Stay Afloat
We all know lifejackets are one of our most important pieces of safety equipment – but is your lifejacket knowledge airtight?
Marine Safety SA’s new Stay Afloat lifejacket clinics will make sure it is and can help you to service your own lifejacket with a simple checklist.
Visit a free and walk-in friendly clinic to:
- learn how to wear and maintain your lifejacket
- know what safety gear you need
- understand emergency communications
- ask any other boating safety questions.
Some free lifejacket replacement parts will be available if needed.
Visit the Marine Safety SA website for more information and upcoming dates and locations.
Check your lifejacket standard
All lifejackets worn for boating in South Australia must now meet Australian Standard (AS) 4758 or an accepted International Standard.
This change will improve safety for boaters. Marine environments can deteriorate materials including stitching, webbing and nylon. Manufacturers advise that the average lifespan of a lifejacket is ten years. Most old standard lifejackets are now more than ten years old.
Lifejackets that meet AS 4758:
- have increased buoyancy
- incorporate new technology
- consider advances in lifejacket design and manufacture
- have increased reflectivity.
The Australian Standard or International Standard will be clearly displayed on the lifejacket label.
Older standard lifejackets, such as AS 1512, AS 1499 and AS 2260, generally have PDF type 1, 2 or 3 marked on the jacket. AS 4758 lifejackets will display a level 50, 50S, 100, 150+.
Visit the Marine Safety SA website to check your lifejackets meet the new accepted standard.
Stay safe – don’t drink and boat!
Whether you are going fishing, sailing, skiing or diving, or just taking your boat for a spin, adding alcohol or drugs can lead to fatal consequences.
Alcohol or drugs mixed with the wind, waves and the sun can negatively impact the judgement and skills of the skipper and passengers.
A police officer can ask anyone operating a vessel, or on the vessel as a crew member, to submit to a drug or alcohol screening test.
A large fine or imprisonment could apply if drugs or a blood alcohol limit of 0.05 or over are detected in the:
- operator of a motorboat
- essential members of the crew
- water skiers
- observers
- those towed behind a boat.
New webcams live at Wirrina
Marine Safety SA have added two new webcams to provide live views from Wirrina Cove and Wirrina Cove Breakwater.
They will help to give a good indication of the local conditions. However always check the full weather forecast and make sure your safety equipment and lifejackets are in ship shape condition before you head out.
Reporting boat accidents, incidents and safety concerns
Did you know that if you are involved in a recreational boating accident or incident, or witness an incident, you must stop to give assistance and are obligated to make a boat accident or incident report within 48 hours?
This applies to events that result in:
- loss of life
- personal injury
- or property damage.
A report is not required where personal injury does not require medical attention and if property damage is less than $1,000.
If you are a commercial vessel operator or owner, including hire and drive houseboats, you will also need to complete an Australian Maritime Safety Authority Incident report form 19 within 72 hours.
Marine Safety SA also encourage you to report any observations of recreational vessels engaging in unsafe activities by submitting your marine safety concern for the Marine Safety SA team to investigate. This includes:
- inappropriate behaviour on the water
- failing to wear a lifejacket
- excessive speed
- illegal activity.
As always, if the unsafe activity has the potential to endanger human life, please contact South Australia Police on 131 444.
The reporting tool can also be used to notify of any other hazards in waterways such as:
- submerged hazards
- sunken vessels
- beacons not working or missing.
Don’t wait for your registration and safety gear to expire
As the recreational boating season draws closer to its end, it is critical to get all your safety gear up to date and make sure your boat registration hasn’t expired.
Know that you are ready to go next time you head out by checking the expiry dates on your:
- boat registration
- fire extinguishers
- lifejackets
- flares
- EPIRB and personal locator beacons (PLBs).
Don’t risk a fine for not having any of the above in date. Remember it is the skipper’s responsibility to ensure everything is in date before heading out on the water.
Checking your boat registration is quick an easy at the EzyReg website.
If you need an extra reminder, visit the Marine Safety SA online store and order your free Don’t expire – Date reminder sticker.
Is your speed Ship-Shape near others?
Whether on the ocean or river, the same rules apply – have fun, but ride safe and observe speed limits.
A 4 knots maximum speed limit (equivalent to a fast walking pace) applies within 50 metres of:
- swimmers
- surfers
- small unpowered craft
- divers flags.
- Remember to ‘Cool your Jets’.
Don’t forget the following rules also apply to operating a jet ski:
- you must be 16 years or older and hold a boat licence
- your jet ski must correctly display a Ride Smart sticker so it is readable and visible from the steering position (Ride Smart stickers are available free of charge from any Service SA customer service centre. The sticker reminds the operator of rules which are specific to PWC and are a legal requirement.)
- you and any passengers must wear a level 50 or 50S lifejacket at all times
- you can tow a water skier but you must have an observer on board
- unless zoned otherwise a 4 knot speed limit applies to all jet skis within 200 metres of the coastline (between the Outer Harbour southern breakwater and the southern end of Sellicks Beach) and the backwaters of the River Murray.
For more information and other rules applying to jet skis visit the Marine Safety SA website.
