NSW Maritime out in force this weekend
NSW Maritime has announced that boating safety officers will be out in force this weekend to target offshore boaters in as part of Operation Blue Water.
NSW Maritime general manager operations, Howard Glenn, said the Statewide campaign would see boating safety officers focus on and around the more than 40 coastal bars in NSW.
“Crossing a coastal bar requires skill, experience, knowledge of the vessel and proper assessment of the conditions,” Glenn said.
“A skipper who does not plan and prepare for a crossing, is inviting trouble.
“Coastal bars are dynamic boating environments due to the constantly changing combination of wind, waves, currents, tides and shoals.”
Glenn said it was law that everyone aboard a recreational vessel must wear an appropriate lifejacket when crossing a coastal bar.
“A lifejacket can save your life but only if you are wearing it,” Glenn said.
To assist skippers in planning for a crossing, NSW Maritime provides live video footage and weather data of 16 of the most popular coastal bars.
Glenn said skippers heading to sea should log on and off with the volunteers of Marine Rescue NSW with a marine radio and, if heading more than two nautical miles offshore, must carry a 406MhZ EPIRB.
NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officers will conduct on-spot-safety checks with a particular emphasis on lifejacket compliance.
NSW Maritime’s bar webcams can be viewed at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/webcams/web-cam.html