Beacon to Beacon & Water Police

[Kleyny]

contacted Brisbane Water police today.

also spoke to them in regards to the Chart thing. the acting Senior Sargent said that they do recognise the beacon to beacon as a chart.
the reason behind this is he said it was easy to carry the B-B instead of the charts.
you also need a fluid dampened compass. i then told him i have a hand held GPS he promptly told me they are not recognised as a navigation equipment.
BUT reading between the lines they will not breach for these items. so what gelsec said is correct these are safety obligation items only.

if something nasty happened and QWPS looked into it the skipper could go for breaching his safety obligations.

neil

[BilgeBoy]

Hey Lucky_Phil

did you get any word back from the department!! Do I have to carry maps as well as my beacon to beacon. Kind makes the BtoB a bit redundant and why use the extra fuel carrying it if it isn't a recognized navigational tool.

I would agree that venturing outside requires a proper chart...but North to south of the bay is a tall ask!!

Gelsec are you suggesting that If I am off Mud Island and I am involved in a marine incident, that I could be liable because I didn't have a proper map...assuming the incident was linked to navigation!! If that is the case THIS SHOULD BE IN BOLD PRINT ON THE COVER OF THE BtoB.

Anyway....I will go and buy some charts just to be on the safe side!!

BilgeBoy

[seatime]

Gelsec are you suggesting that If I am off Mud Island and I am involved in a marine incident, that I could be liable because I didn't have a proper map...assuming the incident was linked to navigation!! If that is the case THIS SHOULD BE IN BOLD PRINT ON THE COVER OF THE BtoB.

Anyway....I will go and buy some charts just to be on the safe side!!

BilgeBoy

BilgeBoy, any liability on your part would be determined by an investigation. Your "duty of care" would be questioned.
As stated in the handbook, Guide to Recreational Boating & Fishing in Queensland, "Failure to meet the general safety obligation can lead to prosecution and steep penalties". Quotes in the same vein can be found on the MSQ website.
Boaties should also possess the required skill and understanding to use a nautical chart with confidence, just having one onboard may not be sufficient under the scrutiny of an investigation.

regards

[Lucky_Phill]

gelsec is on the money.

Yes, Bilgeboy, I have just been on the blower to the MAN.

He is of the understanding that the ' requirements ' should be laid out clearer.

There is an " Obligation " as a skipper to insure the safety of your passengers. If you do not carry the items as per the ' obligation ' you will have to demonstrate to the " official " that you are providing a safe environment to yourself and your crew.

Items listed under the ' required " will attract a fine should you NOT be in possession. B2B is NOT a navigational Chart.

All this will come down to what you are doing at the time you are inspected, how you converse with the officials and your ability to demonstrate your " skipper-worthy-ness ". ( ya like that word ? )

My advice, is carry ALL equipment listed in the " Required " section AND the " Obligation " section. Make sure all is in date.

There will be NO leeway for those with alcohol in their system.

So, if you were in a tinnie going from Raby Bay to Peel island and you were stopped by the patrol, having life jackets, flares etc is good, not having navigational equipment is not a fine as you would be able to demonstrate your ability to provide a safe environment via the fact you can see your destination and departure point and you are in smooth waters etc.

The patrol officers are your friends and maybe one day ' lifesavers', always treat them with the respect you would want to be afforded by them.

Phill

[smiley_doobinator]

Well, I guess when it comes to safety there is no if's, but's or maybe's about it but I must admit if you can see your destination and departure points and the weather and sea conditions between them I think things like life jackets, flares etc should be of far more importance than maps and the skipper that has those things and has them accessible the second point being emphasised, should be encouraged and looked upon positivley rather than fining and scolding him. Just an opinion.

[Sea-Dog]

All is well and good to carry charts, but can you read and use them effectively.

I found a website tonight, that gives quite a good grounding in using compass, charts and other manual tools to navigate.

See thread: http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/sho...d.php?t=106110

[BilgeBoy]

Thanks for clearing that up Lucky_Phil I am off to buy some charts.

I bet a lot of skippers out there are unaware of this...should we spread the word somehow??? I am all for safety...but I am also for covering my backside in this day and age of stupidity! Shit Happens is the saying!!

Page 11 of the current BtoB under navigation says quote
"Notice to Mariners is a service advising all mariners of navigation warnings, changes to aids to navigation, depths, and other works effecting, the safe navigation of boats, in Queensland waters. And here is the kicker By making the necessary corrections to your Beacon to Beacon Directory or charts, you are always navigating by the most updated information.

All in a publication with the Queensland Government Maritime Safety Queensland logo on the front cover. I guess it gets my goat up that on one hand the government profit from me buy selling me a navigational device and then on the other fines me for not having one

Anyway guys...I am glad I overheard the conversation. Again thanks for the effort to clarify this for us Lucky Phil.

BilgeBoy

[Kerry]

....also spoke to them in regards to the Chart thing. the acting Senior Sargent said that they do recognise the beacon to beacon as a chart.

B2B recognised as a chart? This comment from a senior is a bit of a worry!

[Kleyny]

makes you wonder how you are meant to get it right when the Authorities cant even agree. especially something simple as a chart

neil

[rick k]

and don't forget to keep your chart up to date with notices to mariners, which come out very frequently

Good luck managing to keep a chart intact in a 14 centre console on a windy day, let alone read it

[Kiktz]

Just reading this thread I cant beleive that it isn't compulsury to carry an anchor.


Just a wuestion I wanted to ask along this thread, I know that in regards to bailing equip, that you are to have a 10ltr bucket (or2) with 3m of linyard.

I tie my buckets up as I can stored them out of the way, but previous to owning
our current boat we never used to. Who does tie their buckets up with rope?

Cheers Aj

[BilgeBoy]

Kiktz I must admit I tie mine up....but I have kids and they do silly things!!

It sure is amazing when you start getting into this stuff...it appears to be a real mess. Oh well, I guess it has achieved one thing....we are all looking at the rules and updating our requirements. That has to be a good thing yes!

BilgeBoy

[mark221263]

maybe they should change the name to Beacon to Bacon!

BaHa!

[subzero]

A bucket and line can make a handy drogue if need be. Perhaps this is the reasoning?
Cheers Lloyd

[breamexplorer]

I have the Captain Navagator programme on a laptop linked to a chart plotter/gps, this is used world wide on all types of boats up to the largest bulk carriers with all the maps and charts this programme is worth a small fortune but using it with the plotter is ok if i print out the charts or maps it leaves a watermark over the centre telling you that the printed chart or map is NOT to be used for navagational purposes. The only thing i can think of is that it is not to a scale, this would be the same as the B2B, but a chart you buy is to scale and can be manually plotted from.