A number of cautions have been issued to boat operators on the Hawkesbury River following a two-week safety operation conducted by local police and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).
The operation, which targeted alcohol-related issues and safety equipment compliance, ran over two weekends with the Hawkesbury Police Area Command boat launching alongside two RMS jetskis for the final day on Saturday, April 14.
Sergeant Troy Howell of Hawkesbury police said a total of 38 breath tests were conducted on drivers, observers and skiers on the day, with safety checks also conducted on each vessel stopped.
One ticket was issued to a male towing a skier with no observer on board, which carries a $250 penalty, Sergeant Howell said. The same man’s vessels was unregistered, and he received an official caution after paying the fines over the phone.
Another official caution was issued to a man for failing to carry a licence.
However, Sergeant Howell said police were pleased with overall compliance.
“A number of verbal cautions were issued for minor safety equipment breaches such as inoperable torches, safety stickers not affixed, no bailing/fire bucket and the like,” Sergeant Howell said.
“Overall compliance with legislation by the boating public was good, especially the carrying and wearing of life jackets. There were no detections of vessels without enough jackets or people not wearing them when they should.”
Boating Services Officer Jon Moran said the RMS was the safety regulator for NSW waters and its officers were ensuring vessels had all the necessary safety equipment on board, including lifejackets, a paddle, whistle, torch, fire extinguishers, and anchor chain and rope.
“We’re also looking at boat licensing, and the manner in which people are operating their boats,” he said.
Sergeant Howell said the operation also served to raise awareness of issues that many people might not be aware of on the water.
Many people were not aware that alcohol limits for drivers also applied to observers and anyone skiing or being towed, he said.
“What most people won’t know is that skiers on NSW waterways are subject to the same limits as what the drivers of the vessels are,” Sergeant Howell said.
The alcohol limit for drivers, observers and skiers is 0.05, he said.
RMS is conducting a statewide operation, Smart Boating is Best, from April 14 to 22, Mr Moran said.
“We’ll be targeting boat ramps and out on the water of NSW looking at boat etiquette around the boat ramp, and also keeping to the right, as well as safety equipment and lifejackets,” he said.
Hawkesbury officers patrol more than 85 kilometres of the region’s waterways in the command’s $100,000 vessel, which comes equipped with a full navionics package, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) for searches, and a full radar system to pinpoint the location of other vessels.
Sergeant Howell said the operation was one of a number conducted in the area with the RMS.
“These are the kind of operations we would like to be doing a lot more of in the future, and hopefully we will be able to have the RMS organised with us as well and concentrate on safety on the water,” he said.