News from Marine & Safety Tasmania
New Legislation
MAST has annouced that from 1 July 2023 you will be able to carry Electronic Visual Distress Signals (EVDS) as an alternative to the four handheld flares, provided you have a GPS-enabled EPIRB and a VHF radio on board. We have been working for a number of years to get to this point and to have them included in the legislation as a new safety initiative.
Whilst an EVDS is not effective during the day, by carrying an EPIRB (PLB for Personal Water Craft and kayaks) and radio on board, your chances of rescue in sheltered waters are now greater than just relying on a flare that burns for a minute. You must ensure your EPIRB and PLB are registered with AMSA, as this is a requirement. Two rocket flares are still required in open waters.
Only EVDS approved by MAST can be used. These are listed on the MAST website. The ACR brand is available off the shelf and the Sirius products are available online. A torch does not meet the requirements, so if you are in the market for an EVDS please do your research. MAST has conducted some testing of all the approved products. The dual colour, Sirius C1002 was extremely clear at 5 nm and 2 nm. The other types, all white light, were also very good at 2 nm.
Remember, these are only an alternative to carrying the red and orange hand flares. EVDS are not compulsory – only an option. You may have a couple of years left on your flares and can keep them until they have expired. After that, you can then decide whether to replace them or go to an EVDS.
Unsafe Vessels
The other legislative change you need to be familiar with is the requirement to declare when you are registering or transferring a boat that it is not unsafe.
The new legislation regarding unsafe vessels which is also being introduced from 1 July 2023 is detailed below for you to understand.
A registered operator of a motor boat may only transfer the registration of that motor boat to another person if satisfied that the motor boat is not an unsafe vessel.
The purchaser will also need to be satisfied the boat is not an unsafe vessel.
Declarations will be required that a motor boat is not unsafe on registration, transfer and purchase.
For the purposes of the legislation and the declaration made, an unsafe vessel is a vessel that, in the opinion of a reasonable person, may endanger a person due to one or more of the following circumstances:
(a) the structural condition of the vessel, or a component of the vessel, that renders the vessel unfit to undertake a voyage for which the vessel is otherwise designed and would be, if not in that condition, capable of undertaking.
(b) the engine power rating of the vessel, as recommended by the manufacturer or recorded on the ABP, is being exceeded.
(c) the engine mass of the vessel, as recommended by the manufacturer or recorded on the ABP, is being exceeded.
(d) the absence of, or condition of, materials or items comprising the reserve buoyancy, or part of the reserve buoyancy of the vessel.
Paperwork must be sent to MAST within 14 days.
Once on the water, there are also other factors that may render a vessel unsafe. These are:
- the manner in which cargo, or equipment, is stowed or secured on the vessel.
- the nature of cargo on the vessel.
- the number, or qualifications, of crew members on the vessel.
- the absence of safety equipment that is required under these by-laws, or any other instrument, to be carried on the vessel.
This is important legislation and is aimed at keeping our waterways safer into the future by ensuring people are more aware of the condition of the vessel they may be purchasing or selling. MAST is pursuing responsible ownership to make sure boats are capable of undertaking the voyage for which they were designed.
Flare Collections
MAST has now collected and disposed of over 20,000 old flares in just two years. This is a great result and we thank the Local Government Association Tasmania and all those municipalities that participate in the program. Remember, we only collect and dispose of hand and rocket flares. We do not dispose of the larger smoke canisters or EPIRBs.
Battery World in Hobart charges $5.00 to dispose of your EPIRB. You can do this easily yourself as well by simply following the instructions on the link below. Once dismantled, please dispose of them thoughtfully. If you elect to continue to carry flares, make sure you know how they work. Have you read the instructions? It’s no good reading them when you are up to your knees in the water! The video below may be useful.
Infrastructure
The new ramp at Lake Binney has now been completed. This will be a great addition for inland anglers and one that will be well-used when the season opens. There is a new overlay at Surveyors Bay in the Huon. The pontoons on Great Lake and Arthur’s Lake have also been repositioned recently to account for the existing lake levels.
Some exciting projects coming up include an extension to Freemans Jetty at Coles Bay. This will give much-needed additional berthing whilst people park and retrieve their vehicles. A landing stage will also be built at Eddystone once all approvals have been obtained. This has been wanted for some time by users of this popular facility in the far northeast of the state.
Whilst Burnie and Ulverstone are not that far from Penguin, it is important that existing infrastructure is upgraded where necessary so MAST is looking to see what can be done to improve the toe at the low tide ramp at Penguin. Work at the Lewisham ramp is also programmed for the future. This will involve an extension of the groyne and work on the existing walkway. At Stanley work will proceed soon with some fendering boat owners have requested at the old ramp.
So, some exciting projects are on the way for the boating community. Additionally, MAST and Parks and Wildlife Service have been working on getting approvals to upgrade the ramp at Corinna, which is popular for those heading down the Pieman River. This work is expected to start in October this year.
Motor Servicing and Odds and Ends
Every year we hear of people having to wait for weeks around December to have their motor serviced. We know that many elect not to bother because of the wait. As a result, engine issues occur over the Christmas/New Year period and boats are often out of action at this time. We urge everyone to get in early. Now is a perfect time to service your boat to ensure you are ready for summer! Perhaps you are expecting a tax refund! What better way to spend it than by getting your engine serviced and your trailer checked? Please support one of our great Boat Safe Partners in all parts of the state and book the boat in now!
In addition to having the motor and trailer serviced, now is also a great time to check everything on your boat!
Get all that you can off the boat to see what you really do need. This provides the opportunity to give the inside of the boat a vacuum, a wash with hot water and detergent, and to check on all the equipment. Before putting it all back on the boat, ask yourself if you really need it. This a great opportunity to pack your safety gear away so it is easily accessible. Label storage areas with exactly what’s there. If you are like most owners, you know you have it on board, but are not sure where! Pottering around on the boat is fun.
For more information visit mast.tas.gov.au
To keep up to date with all marine industry news visit www.marinebusinessnews.com.au
