Marine Safety SA January 2024 Newsletter

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Long weekend boating

5 people on unpowered craft on water at Wallaroo with a tug boat and boat in the backgroundAustralia Day is just one week away, with many boaters heading out to make the most of the long weekend and the end of the school holidays.

Our Marine Safety Officers will be out across the state visiting the River Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Goolwa and the metro coast to check that people are operating their boats safely and carrying all the right safety equipment. Make sure you share the water safely with unpowered vessels, such as kayaks and paddleboards, and people swimming in the water.

Before heading out make sure your lifejacket has been serviced. Now is a good time to check that your lifejacket meets the current standard AS 4758. From 1 January 2025 lifejackets that meet older Australian Standards AS 1512, AS 1499 and AS 2260 will no longer be acceptable in South Australia.

For anyone boating on the metro coastline, a Masters Swimming event will be held between Grange and Henley jetties from 10 am and 1 pm on Friday 26 January 2024. Stay clear if planning to boat in this area and keep to 4 knots if operating within 50 metres of anyone swimming or on an unpowered paddle craft such as a canoe, kayak or paddleboard.

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Development of the SA Recreational Boating Safety Strategy underway

5 people presented with lifejackets by Marine Safety and Compliance staffPhoto (above): Some of the lucky lifejacket winners who completed the recent SA Recreational Boating Safety Strategy online survey

Thank you to everyone who took the time to have their say and provide feedback via the SA Recreational Boating Safety Strategy online survey – we received more than 1,600 survey responses. The survey closed in early January after a two-month consultation period. Marine Safety SA will now work on developing a draft strategy. The draft strategy will be shared on the Marine Safety SA website and community and stakeholders will be invited to provide their feedback via YourSAy.

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Education

Marine Safety SA Stickers still available

Report hazards or incidents QR code sticker

Photo (above): Report incidents or hazards sticker

Have you ever witnessed an incident or hazard on the water and thought, “I wish I could report this right now”?

Well now you can with our new Report Incidents or Hazards sticker. All you need to do is follow the QR code to our quick online reporting tool, which will allow you to report a marine safety concern and upload photos and videos.

Last month, the Marine Safety team launched six safety stickers and so far we’ve had a fantastic response from South Australian boaters.

These stickers help provide quick and easy access to safety equipment checklists and Marine Safety SA online tools so boaters can access the information they need when they are on the water.

The following stickers are available:

  • Safety equipment checklist – recreational vessels under 8 metres
  • Safety equipment checklist – recreational vessels over 8 metres
  • QR code to the online safety equipment checking tool
  • QR code to the online which lifejacket do you need tool
  • QR code to the online report an incident or hazard tool
  • QR code to the Marine Safety SA Facebook page

The following stickers are coming soon:

  • Buoys, marks and beacons
  • VHF marine radio channels
  • 27 MHz marine radio channels
  • Phonetic alphabet for marine radio

To order your free stickers email the Marine Safety SA team at dit.MarineSafety@sa.gov.au. Please include details of the stickers you would like to order and your postal address.

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Royal Life Saving SA Water Safety Day at West Lakes

Royal Life Saving Water Safety Day at West Lakes promotion flyerPhoto (above): Come along to the water safety day at West Lakes

Have you seen one of our digital message boards at boat ramps across the state?

We have four boards that allow us to show boating safety messages and updates and move these to different locations across the state.

Signs are currently located in the Riverland, metro coast and Yorke Peninsula.

Each board has a QR code which you can scan to visit the Marine Safety SA website for more boating safety information.

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That's a wrap from Skipper the Elf

Elf looking at a Container Ship at Outer Harbor on the waterPhoto (above): Skipper the Elf checking out a big container ship

Our newest member of the Marine Safety SA team, Skipper the Elf, thanks everyone for staying safe on the water this past festive season.

Whilst Skipper the Elf may have headed back to the North Pole, the boating season continues. The next few months are a busy time for our coastal and river waters so it’s important that you have the right safety equipment on board for your next boating trip.

What safety equipment will you need on your next boating trip? It depends on:

  • The type of vessel
  • The size of vessel
  • Which waters you are operating in
  • When you are operating

Use our safety equipment checker tool to see which boating safety equipment you need and keep everyone safe on the water.

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Safe operation

Reminder to use the navigational pass at Paringa Bridge

Paringa Bridge with a red line showing the navigation pass area Photo (above): The red line drawn on this photo shows the area of the navigation pass - use the navigation pass to travel safely under the bridge

Next time you on the water in a powered vessel at Renmark, remember to use the navigational pass at Paringa Bridge.

Many people operating ski boats or jet skis are often travelling near or under the Paringa Bridge. When passing under the bridge in a powered vessel, it’s important that you use the navigation pass which is the marked channel under the bridge.

When using the navigation pass, you must operate safely and slow down. It is an offence to travel outside of the navigation pass under the bridge, unless directed by the bridge operator. Marine Safety Officers are out monitoring the area to check that operators are doing the right thing. Don’t risk a fine.

If you are enjoying the river, remember to keep to 4 knots within 30 metres of any vessel that is impacted by your wake or wash, including moored vessels. You must also keep to 4 knots within 50 metres of any person swimming in the water or on an unpowered craft such as a paddleboard, kayak or canoe.

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Hazards on the River Murray

Log marked with a yellow buoy in the River Murray

Photo (above): Watch out for hazards on the River Murray like this partly submerged log

Marine Safety SA reminds all river users that the River Murray is a dynamic natural environment. Recent flooding activity and change in flow has caused an increase in natural debris and impacted the distribution of sand and sediment on the riverbed.

Please remember that hazards may be present under the surface of the water and may not be clearly seen. All river users are encouraged to enjoy water activities with caution and to take care when operating to ensure everyone keeps safe.

If you are towing skiers, it is always a good idea to check out the area before you tow to check for hazards.

Remember to report any hazards including events or behaviours that that endanger the safety of waterway users.

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Compliance

Marine Safety Officers out across the state

Big Lobster at Kingston with the Marine Safety SA car and boat in front of itPhoto (above): Marine Safety Officers recent visit to the South East region

Our Marine Safety Officers have been out and about across the state promoting boat safety and checking vessels have all the correct safety equipment on board.

Over the first couple of weeks of January, they have visited the River Murray, Yorke Peninsula and the South East, with ongoing patrols along the metro coast and at Goolwa and Victor Harbor.

During this period Marine Safety Officers have checked more than 550 vessels, with 66% of vessel operators being 100% compliant with safety equipment requirements and operating safely.

It’s important that all operators pack and wear their lifejackets, and check that flares haven’t expired.

Watch our video to see how you can test your readiness in an emergency and have your safety equipment on hand in 30 seconds. Remember, safety gear is only helpful if accessible in an emergency.

Before heading out on the water, check what safety equipment you need and check your boat registration hasn’t expired.

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