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When you go boating, you will encounter hazards and risks. The outcome
will be determined by your knowledge, skill and attitude toward safety. It's important to make a boating emergency less likely
to happen by taking the proper precautions; but, it's equally important to be prepared and know what to do if an emergency
occurs.
Alcohol impairment increase the likelihood of accidents - for both
passengers and vessel operators. Always designate non-drinking boaters to operate the vessel and to act as an observer if
your group plans to consume alcohol. Do not let your skipper continue operating if he or she is drinking. Alcohol contributes
to about one-third of all boating accidents nationwide.
In NSW breath testing, including random breath testing (RBT), can
be conducted on the operator of a vessel while it is underway. RBT does not apply when a vessel is moored, berthed or at anchor.
However, remain under the legal limit when out on the water in case you need to move your vessel.
Permissable concentration of alcohol limits are as follows:
- less than 0.02 for commercial vessel operators.
- 0.00 for recreational vessel operators aged under 18 years
- less than 0.05 for recreational vessel operators over 18 years.
The operator of a vessel includes anyone steering or exercising control
over the course or direction of a vessel and includes the observer in a ski boat or PWC, as well as the person being towed.
  
 All calls are repeated three times.
MAYDAY
A mayday call denotes an emergency involving imminent danger to
a vessel and the people onboard. If you hear a mayday call you should not transmit, but continue to monitor the radio. If
a shore station such as the local Coastguard or Coastal Patrol fails to repond to the call you should attempt to relay the
message and render any assistance. An example of a mayday message could be:
"Mayday, Mayday, Mayday this is Phantom, this is Phantom, this is Phantom, a 5m red half cabin, I am three miles off Red Head,
we have been swamped by a wave and we are sinking. There are four people overboard. Over".
PAN PAN
Pan Pan is an urgency message that indicates a vessel that is in
trouble but not in immediate danger, for example:
"Pan
Pan, Pan Pan, Pan Pan, this is Phantom, this is Phantom, this is Phantom, a 5m red half cabin, I am three miles off Red Head,
we have been disabled by a wave and require a tow. There are four people onboard. Over".
SECURITE
Securite messages generally prefix navigational safety messages
such as weather reports or navigation hazard updates, for example:
"Securite
Sucurite Securite all ships, all ships, all ships, this is Coast Radio Sydney, Coast Radio Sydney for a renewal of a strong
wind warning please switch to channel VHF 67. Out".
- Fuel fires aboard small vessels spread rapidly and generate
intense heat. Few people are able to successfully combat them.
- The answer to the problem lies in preventing fires rather than fighting
them.
- A number of fires or explosions occur immediately after vessels have
been refuelled. By using common sense and taking proper precautions, boating fires can be prevented.
- Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) is non-corrosive and clean-burning.
It can cause suffocation if inhaled in sufficient volume.
- When buying or selling a boat fitted with LPG burning appliances
you should ensure that the gas cylinders have been inspected and what the equipment and hoses are in safe working order.LPG
has the same characteristics as water and will flow downwards and gather in the bilge. Gas storage bottles should be located
in a well-ventilated space. In the event of a gas leak stop all motors, close all cylinder valves, turn off all appliances
and ventilate the vessel. DO NOT operate any electrical switches until the air is clear. Leakages can lead to suffocation
or explosion. To assist in early detection of leaks a strong odour has been added to LPG, but you should consider installing
a gas detector.
- Inital "cold shock"
occurs in the first 3-5 minutes of immersion in cold water. Sudden immersion into cold water can cause immediate involuntary
gasping, hyperventilation, panic, and vertigo-all of which can result in inhalation and drowning. Immersion in cold water
can also cause sudden changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rhythm, whitch can also result in death.
- Short term "swim failure"occurs
3-30 minutes following immersion in cold. The muscles and nerves in the arms and legs cool quickly. Manual dexterity, hand
grip strength, and speed of movement can all drop by 60-80%. Even normally strong persons can lose the strength necessary
to pull themselves out of the water or even keep their head above water. Death occurs by drowning.
- Long term "immersion hypothermia"
sets in after 30 minutes, at a rate depending on water temperature, clothing, body type, and your behavior in the
water. Cold water robs the body of heat 25 times faster than cold air. Hypothermia occours when your body loses heat faster
than it produces it, cooling the organs in the core of your body. Hypothermia eventually leads to loss of consciousness and
death, with or without drowning.
- Post immersion
collapse occours during or after rescue. Once rescued, if you have been immersed in cold water you are
still in danger from collapse of arterial blood pressure leading to cardiac arrest. Also inhaled water can damage your lungs,
and heart problems can develop as cold blood fromm arms and legs is released into the core of your body.
Huddle Help
Position Position
Carbon monoxide is a colourless and odourless gas produced when
carbon based fuel, such as gasoline, diesel, propane, charcoal, or oil burns. High concentrations of carbon monoxide can be
fatal within minutes. Syptoms of monoxide poisoning include irritated eyes, headaches, nausea and dizziness. As these symptoms
are similar to sea sickness and intoxication those affected may not receive the medical attention they need.
 Requirement
If a boating accident occurs in any port or navigable water in NSW,
the master of the
vessel must:
- Stop the vessel immediately
- Give any assistance which may be necessary.
- Produce any licence
- Give details to any person having reasonable grounds for requesting
them. This includes the master's name and address and any distinguishing number (that is, registration nuber or permit number)
deplayed on the vessel.
- If requested by a NSW Maritime officer or any police officer,
provide the following details:
- Time,place and nature of accident
- Name and registration number of every vessel involved in the
incident.
- Name and address of every person who was concerned with or
witnessed the accident
- Extent of any injury or damage resulting from the accident.
- Produce a boat driver's licence or certificate of competency
and
- Where the accident has resulted in the death of, or injury to, a
person; or damage in excess of $100 to a vessel, or any other property, a written report must be forwarded to NSW Maritime
within 24 hours setting out the particulars unless these have already been given to a NSW Maritime officer or police officer.
Vessel incident report forms are available from any NSW Maritime
operations centre, the police, the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard. They are also available
at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au
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