Boaters encouraged to get onboard with lifejacket safety and education blitz
As school holidays kicked off across NSW on the weekend, authorities rolled out a statewide lifejacket safety and education blitz aimed at making sure everyone gets home safely over the extended Easter break.
NSW Maritime officers hit the water in full force to remind boaters, jetskiers and paddlers of the importance to carry, wear and service lifejackets during Operation Float When You Boat. NSW Maritime Float When You Boat Campaign Coordinator Deon Voyer said while most people are doing the right thing, too many are taking unnecessary risks in regard to lifejackets.
“So far this financial year around one in four offences on NSW waterways have been related to lifejackets, which is far too many,” Mr Voyer said.
“Over that same period there were 16 deaths on NSW waterways, with 14 of those either not wearing a lifejacket or not wearing one that met requirements for their activity.
“Our key message to boaters is that lifejackets do save lives - but they’re not much use if people aren’t carrying them, servicing them and wearing them.”
Across Saturday and Sunday, our officers carried out over 1300 vessel safety checks statewide – targeting hotspots we know are popular over the Easter school holidays including Port Stephens, Broken Bay, Sussex Inlet and Lake Mulwala. Officers issued 50 fines and 130 official warnings over the weekend, with 39 per cent of those offences relating to lifejackets.
Top offences related to lifejackets (39 per cent), safety equipment (24 per cent) and speeding (11 per cent) breaches.
“We know thousands of people will be hitting the water between now and ANZAC Day to see out the boating season – and we want people to continue to have a good time,” Mr Voyer said.
“Wearing a life jacket will help us and other waterway responders get you home to your loved ones if anything does go wrong on the water.
“A perfect example of why a lifejacket is important occurred on the weekend, when a kayaker become separated from his group before his vessel capsized at Port Hacking. The kayaker was in the water for 20 minutes before somebody heard his calls for help.
“A local resident and NSW Maritime officers helped rescued the kayaker a short time later, with the man saying he considered himself lucky he had a lifejacket on.
"Put safety first to protect your loves ones, your mates and yourselves while out on our waterways.”
Operation Float When You Boat also targeted anti-social jetski behaviour, unsafe towing of people behind vessels and boaters putting themselves at risk in the open water – particularly at bar crossings. Boaters are recommended to service their lifejackets, with information on how to do so available here.
For more information on boating rules and safety see Transport for NSW’s Boating Handbook.