effectiveness when in contact with water, sweat, or wiped off when drying your skin. So if you ve worked up a sweat on the boat, The UV Alert is also available on the MAST website taken a swim, exercised or towel dried, it is critical to reapply sunscreen including lips every two hours. 1 Source: Sliney D.H. Physical factors in cataractogenesis: ambient ultraviolet radiation and temperature. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science 1986:27, Cruising A follow up from the Spring Edition You will recall the story on cruising in Tasmania from the Spring 2012 edition of Boatwise. In the South of the State, four clubs, the Kingborough Boating Club (KBC), Derwent Sailing Squadron (DSS), Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania (RYCT) and the Bellerive Yacht Club have joined forces in regards to a summer cruising program. A Tamar River Cruise is also included in the schedule. A great cruise to get involved in would be the East Coast Classic. This starts on Sunday, 20 January and will be coordinated by the Spring Bay Boat Club and the DSS. The cruise will have a mixture of social events and genuine cruising in the Schouten and Wineglass areas. The cruise will commence from Triabunna. Cruising Schouten Island Jacinta Cooper from the KBC has sent MAST a schedule of events and this is on our website at Jacinta has advised you don t need to be a club member to join in. It would be a great idea for those wanting to do some cruising to get together with those who have years of experience to pick up a few tips. You never know, you may even end up joining one of the clubs and making some life-long cruising friends. Check out the schedule on the MAST website for details and contacts. Good luck and great cruising. boatwise summer

6 PROJECTS Planning for the upgrade at Stanley is underway, however MAST cannot commence works until the Circular Head Council and Tasports have resolved property ownership issues surrounding the land. The Plan for the Stanley Boat Ramp can be viewed on the MAST website. MAST and the Glenorchy City Council are jointly funding an upgrade of the pontoon at the Austins Ferry Boat Ramp. Four options have been prepared and can be viewed at Comments can be submitted in writing to and will be received up until 31 December The works at Gordon have now been completed and I am sure those who have seen the transformation will be very pleased. MAST would like to thank the Kingborough Council for their help with the project and for assuming responsibility for the ownership of the facility. The two organisations have Coles Bay - showing middle express lane. Very successful on opening of cray weekend. formed a solid working relationship and MAST wishes to acknowledge the staff involved and the Councillors. The new facility at Sullivans Cove has been warmly welcomed by the boating public and once again MAST acknowledges our working relationship with the Hobart City Council and Tasports to help make this happen. What a great facility in the heart of the waterfront of Hobart. Please remember berthing is to be no more than three hours so everyone can enjoy the facility. We hope to see kayaks (special area for users) and boats of all sizes, from tinnies to larger cruising boats, enjoying this great addition to the waterfront in Hobart. Inland, MAST has received a great deal of positive feedback in relation to the Bronte facility. Finally, stage 2 of Coles Bay has been completed with a pontoon and an express lane to aid those who wish to retrieve and launch quickly. The new facility at Coles Bay now provides an extra 30 metres of berthing space which was sadly lacking at the older timber jetties. This is taking into account stage 1, the re-build of Freemans Jetty. Also, at low tide the public are able to hop on and off their boats in greater safety and comfort with the pontoon. Whilst MAST received very few comments during our long consultation phase, we thank those who did provide feedback. New regulations for interacting with whales and dolphins Many of us are lucky enough to encounter whales and dolphins when we re out on the water. While we enjoy these experiences, it is important that we minimise our impacts on these amazing animals when we see them and interact with them. The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) is developing new regulations under the Whales Protection Act The regulations will outline the ways in which people should interact with whales and dolphins and will be based on the Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching The Australian Guidelines are the national standard for interacting with whales and dolphins, and Tasmania is following other Australian states and territories in implementing them. They contain advice on how to watch whales and dolphins from the land, water or air as well as how to undertake activities such as swimming and diving, so as to minimise the risk to people as well as to the whales and dolphins. Craft that have a minimal impact such as motorboats, yachts and kayaks, can approach to 100 metres of a whale and 50 metres of a dolphin. Conditions apply to approaching whales or dolphins, such as operating at no-wake speeds and limiting the number of craft that can be within the approach zone at any one time. Craft that have a higher potential for disturbing whales and dolphins, such as jet skis, cannot approach closer than 300 metres. Continued on page 7 6 boatwise summer 2012

