NSW Maritime today issued a safety reminder to people boating in small vessels.
Following a series of boating incidents this weekend, NSW Maritime reminded people of the importance of lifejackets.
Maritime advises that every vessel must have lifejackets available for all on board and they must be of appropriate size and in serviceable condition.
It is now law in NSW to wear a lifejacket in a variety of heightened risk situations including: children under the age of 12, anyone boating alone, or at night when in a boat less than 4.8m; and for everyone on board a boat less than 4.8m when on alpine waters or offshore.
It is also the skipper’s responsibility to ensure everyone is wearing a lifejacket at times of heightened risk and that could the following:
• boating in bad weather (such as in a gale warning, storm warning, severe thunderstorm warning or other sever weather warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology); • when a yacht does not have safety barriers, lifelines, rails, safety harnesses or jacklines in use; • boating by the elderly, non-swimmers and people with serious medical conditions; • when the vessel has broken down; and • when there is a significant likelihood that the vessel may be capsized or swamped by waves or the occupants of the vessel may fall overboard or be forced to enter the water.
Maritime says lifejackets also have the advantage of providing insulation from the cold in the winter months.
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