Water Police targeting new regulations over Easter

[AnthonyL]

Water Police targeting new regulations over Easter

On April 2, 2012, 11:09 am

Water Police from across the state will target new regulations which came into effect this year as part of their Easter operations on Queensland waterways.

Crews from the 11 Water Police establishments from Thursday Island to the Gold Coast will be out in force conducting RBT operations, enforcing marine regulations and conducting safety equipment audits over the holiday period.

State Water Police Coordinator Inspector David Kolb said Easter was traditionally a popular time on the water. “Easter is always a busy time with school holidays coinciding with the last opportunity to enjoy warm weather before winter, and the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race attracting a large spectator fleet,” Inspector Kolb said.

Inspector Kolb said officers will be paying particular attention to new stowage requirements for safety equipment and new laws for personal water crafts. “New laws which came into effect this year include personal water crafts such as jet skis maintaining a 30-metre distance from other moving vessels whenever they are travelling at more than 10 knots,” he said. Water Police will be conducting patrols at beaches, off the coast and inland areas such popular dams and rivers.

Boaties are being urged to take basic precautions before venturing out on the water. “This includes checking the boat’s battery, a basic mechanical inspection especially when the boat may not have been used for some time and logging on and off with a volunteer marine organisation,” he said.

Gladstone Water Police are warning recreational users to take particular caution in Gladstone Harbour due to heavy vessel traffic and recent changes to navigation channels and mooring buoys.

source http://qpsmedia.govspace.gov.au/2012...s-over-easter/

[Kdog]

Mate, their gunna make a fortune in fines from the Goldie Seaway area!! And good on them too.

[oldie]

hopefully be the same on the tweed the jet skis are like mosquitoes on a camping trip, just really piss you off

[winston]

It would be really nice if the water police and Fisheries were to adopt a positive and supportive role instead of a punitive one. Targeting new "stowage" rules e.g. life jacket signs does nothing to foster quality relationships with the greater majority of responsible and law abiding boaties. I appreciate that at times having to support such anal retentitive legislation as placing a sign to locate life jacets to appease some ill informed knob who probably has never been boating in his or her life can be trying, a little levity would be appreciated. Why not a warning first for every "offence" then a fine if no change in behaviour has been demonstrated. I heard for my local chandlerly today that someone was fined because he had registration stickers on a tinny with clinker sides which made them lower in height than legal. Don't target boaties, remember that all boaties pay significant and substantial sums of money to enjoy their pastime, support them instead.

[Marlin_Mike]

It would be really nice if the water police and Fisheries were to adopt a positive and supportive role instead of a punitive one. Targeting new "stowage" rules e.g. life jacket signs does nothing to foster quality relationships with the greater majority of responsible and law abiding boaties. I appreciate that at times having to support such anal retentitive legislation as placing a sign to locate life jacets to appease some ill informed knob who probably has never been boating in his or her life can be trying, a little levity would be appreciated. Why not a warning first for every "offence" then a fine if no change in behaviour has been demonstrated. I heard for my local chandlerly today that someone was fined because he had registration stickers on a tinny with clinker sides which made them lower in height than legal. Don't target boaties, remember that all boaties pay significant and substantial sums of money to enjoy their pastime, support them instead.

iot's the usual story. If you aint doing anythhing wrong, if you are compliant and stick to the rules, you have nothing to worry about.

Mike

[timddo]

The problem is 99 percent of people don't know about the changes.
This Is just revenue raising. why don't they ring stickers along and hand them out. ,educate people

[WalrusLike]

But they can't book you for not having the life jacket stickers because you can just verbally inform passengers of their location. Or am I wrong?

[Argle]

If the life jackets are not visible then yes they can book you - although common sense would dictate that they give you a warning and issue you with the appropriate stickers. But we all know how common common sense is these days

Cheers

[fishfeeder]

Just need your life Jackets in plain sight and your OK and then you don't need the stickers...

I am more concerned that they can't be out every weekend doing there JOB instead of blitzing only on the long weekends.. If they were out more people would know the rules and regs... very basic management one would think !!!