7 It should be noted that these conditions apply where people approach whales and dolphins and let s face it, dolphins more often than not come to interact with us! But, where does that leave us and can we be prosecuted? The Guidelines acknowledge that dolphins and whales approach vessels or people, and provide information on what to do if this occurs to minimise the risk of causing harm. A great thing to remember is that a person is not in breach of the Guidelines simply because their vessel is approached by a whale or dolphin. You would not be at risk of prosecution by Police or other enforcement agencies if you were approached by a whale or dolphin. Probably the best advice MAST can give you and advice that we have passed on to environmental agencies is that you should not alter course dramatically to interact with dolphins and whales. These are just some examples of the types of information contained in the Guidelines. If you would like a copy, they are available from When the new regulations have been developed by DPIPWE, there will be a public comment period which will be advertised in Tasmania s three daily newspapers and through the DPIPWE website. It is expected that this will be before June 2013 and the boating public are encouraged to participate. A Tasmanian safety invention Introducing the Marine Safety Pod Tasmanian abalone diver, Glen Shackcloth, saw a need for a floating pod incorporating items of safety gear. Three years of research and development in co-operation with Plastic Fabrications has resulted in the Marine Safety Pod (MSP). After a global search, it was revealed as a world first in design. The concept was fine-tuned by the Plastic Fabrications team and the MSP was created. The MSP is a practical concept that has the potential to take boating safety to a new level. Glen has worked around much of Tasmania s coast and has experienced numerous situations that involve the risk of boating accidents, sometimes with little or no warning. Working in this high risk environment was the incentive to produce a device that would dramatically improve the chances of rescue in the event of a boating accident. It was decided that separate compartments were required in order to prevent loss or damage to other equipment while accessing specific items in a boating emergency. It was a challenge to create a unit big enough to house necessary equipment and provide a support platform, without occupying too much valuable boat space. After producing several prototypes and balancing the relative factors, it was agreed that the pod dimensions would be 680mm long x 400mm wide x 150mm deep. The primary function of the pod is to consolidate and provide buoyancy for vital marine safety equipment. Unlike other marine safety equipment containers, the MSP s buoyancy far exceeds the weight of the contents and easily supports the weight of an average size adult male. The convenient handgrips along both sides make the pod a stable platform for those in the water. The MSP is constructed from a robust, UV protected plastic and consists of two identical halves that clamp down on four containers. Each half is a double-skinned airtight unit. Both halves are identical, so the pod always lands the right way up. The four containers can house compulsory items of safety equipment such as EPIRB, VHF hand-held radio, flares, first aid kit and also a survival kit which includes a space blanket. The beauty of this product is that it has been designed by practical boating people who know how quickly a boating incident can happen. With boating numbers increasing every year and more and more people going further off-shore, the MSP will be a welcome addition to the safety equipment available for both recreational and commercial boats, from larger boats down to the family tinny. For more information please contact glenshackcloth@gmail.com or ring boatwise summer

8 The Boating Carbon Footprint There are many ways of minimising your boating carbon footprint. Obviously a vessel that is propelled by a sail, a pair of oars or paddle, leaves no carbon footprint as form of propulsion. However, at the other end of the scale, the older two-strokes have high emissions. MAST has been advised that a two-stroke engine (with a carburettor) operated for an hour produces as much pollution as 50 cars over the equivalent period. If you are considering re-powering your boat, or even buying a new one, why not consider a four-stroke motor which has lower emissions and, of course, is easier on the pocket in regards to fuel. If you head down this path, make sure the motor weight is acceptable for your boat, as a four-stroke in general tends to be heavier than the older two-strokes. In recent years however, greater research and development has seen weights get closer. Four-stroke motors are much more fuel efficient than their two-stroke counterparts and far less polluting. Apart from the improved air quality, they release no lubricants into the aquatic environment during normal operation (as they are contained within a sump). With a two-stroke, as much as 30 per cent Log your sighting Redmap is a new and interactive website for you to spot, log and map marine species that are uncommon in Tasmania. To find out more, visit the website 22kw Engine of the fuel and most of the lubricant can be released into the environment. Electric motors are popular, especially in the lakes where they are used for trawling, and there is little carbon footprint with these as opposed to trawling along with an old two-stroke. Interestingly, the electric outboard with higher power is already on the market and some internet research has found that electric motors of up to 22kw (30hp) are now being produced. Diesel is a good option on a displacement vessel. Recreational Boating Fund RBF Iron Pot Weather Station Now is the time to get your submissions in. We want your application lodged by 31 March Don t wait. With Christmas and New Year you may forget! For details see This weather station has been disbanded as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) now has a station at Dennes Point. When operating any motor there is a great deal you can do to reduce emissions. Idling outboards produce much more pollution. Keeping the engine at maximum throttle for extended periods also produces excessive emissions, as well as costing you a fortune. So why not find the most fuel efficient speed for your boat? Make sure you have the right propeller fitted for your engine, with the correct trim being maintained. All this will help the boaties do their bit for the environment. MAST CONTACT DETAILS: 5 Franklin Wharf Hobart, Tasmania, 7000 Postal Address: GPO Box 607 Hobart, Tasmania, 7000 General Enquiries and Change of Address: Fax: Web: admin@mast.tas.gov.au Use the link below to access the information direct from the BOM website boatwise summer 2012