Safe Seas Clean Seas – issue 29, September 2009

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The initiative, which was developed by Coastguard Boating Education, Water Safety New Zealand and Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) in partnership with the local community, proved a hit with Nelson boaties.

Based on the success of the Nelson event, MNZ South Island Small Craft Safety Advisor Jim Lilley says further events are now confirmed for Christchurch, Picton and Waikawa Bay. Events in other South Island centres are also being planned, and will hopefully be announced within the next few months.

“Key to the success of these events is the full and equal partnerships developed between a large number of national and local organisations, who all have a stake in seeing the initiative succeed,” says Jim. “A number of organisations have stepped up to support the concept, including Coastguard Boating Education, Water Safety New Zealand, Police and local harbourmasters, the New Zealand Fire Service, local councils, Sport and Recreation New Zealand, MNZ, and a host of other local community organisations.”

A free boating safety check day piloted in Nelson by
MNZ and supporting agencies, set to go to other centres.

Jim says the basic format of the day will involve trained volunteers setting up at local boat ramps, where boaties arriving to launch their vessels will be offered the chance to take advantage of a free boating safety check, and also be provided with information on boat safety equipment, such as lifejackets, marine VHF radios and EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons). Boaties returning to the ramp will also be able to take advantage of the boating checks.

Meanwhile, Jim’s counterpart in the North Island, Alistair Thomson, has been in discussions with Auckland Regional Council, Water Safe Auckland, Coastguard Boating Education, Coastguard Northern Region and the Auckland Police Maritime Unit to extend theboat ramp safety initiative into the Auckland region.

“Boating fatality and accident data we’ve collected over recent years indicates that the Pacific Island community, especially men, are sadly over-represented in these figures, so our first Auckland boat ramp safety day is going to have a distinctly Pacific Island focus,” says Alistair.

“In light of this, we’ve been working closely in partnership with the Pacific Island community and the various other agencies to get the idea moving forward. The first Auckland event will take place at Labour Weekend, at Mangere Bridge boat ramp.”

Alistair says other regions have also indicated their support for the initiative, with the Bay of Plenty harbourmaster expressing an interest in hosting a series of free boating safety check days.

For more information on the South Island events, contact
Jim Lilley, cell phone 027 538 7566.

For information on the Auckland event, contact
Alistair Thomson, cell phone 027 572 9258.

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