Lookout! – Issue 15
21 December 2009
Guidance notice – Issue 17:
Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) equipment testing
21 December 2009
Maritime New Zealand's current online services.
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The hazards of bar crossings are well known to fishermen and boaties, but even the most experienced can be caught out.
Each year thousands of people make successful bar crossings, many in difficult weather, but river entrances and bar harbours around New Zealand continue to claim lives in both the commercial and recreational sectors. In the past 10 years there have been 12 bar crossing fatalities – 9 in the recreational sector and 3 in the commercial sector.
Bars form at the entrances to rivers and estuaries because of the drift of sand along the coast, and each bar is unique. Crossing the bar is often the only way boats can get access to, or reach shelter from, open waters. Even on a good day, conditions can change quickly without warning, and conditions on the bar can be different from those offshore and change over time. Local knowledge, experience, planning, and the right kind of boat are critical factors when attempting bar crossings.
It is the skipper’s responsibility to determine whether or not to cross a bar. Skippers should gain local knowledge with an experienced operator before attempting a crossing. They should ensure they have fully assessed the conditions, and that the boat is seaworthy and sufficiently robust to take serious impact from waves.
People who are totally prepared and do everything right stand a much better chance of a successful bar crossing – “It’s surprising how often luck seems to come to those who prepare themselves properly for it”. (Crossing the Bar & It Happens… A Safety Training DVD – see left.)
Check the weather, tide and bar conditions before considering a bar crossing. If in doubt, don’t cross and sit tight until it is safe to do so. A crew safety briefing, including the man overboard procedure, the donning of lifejackets, and checks of emergency communications, should be done well in advance of the crossing attempt – so that every person on board is prepared and knows what to do in the event of an emergency. Wearing lifejackets is a legal requirement on all recreational craft.
Before crossing, check that everyone on board is awake and wearing a lifejacket. Post a lookout astern, secure hatches, open freeing ports and properly stow the anchor and other equipment. Ensure that weight, including passenger load, is kept low down and check that your engine and steering are performing correctly.
Watch the bar for a while and assess the break and best route to take before crossing. The best time to cross a bar is at high water. If possible, avoid crossing when the tide is going out.
Going out should be done slowly and cautiously, picking up the rhythm of the waves, seeing the opening and following it.
Once you are on your way, don’t turn back. Keep the bow of your boat directly into the waves. Throttle back at the top of the waves, then get ready for the next one. Be ready to either slow down or accelerate as conditions dictate.
Coming in involves preparing your boat and crew the same way as for going out. Keep the weight low and aft (towards the rear) in the boat, to help avoid digging in the bow and broaching (slewing round sideways). It is much more difficult to read the waves from out at sea than from ashore.
Remember if you are going with the river, current or swell flow, then your rudder may not be as effective as going against the flow.
Contact Coastguard, the harbourmaster or maritime radio just before each crossing, and ensure that emergency communications are on hand throughout. Take your time approaching the bar – use moderate speed. Report your successful crossing to Coastguard, the harbourmaster or maritime radio.
Local knowledge is invaluable when crossing a bar, but this can only be gained through experience, and through experienced skippers and crew sharing information and educating others. There are a lot of things to consider when crossing a bar – some are particular to each bar, others to bar crossings in general.
Knowledge of the landmarks, transit beacons, height and times of tides, buoys and beacons, bar conditions, weather, wind and swell directions, and tips and anecdotes from other skippers will help you to determine the safest way to cross a particular bar. Conditions on some bars are more prone to change than others, with rock-based bars less changeable than sand-based bars.
The key message is “If in doubt – don’t cross”. Once you have decided to cross and passed the commitment point, if things go wrong, it’s likely to all happen quickly – with no time to organise or reflect. Your preparation and planning will stand you in good stead. Making sure that you’ve reported your intent to cross, are wearing lifejackets, and have reliable waterproof communications on you will mean that you can raise help if you need to.
These safety tips are available as a handy sticker from Maritime New Zealand (see right).
If you’d like a free sticker, email publications@maritimenz.govt.nz.
Search for "bar crossing" on our website for accident reports and other bar safety information.
Order and watch Crossing the Bar & It Happens...A Safety Training DVD. Targeted at both existing and intended skippers, this DVD discusses the ins and outs of bar crossing.
For a free copy email: sito@seafood.co.nz
or phone 04 385 4005.
Attend a “bar day” training course run by Coastguard – contact your local branch for more information.
Talk to local boaties and fishermen.