• National Safe Boating Week
• High flows -  flood advice for River Murray  users
• Marine Safety SA website update
• Do you know what safety equipment you need?
• Report a marine safety incident or concern
• Be careful when buying second hand boats
• Redirection of navigational channel under Old Murray Bridge

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

National Safe Boating Week

National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) 2022 begins this Saturday, October 1 and runs through to October 7.  NSBW is a collaborative initiative developed by the Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group and maritime agencies across Australia. The focus of the week is raising awareness of safe boating behaviours across Australia.

Whether you are heading out to sea, or on the river or lake, it is important to always put safety first.  Make sure everyone around the water is wearing a lifejacket that fits correctly, is suitable for the activity and where you are operating, is properly maintained and serviced (inflatable lifejackets need regular servicing) and meets the Australian Standard for recreational boating.

Friday October 7 is ‘Wear your lifejacket day’ where we encourage everyone to show your support of boating safety and wear your lifejacket. It is the perfect time to dust off your lifejacket, check it fits, check its up to standard and service inflatable models.  Modern lifejackets are easy to wear whatever you are doing.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport Marine Safety Officers will be out at boat ramps and on the water across the week checking recreational boaters have the right lifejacket on and all their safety equipment on board.

Come up and say hello and ask them about safe boating requirements:

1 - 2 October - River Murray (Mannum) and metropolitan boat ramps

3- 4 October - Metropolitan boat ramps

5 October - Metropolitan boat ramps

6 October - Yorke Peninsula (Port Victoria) and metropolitan boat ramps

7 October - Yorke Peninsula (Port Hughes) and metropolitan boat ramps

7 October - Come and visit us at the grand opening of the Wellington East Reserve, George Mason Street, Wellington East between 11 am and 3 pm. We are giving away a lifejacket and there is a free community BBQ and Come and Try Kayaking. Come and see us to get all your boating safety information.

For more information about National Safe Boating Week visit the Australian New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group website.

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High flows - flood advice for River Murray users

_{Watch out for high flows on the River Murray}

The River Murray will be busy in the upcoming October school holidays. All river users are reminded to take care and be aware that recent high rainfall interstate are causing increased flows into the River Murray. Predicted water levels are likely to cause minor flooding in the shack areas between Cadell and Mannum. Shack areas that are likely to be affected include (but not limited to):

• Morgan
• Brenda Park
• Scotts Creek
• Walker Flat
• Bowhill.

Flows into South Australia are likely to exceed 70,000 ML/Day in the coming weeks and are expected to remain high through October. River Murray Flows Reports and mapping can be found on the WaterConnect website at www.waterconnect.sa.gov.au/River-Murray.

Stay safe on the River Murray during high flows:

• Always wear a lifejacket on the river.
• High flows and debris can create risks for people operating vessels on the water, be mindful that with rising water levels items may become submerged under the water creating a hazard.
• Operating a vessel? Slow your speed and don’t go out if the conditions are hazardous.
• Are you towing people on the river? Watch out for hazards in the water due to the high flows.
• Do you have a mooring? Check that they are secure and make sure you change them as water levels rise and fall.

Stay safe if floodwaters are impacting in your area:

• Be aware that floodwaters may rise rapidly and are likely to be fast moving.
• Never allow children to play in or near floodwater.
• You should never walk, ride or drive through floodwater.

Stay informed:

• Check the SES website at www.ses.sa.gov.au
• Monitor local conditions and tune in to your local ABC on a battery-powered radio for updates
• Call the SA Emergency Infoline on 1800 362 361
• People who are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, can contact the SA Emergency Infoline via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 727 (TTY users 1800 555 677)
• Follow the SES on Twitter (@SA_SES) or Facebook (SA State Emergency Service)
• For weather warnings and forecasts visit www.bom.gov.au.
• For reporting navigational hazards / marine safety concerns visit SA.GOV.AU - Reporting boat incidents (www.sa.gov.au)

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Marine Safety SA website update

^{Check out our updated Marine Safety SA homepage}

The Marine Safety SA website has been updated to make it easier to find key boating safety information. You can now find the online lifejacket checking tool and a new safety equipment checking tool at the top left of website home page. There is also a link to report a marine safety incident on the water.

New pages include:

• Lifejackets - which one to wear, fit and servicing tips.
• Safety equipment  - what do you need before heading out on the water.
• Safe vessel speeds - safe speeds on the water.
• Towing- vessels towing water skiers safely
• Boat capacity - Making sure you know your boats capacity and checking your Australian Builders Plates.

Our popular quick links through to key pages remain including the SA Boating Safety Handbook, web cameras, practising for your boat licence test, boat registration and licensing, signing up for our eNewsletter, weather and notices to mariners.

Our latest news is also available on the home page along with videos and key campaign promotions to remind people to boat safely.

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Do you know what safety equipment you need?

_{The safety equipment you need on a vessel varies}

Are you unsure about what safety equipment you need to carry on your vessel? A new online safety equipment checking tool is available now. You can enter information about your vessel type and size and where you are operating (requirements differ for River operation versus ocean operation and the distance from shore). The new tool will let you know exactly what safety equipment you need to be carrying on board.

You can also use our popular which lifejacket do you need checking online tool to make sure you are wearing the right lifejacket for your vessel and where you are operating.

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Report a marine safety incident or concern

_{New online reporting forms make it easy to report incidents, accidents and marine safety concerns}

Do you have a marine safety concern about a recreational vessel operating unsafely? You can report these concerns to our Marine Safety and Compliance team via the report a marine safety concern form. The new online reporting form allows you to include details, photos and video of what you have witnessed. The Marine Safety and Compliance team can then follow it up as needed.

Have you been involved in a boating accident or witnessed an accident. Report it here via our new vessel incident / accident online form

More information about reporting vessel incidents / accidents and marine safety concerns is available here.

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Be careful when buying second hand boats

_{One of our Marine Safety Officers helped the owner retrieve the sunken boat at St Kilda}

A boat recently sank in the St Kilda Channel showing the importance of making sure you check your boat is seaworthy before heading out.

The boat pictured was purchased privately by the owner who was taking it out on its maiden voyage. The boat took on water when the engine came partly away from the hull causing it to sink in the St Kilda Channel.

The boat had a rotting transom (the flat surface forming the back of the boat). It also had no backing plate for the outboard motor. Both of these factors contributed to the boat sinking. Luckily for this owner the boat sunk in an easily accessible place allowing the boat to be pulled back to the boat ramp and the boat occupants safely returned to shore. They might not have been so lucky if it had been out in open waters.

If you are planning to buy a second hand boat watch this video from our Marine Safety counterparts in Tasmania to ensure you do all the checks needed before purchase.

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Redirection of navigational channel under Old Murray Bridge

^{Old Murray Bridge Refurbishment project video}

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport continues to undertake major refurbishment works on the Old Murray Bridge to maintain its long-term structural integrity. This South Australian Government funded project will increase its life span by an estimated 30 years.

With the October school holidays starting this weekend, please be aware of the temporary re-direction of navigation lanes underneath the bridge.

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 through till 31 March 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 shown via buoy lines, channel markers and marine signage. Please ensure you only navigate through the temporary navigation channel.

Visit www.dit.sa.gov.au/oldmurraybridge to find out more about the project, provide feedback or register to receive project updates.

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