NMSC confirms leisure craft standards seminars

by NMSC on 2 Nov 2009

Murray River Houseboats, courtesy Houseboat Hirers Assoc, SA National Marine Safety Committee http://www.nmsc.gov.au

The National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) has finalised venues for the continuing series of consultative workshops on the new draft standard for Leisure Craft. Venues are now confirmed for Fremantle and Mandurah in Western Australia; Mannum and Adelaide in South Australia; Dareton (near Mildura) and Sydney in NSW; Hobart in Tasmania; and Melbourne, Victoria. (Details below).

Responding to the wider variety of ‘hire and drive’ activities now available, the new National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part F, Section 2 – Leisure Craft aims to provide more user-friendly requirements tailored to specific types of activities.

NMSC’s Standards Team Leader John Henry said the first workshops held this week in Queensland garnered valuable feedback on the draft standard which covers a wide range of modern operations from unpowered off-the-beach craft, through to houseboats, PWCs (jetskis) and bareboat yachts.

“National data shows that most incidents involving these craft are the result of driver error so the emphasis is on safety management and the provision of an adequate briefing, especially for inexperienced and unlicensed hirers,” Mr Henry said.

“With the approach of summer and the peak tourist season, many of these operations and activities increase so it is an apt time for stakeholders to be thinking about what safety requirements should be applied through this new standard."

BOAB Boat Hire. © National Marine Safety Committee http://www.nmsc.gov.au

The new standard considers those ‘share’ boats that fall within the definition of commercial vessels – and there are annexes on recognition of conformity assessment under the European Union system and on sewage holding systems.
The draft standard modifies other parts of the NSCV to cater for the specific risks and management approaches used with leisure craft.

“Overall, the new standard allows a more flexible approach to the range of operations without compromising safety for operators and the general public,” Mr Henry added.

Have Your Say
Copies of the document can be obtained by phoning (02) 9247 2124 or from the NMSC website www.nmsc.gov.au – click on ‘Have Your Say’. The comment period closes on 16 December 2009.

Workshops – Stakeholders are invited to attend a consultative workshop in their State. There is no fee to attend the workshops; however, interested attendees should complete an Attendance Form (downloadable from the NMSC website) for catering purposes. Venue details follow:

BURONGA/MILDURA
Wednesday, 4 November 2009 (6pm-8.30pm)
Venue: Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club
Silver City Highway, Dareton

FREMANTLE
Monday, 9 November 2009 (1.30pm-4.30pm)
Venue: Marine Operations Centre
Capo D’Orlando Drive, Fremantle …/Continued

MANDURAH
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 (2pm-5pm)
Venue: The Sebel Resort
10 Marco Polo Drive, Mandurah

MANNUM
Wednesday, 11 November 2009 (6pm-8.30pm)
Venue: Mannum Community Club
66 Randall St, Mannum

ADELAIDE
Thursday, 12 November 2009 (1pm-5.30pm)
Venue: Seminar Room 3, DTEI SA
33-37 Warwick St, Walkerville

HOBART
Tuesday 17 November 2009 (9.30am-12.30pm)
Venue: Marine and Safety Tasmania
Level 1, 7-9 Franklin Wharf, Hobart

SYDNEY
Wednesday, 18 November 2009 (2pm-5pm)
Venue: Melbourne Room, Punthill Hotel
472 Pacific Highway, Lane Cove North

MELBOURNE
Thursday, 19 November 2009 (10am-2pm)
Venue: First Level, The Auditorium
200 The Boulevard, Port Melbourne

The NMSC aims to achieve nationally uniform marine safety practices and is made up of an Independent Chair and the CEOs of Australia’s marine safety agencies.

More at www.nmsc.gov.au