HomeMarine Safety SA   Marine Safety SA October 2024 Newsletter

Marine Safety SA October 2024 Newsletter

You can subscribe to receive the Marine Safety SA eNewsletter monthly here.

2024 Adelaide 4WD and SA Boat & Fishing Show

Pictured is two Marine Safety Officers standing at our Marine Safety stand at the 2024 Adelaide 4WD and SA boat & fishing show. To the left is to pole stands with lifejackets and to the right is large posters showing a detailed South Australian Waters Categories.

Photo above: Marine Safety Officers ready to answer boating safety questions

We are ready to answer your boating safety questions! Find us at the 2024 Adelaide 4WD and SA Boat & Fishing Show (25-27 October) at the Wayville Showgrounds.

For those that attend the show, we will be offering the chance to win a new lifejacket by being a new or existing subscriber to the newsletter.

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Safe operation

Towing safely on the River Murray

Picture taken up on the River Murray with two people on a ski boat pulling to people on an inflatable water tube

Photo above: A fun day out is a safe day out

Towing skiers on the River Murray is a hugely popular activity – and it’s easy to see why!

However, when combining the high speeds and towing on a crowded river it can get dangerous. Key safety tips must be followed to ensure everyone has the best and safest experience.

Towing includes waterskiing, knee-boarding or aquaplaning, parasailing, wakeboarding and riding on inflatables (such as a tube, raft or biscuit).

Please remember:

  • anyone being towed must wear a level 50 or 50s lifejacket
  • before you go, ensure your boat and towing equipment is safe and suitable
  • when towing, you must not tow more than three people at once. This includes three people on one device
  • a boat must not travel within 100 metres of, or directly behind, a person who is being towed by another boat
  • always check the waterway for hazards before you begin towing
  • slow down to 4 knots when you are within 50 metres of any person in the water
  • slow down to 4 knots when you are within 30 metres of other vessels, including moored houseboats.

If you will be enjoying the River Murray this boating season, make sure you are sharing the river safely with everyone.

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Marine Safety Officers are out and about

Pictured is a Marine Safety Officer checking to see if a boater on the water has his flares in date. Marine Safety Officer is checkig the flares while boarded on the Marine Safety Vessel with the boater aboard his own vessel with a child (son) just behind him.Photo (above): A Marine Safety Officer checking a boater’s flares are in date

The start of the boating season is well and truly underway, and our Marine Safety Officers haven't missed a minute of it!

We have been engaging with boaters across the State. Don’t get caught out, make sure you have everything you need before heading out.

Pro tip: our safety equipment checker tool makes it really easy!

So far this month, we have conducted 217 vessel inspections at locations including Renmark, Mannum, Edithburgh, Port Hughes and metropolitan boat ramps.

Unfortunately, this resulted in 19 stop launches as the operator didn’t have all required safety gear.

We love a day on the water – and we want you to enjoy it too.

Don’t ruin your day on the water by failing to prepare.

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Trip preparation

Plan ahead, gear up and stay safe

Photo of one adult on the left wearing a bright blue and yellow shirt with a red hat and two children on the boat next to him with big smiles enjoying the water. all the people are fitted with a lifejacket and the wake wash in the background with green cliff sides to the leftPhoto above: Be ‘Ship-Shape’ for boating by planning ahead, gearing up and staying safe this boating season

Remember to plan ahead, gear up and stay safe on the water.

Your lifejacket is your lifeline. Check the type of lifejacket you need with our online checker tool.

From 1 January 2025, all lifejackets will need to meet Australian Standard AS4758 to be compliant.

Lifejackets with the Australian Standard AS1512, AS1499 or AS2260 will no longer be acceptable in South Australia. These outdated lifejackets could be more than 20 years old and can no longer be sold.

Gear up and ensure your safety equipment is up to date and on board, prior to launching your boat. To keep everyone safe on the water, check your safety equipment against our safety equipment checker tool.

Safety gear is only helpful if accessible in an emergency.

Stay safe this boating season and learn your correct speed.

Understanding how to judge a safe speed, when and where speed limits apply, speed limit restrictions to personal watercrafts and restricted areas are all important in order to keeping everyone safe when in and on the water. Don’t risk it, stay up to date with the correct speed limits:

  • 4 knots max within 50 metres of a person in the water or a person in an unpowered craft (such as a canoe or kayak)
  • 4 knots max within 30 metres of another boat in the water, a jetty, wharf, or other places at which a boat is being launched or retrieved.

When using a personal watercraft (commonly known as a Jetski), have fun, but ride safe and observe the above speed limits.

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Don't bung it up!

A tin vessel upside down in the water due to not having the bungs in properly

Photo above: Boats quickly take on water if the bungs aren’t in properly.

Photo captured of a man crouched down checking to make sure his bungs are in securely on his vessel.

Photo (above): A basic safety check includes checking your bungs are in securely.

Doing a basic safety check before you launch can save your life, especially if you forget to check that your bungs are in.

Luckily this boater noticed their boat was starting to sink while still close to shore. After realising their bungs were undone, they quickly returned to the boat ramp. The boat flipped but everyone is very relieved this did not happen out at sea.

A basic safety check includes checking:

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Education

Order your free Marine Safety stickers

Marine Safety stickers. Photos showing three QR stickers, a which life jacket do i need? brochure and buoys marks and beaconsPhoto (above): Marine Safety SA online store stickers

Making sure you know what lifejacket and safety equipment you need has never been easier – order the ‘Know which lifejacket’ and ‘Know your safety equipment’ stickers to ensure you have access to our quick online checker tools anytime, anywhere.

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

To order your free stickers, visit the Marine Safety SA online store.

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Video of the month

Marine Safety SA team on channel 7

Did you see the Marine Safety SA team on Channel 7’s live weather cross? We were reminding boaters to know what your safety equipment and lifejacket requirements are before heading out on the water this boating season.

If you are out on the water, make sure you know your speed limits, especially around swimmers in the water and ensure you share the water safely with all users.

Plan ahead, gear up and stay safe on the water.

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