Cheers

[Si]

its funny how people only start to have an issue with something or method only when it becomes law. prior to that no-one would care or give a second thought.

[AnthonyL]

You can get the stickers from Whitworths and Bias, I got a sheet that has various labels for fire ext, life jackets, first aid,flares and epirb. I carry the lightweight inflatable pfd's so they are tucked under the drivers seat. I put the labels on the back, side and front of the seatbox just so there can be no doubt lol.

[Cheech]

What new rules? I am normally up with what is going on, but this is the first I have heard.

[AnthonyL]

The problem is 99 percent of people don't know about the changes.
This Is just revenue raising. why don't they ring stickers along and hand them out. ,educate people

I dont think it is about people trying to do the wrong thing, you are right a lot of people dont even know about the new rules I wouldnt have if it wasnt for Ausfish. A $200 fine is a hard way to find out about the new laws.

If I had some sheets of them I would hand them out on the boat ramp this weekend myself.

[AnthonyL]

What new rules? I am normally up with what is going on, but this is the first I have heard.

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/About-us/N...t-stowage.aspx

eminder – new life jacket stowage rules for boaties
Recent safety equipment checks by Maritime Safety Queensland compliance officers found some boaties have better access to their fishing tackle and eskies than to their life jackets and other safety gear.
Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Patrick Quirk urged boaties to remember new rules came in from January 1 this year that require owners and masters of vessels to make sure they tell each person on board where all the safety equipment is kept and how to get to it in a hurry.
“Emergencies happen quickly on the water, so it’s vitally important to the safety of all on board to ensure easy access to safety equipment,” Mr Quirk said.
“In 2010, of the 14 fatalities on Queensland waters, only two were known to be wearing life jackets."
“We all need to take stock of these statistics and make sure we go home to our families at the end of the day.”
Mr Quirk said if life jackets weren’t clearly visible to passengers, the boat owners or masters must give each person on board information about where the safety equipment is kept and clearly sign where life jackets are stowed."
“This is about saving lives – it’s also about commonsense. As the skipper you also need to make sure your passengers know how to put on a life jacket,” he said.
The reminder comes after three anglers, including a 17-year-old girl, endured a terrifying night lost in rough seas off Dalrymple Bay when a fishing trip took a nasty turn – wearing a life jacket probably saved their lives.
Life jackets improve the survival rate of incident victims, particularly after an incident such as capsizing, sinking, swamping or falling overboard.
Under the current legislation, a life jacket - also known as personal flotation devices (PFDs) must be worn:

• by people under 12 years when travelling in an open boat less than 4.8 metres in length if the boat is required to be equipped with PFDs
• by all people travelling on an open boat less than 4.8 metres in length when the boat is crossing a designated coastal bar if the boat is required to be equipped with PFDs
• all people travelling on a personal watercraft (or, jet ski).

The penalty for lack of signage is now $200 and signs can be purchased from any marine chandlery.

Maritime Safety Queensland’s Boating and Fisheries Patrol officers will be out on the waterways conducting random checks of safety equipment so we urge all boaties to be responsible and ensure they’re meeting the new safety standards.
Remember: You're The Skipper, You're Responsible.
Skippers need to be constantly aware of their responsibilities on the waterways, continually observing maritime regulations and safety requirements.
You should:

• prepare by having the correct equipment for the journey, keeping it well maintained, monitoring expiry dates and checking before it goes on board that it's working properly
• make sure safety equipment is quickly and easily accessible, particularly in an emergency, and make sure everyone onboard knows where it is
• know how and when to use safety equipment because conditions can change quickly, and at the first sign of trouble life jackets should be donned with other safety equipment readily at hand
• wear life jackets in dangerous situations such as crossing bars but also be aware that even on clear, calm days things can go wrong.

[WalrusLike]

Mine came in a big orange "Safety Gear" bag. I don't think I need stickers since its already in plain sight and is labelled safety gear.

Hope I am not wrong.