• Boat safely on the River Murray this Easter
• Marine Safety Officers helping to keep boaters safe
• Personal location beacon device saves boater lives
• Old Rapid Bay Jetty - please keep clear
• Old Murray Bridge refurbishment: Re-direction of navigation channel
• Be mindful of wake and wash

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Boat safely on the River Murray this Easter

If you are returning to the River Murray this Easter and school holidays after the recent flood event, please watch for hazards on the river that may be just below the surface of the water or snagged. Take extra care and travel at a safe speed suited to the conditions.  Below are some great reminders to help you boat safely on the River Murray this Easter:

If you spot a navigational hazard on the water you can report it via the Marine Safety Concerns tool here.

Please take care when boating on the River Murray this Easter.

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Safe operation

Marine Safety Officers helping to keep boaters safe

_{Photo (above): This happy family had all the right safety gear on board when Marine Safety Officers checked their gear}

Marine Safety Officers will be spreading the safe boating message over the Easter period and in into the school holidays, with regular patrols across the River Murray and metropolitan and regional coastal waters and boat ramps.

They will be checking that boat operators have all the safety equipment they need on board and that lifejackets are being worn. There are different rules on lifejacket wear depending on the type of vessel you are operating and where you are operating. There are also different rules in place for children, requiring all children to wear lifejackets at all times on boats up to 12 metres in length. Find out which lifejacket you need here.

Remember to always check your safety equipment before heading out on your boating trip and ensure you are aware of the requirements based on the area you are intending on boating in. Find out what you need here.

Take care if heading out on the water this Easter and always check the weather forecast before and during your trip. If in doubt? Don't head out.

Have a happy and safe Easter on the water.

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Personal location beacon device saves boater lives

_{Video (above): This video shows you how to activate an Electronic Personal Indicator Beacon (EPIRB). Personal Location Beacons (PLB) are smaller in size and are designed to be attached to what you are wearing - generally a lifejacket}

Last month in waters off Portland, Victoria two men were lucky to escape with their lives after a rogue wave turned their boat upside down.

Both men were wearing lifejackets but all the safety equipment that would help the search and rescue teams find them including flares and an EPIRB were not accessible due to the boat being overturned.

Luckily one of the boaters had purchased a Personal Location Beacon (PLB) for $300, that he was wearing. A PLB is designed to be worn on your body ie- attached to a lifejacket. The boater activated his PLB which sent a message to his wife who contacted authorities to start the search and rescue operation.

Search and rescue operations announced the coordinates of the capsized boat on marine radio channel 16 and a local fishing charter vessel located the vessel and rescued the two men.

Although this was a positive outcome for these two boaters, the story may have been different if they had not had a PLB with them.

You can read more about their story via this ABC online news article here.

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Jetties and bridges

Old Rapid Bay Jetty - please keep clear

^{Photo (above) Old Rapid Bay Jetty has buoys marking the restricted area}

For the safety of all persons and vessels, there has been an extension to the length of the prohibited area around the Old Rapid Bay Jetty. This direction is to ensure all divers, swimmers and boaters near the structure are kept safe. Marine Safety Officers have set up buoys around the area to help alert users of the danger and permanent signage will be installed in the coming weeks.

Although there has been no pedestrian access to the jetty since it was closed in late 2004, the site is popular with scuba divers due to the area's rich marine life.

The recent increase to the prohibited area extends it from 306 to 406 metres and includes the area 15 metres either side of the jetty, and applies to all vessels and persons.

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Old Murray Bridge refurbishment: Re-direction of navigation channel

_{Photo (above): Old Murray bridge is being refurbished}

If you are boating near the Old Murray Bridge during the Easter break please note that major refurbishment works are continuing there.

Old Murray Bridge was constructed over the Murray River in 1879, and is located on Bridge Street, Murray Bridge, immediately east of the town centre. Murray Bridge is located approximately 75 kilometres from Adelaide.

To safely facilitate works over water, significant scaffolding structures have been erected underneath the bridge. This has required the temporary re-direction of navigation lanes underneath the bridge and the creation of a temporary work zone with restricted access for all users, including powered, non-powered and water activities to the 31 August 2023, weather permitting.

Safe passage for recreational and commercial vessel operators will be maintained at all times, through a temporary navigation channel.

Temporary channels, restricted access work zones and speed limits are indicated through:

• marine signage;
• channel markers; and
• buoy lines.

Boat and watercraft operators are strongly encouraged to use caution and observe marine navigational devices when using this section of the river.

Environmental controls are implemented to ensure there is no impact to the Murray River.

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Video of the month

Be mindful of wake and wash

If you are heading to the River Murray be mindful of your wake and wash and how it can impact on people on the river and river bank. Take care around swimmers in the water and people in unpowered craft such as kayaks and paddleboards in the water. Remember you must keep 4 knots within 50 metres of these users and within 30 metres of any other vessel that is impacted by your wash.

Report unsafe behaviours on the River Murray via the Marine Safety Concern online reporting tool here.

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