Coastal bars made safer with web camera technology

by Bob Wonders on 29 Mar 2008 NSW Maritime has invested in a $170,000 three-year trial utilising web cameras at bar crossings along the NSW coast.
Known as 'dynamic environments' which have tragically claimed a number of lives over the years when boats are swamped or capsized, coastal bars can be deadly for both experienced and inexperienced boaters.

In too many cases, lives have been lost or put seriously at risk when boats take on bar crossings in adverse conditions.
NSW Maritime will now be using on-line technology to provide early advice to boaters planning a bar crossing. It believes being able to view live on-line vision of bar conditions together with local weather forecasts will enable skippers to make a more informed decision when planning a trip.

Five of the 15 planned cameras were already operating at Easter, situated at Coffs Harbour, Narooma, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens and Tweed Heads. Other cameras will be located on the Manning River, at Harrington, Swansea, Sussex Inlet, Moruya Heads, Bermagui, the Brunswick River, on the Richmond River, at Ballina, the Clarence River at Yamba and at Nobby’s Beach, Newcastle.

All will be on-line during the coming months.

The technology was first tested at Narooma late last year. It proved a success and attracted positive feedback from the boating community.

NSW Maritime has already introduced compulsory wearing of life jackets when crossing bars, has improved signage, revised safety publications and stepped up on-water patrols.

Since 1992, there have been 276 vessel incidents and 16 fatalities during attempted bar crossings. No bar crossing fatalities have been reported since 2005.


Here is an example. its Narooma. Note initially the screen will be black while data loads.

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/webcam_narooma.html

Here is another Port Macquarie, again you will have to wait around 10 seconds for the picrture to come up.

http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/webcam_portmac.html

For further information visit www.maritime.nsw.gov.au