Botany Bay, Georges River and Port Hacking Maritime Communication December 2016

[mrsswordfisherman]

Maritime Operation this weekend - Operation Boat Safe: Know the Rules will run from Saturday 26 November to Sunday 4 December, 2016 inclusive.

 

The key focus of Operation Boat Safe: Know the Rules is to ensure vessel operators are aware of the changes to the Marine Safety Regulations 2016 and to clarify any areas of concern.

 

From 1 July 2016, the Marine Safety Regulations 2016 replaced the Marine Safety (General) Regulation 2009. Changes were also made to the Marine Safety Act 1998 (as of October 7, 2016). The changes to legislation have been designed to promote safety, reduce red tape and improve administrative efficiency.

 

Changes include:

a) Reforms to boat driving licensing, including streamlining licence classes and application requirements, simplifying the fee structure and the introduction of a 10-year boat licence

Vessels no longer need to display a registration label or trade plate

c) New lifejacket standards and simplified requirements for wearing lifejackets

d) More rigorous safe distance and speed requirements

e) Broader restrictions on bow riding

f) Changes to some penalty levels and disqualification periods

 

 

Water-Ski Racing Special Event – Navigation restriction at Lady Robinsons Beach, Botany Bay 9:00am to 4:00pm – 10 & 11 December 2016

 

Vessel operators are advised that a Special Event pursuant to Section 12(2) of the Marine Safety Act 1998 is to be held on Botany Bay in a location being an area 800 metres East of and parallel to Lady Robinsons Beach, from the mouth of Cooks River to an imaginary line adjacent to Barton Street, Monterey, and between 9:00am and 4:00pm on the 10 and 11 December.

 

Due to the potential to affect the safety of navigation, Roads and Maritime has granted an Exclusive Use Aquatic Licence to the Ski Racing NSW Inc. to conduct the event, and an Exclusion Zone (‘the Zone’) will be established on the navigable waters of Botany Bay in a location being an area 800 metres East of and parallel to Lady Robinsons Beach, from the mouth of Cooks River to an imaginary line adjacent to Barton Street, Monterey between the above times. The Zone will be marked by buoys and will be monitored by control vessels.

 

 

 Expired flare disposal

 

Roads and Maritime Services is again running a program to help boaters dispose of expired flares, with mobile collections set up along the NSW coastline.

Flares signal that you are in trouble and provide a visible location for searching aircraft or vessels. Most flares have a use-by date of three years and they must be replaced before the expiry date.

Penalties apply. I have attached a PDF of the entire states collection points and a jpeg of the Sydney Region Only collection points. (Apologies for the low resolution on the jpeg)

 

Boat Ramp Updates –

• Oatley Bay, Hurstville Grove – The ramp upgrade has been completed and by all reports users are very happy with the results

• Bona Point, Kurnell – Ramp reconstruction is now complete and the ramp is operational again

• Bradbury’s Wharf, Lansvale – The ramp steps are still in disrepair and the wharf is still under construction. No time frame has been given as yet for its completion