Peter Hopkins, Manager Recreational Boating was invited to represent Marine and Safety Tasmania at the recent Canadian Safe Boating Symposium in Montreal. This is a copy of his presentation to presented to delegates on the 25th of September 2010.

2. Tasmania
Australia

3. Tasmania
40°S
145°W

4. 0
10000
20000
30000
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Recreational Vessel Registrations
Recreational
Boat Ownership

5. Recreational boating was previously administered by
five Marine Boards around the State.
Marine and Safety Tasmania was formed in 1997 by
the Government.
Coronial records - 46 Fatalities between 1987-1999.
Recreational Boating Safety Review was
commissioned in 1999 by the Tasmanian Government.

7.  To look at and analyse coronial records back to
1987.
 Survey all registered boat owners and clubs
 52.5% response rate - or over 8,000 –returned
 Recommendations made including:
 education
 Life Jackets not to be made compulsory
 Recommendations made prior to another Coronial
enquiry.

8.  The traditional recreational boater was male (94%)
and over 40 (75%).
 The main reason for boating was fishing
 Did not belong to a club.
 Owned a boat 3-6 meters in length (80%).
 Went boating 11-20 times per year within two
miles of the shore or in the lakes.
 Over 40% of those surveyed indicated they had
been in a situation that had given them some
concern for their safety.

10. The results mirrored the recreational boating survey:
This was confirmed by a national study carried out
by Dr Peter O’Connor.

11.  Five drown from one boat in deplorable conditions
 Older style 14’6” fibreglass boat
 Gale warning had been issued
 Lee shore
 Not wearing life jackets
 Opening of cray season
 Boat over loaded with pots, nets, gear and crew
 Front page photo in daily papers of 5 bodies on rocks
◦

12.  Coroners Report July 2000
 It be made mandatory for crew in a
boat to be wearing an approved
flotation device or life jacket
 This one incident was the catalyst to
change boating in Tasmania to what we
know today.

16.  Government decides in November 2000
 Media embrace announcement
 Regulatory Impact Statement not required
 No public consultation
 January 1 2001 change implemented
 To legislate or educate?
 Why 6 metres?

17.  The “average” boater needed to be reached –
which was the majority of stakeholders
 $10.00 safety levy for improved services to be
added to Registration fees
 Increased enforcement required
 Safety Kit posted including safe boating
information and capacity labels

18. Sample of
Safety Kit
Information

19.  Life Jackets alone were not the answer
 Specific need to relate to and engage the boater
in all aspects of boating
 80% are non-club members
 Involve Dealers and Chandleries

21. Schools
Workplace
Community

24. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Newspaper
Internet
TV
AM/FMradio
MASTphoneservice
MarineRadio
Otherphone
WeatherFax
Other
2000
2002
2007
Obtaining Weather Forecasts

25. 0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
00:00:00
02:00:00
04:00:00
06:00:00
08:00:00
10:00:00
12:00:00
14:00:00
16:00:00
18:00:00
20:00:00
22:00:00
Calls Received

27. Structural Integrity of Older Boats

28.  Log book
requiring
20 hours
or
 Practical
Training

30.  Before
• After

32.  Boaters are keen to learn
 Improved safety gear on boats
 Voluntary carriage of non-mandatory safety gear eg:
EPIRBS, Flares
 Better facilities have enabled boaters to reach different
destinations
 Boating is growing

33. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Boat registrations
Drownings
Linear (Boat
registrations)
Linear
(Drownings)

34. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Licences
Drownings
Linear
(Licences)
Linear
(Drownings)

35. Figure at left
shows pre- and
post-law
drowning
Mandatory PFD
wear for
vessels under 6
metres took
effect on 1
January 2001

37.  Other safety initiatives must be implemented to
make boaters safe and interested
 Educate and Legislate
 Communication and how to deliver
 Give boater back something tangible
 Gain respect from the boater
 These will help build a safety culture

38. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Motor <6m Sail <6m Inflatable Sail >6m Motor >6m PWC
%ofboaters
Safety awareness 2002-2007 ( by boat type )
Much more safety conscious
A little more safety conscious
About the same
Becoming complacent
Not as safety conscious
Unsure

39.  Complacency
 Servicing of Inflatable
Life Jackets
 Maintain safety culture
with new initiatives
 Communication and
how to deliver

40. Use of Lifejackets in
other Australian
States
New South Wales
• Under 12 yrs on a vessel
less than 4.8 metres at all
times
• On a vessel less than 8
metres nd in the open
area of a vessel when
underway
• Heightened risk in all
vessels – determined by
skipper
Queensland
• All occupants of open vessels less
than 4.8m while navigating coastal
bars;
• All children under 12 years of age
in an open vessel that is underway
and less than 4.8m in length;
• All occupants of a personal
watercraft (PWC); and
when being towed
Victoria
• All people <4.8m; off
the beach yachts
• Times of heightened
risk between 4.8m -12m
– barways, night
operation; solo
operation South Australia
• Not required to be
worn but must have
aboard.
• Some situations on
Canoes/Kayaks
Western Australia
• Not required to be
worn but must have
aboard