Tag Archives: Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Two more Indonesian fishing vessels feared missing off WA coast after Tropical Cyclone Ilsa
Indonesian villagers fear two more fishing boats remain unaccounted for after the dramatic rescue of 11 fishermen from a small island about 300 kilometres west of Broome, Western Australia. Ten of those fishermen had been aboard a vessel named Express, which hit trouble in waters off WA’s north-west due to the destructive force of Severe Tropical Cyclone Ilsa. All crew members on the Express survived for six days with no food or fresh water after their vessel washed onto Bedwell Island,,, But eight fishermen who were aboard a second fishermen vessel, the Putri Jaya, are missing, feared drowned. And villagers from Rote Island have told the ABC about two other boats that left at the same time — though travelling separately — that remain unaccounted for. They are the Cahaya Alor and Tuan Muda. >click to read< 17:04
‘Everybody deserves to come home safely’: Commercial seafood industry launches national safety program, Sea Safe
“Working at sea and around water is inherently high risk. Most risks can be managed through education and the use of safe practices. FRDC has invested in fishing and aquaculture safety programs and projects throughout Australia, over many years including FRDC-funded programs such as Sea Safe and FishSafe that have been instrumental in shaping the new Sea Safe program,” Dr Hone said. “FRDC is proud to extend our commitment to safety through our investment in Sea Safe. We want all people who work and play in, on or near the water, to be safe and go home to their families, so having a national Sea Safe program will help build a safer culture for all our stakeholders.”
Boaties rescued off Fraser Island
The Bundaberg RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew has assisted in a mission to help four trawler crew members, who set off an emergency beacon, after their boat was damaged off K’gari (Fraser Island) overnight. The rescue crew was tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to locate the 15 metre vessel, around 2.45am Monday morning, after its EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio) was activated. The four people on board reportedly deployed a life boat as a precaution, in case they needed to abandon their trawler, which had damage to its hull and propeller.>click to continue< 21:37
Float-free EPIRB deadline approaches for Australian commercial vessels
Commercial vessel owners and operators are being urged to act now to ensure their vessels are fitted with float-free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) before the New Year deadline. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) legislated changes requiring certain commercial vessels to carry float-free EPIRBs from 1 January 2021 following the deaths of 14 commercial fishers and divers between 2015 and 2017. >click to read< 14:49
A “culture of acceptance”? Fishing fatalities prompt warning amid revelation working on boats more dangerous than mining
The owner of the largest fleet in Australia’s most valuable prawn fishery has called on industry to tackle its safety problems amid revelations fishing is about 25 times more dangerous to work in than mining and construction. Arthur Raptis said a “culture of acceptance” had led many to believe a series of fatal and other serious accidents in recent years was “just part of fishing”. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said five people are killed on fishing boats every year. Mr Raptis said his industry’s track record was “less than average” and unless attitudes changed, unnecessary deaths and serious injuries would continue to happen. >click to read<09:37
Australian Maritime Safety Authority mandates float-free EPIRBS
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has announced that, as from 1 January 2021, it will be mandatory for certain types of commercial vessels to be fitted with float-free EPIRBs. According to AMSA, the change is in response to incidents in which commercial vessels sank quickly and the master and crew were unable to deploy an EPIRB in time. “If a vessel rapidly capsizes or sinks, the survival of the passengers and crew depends on the transmission of a distress signal,” said Brad Groves, AMSA general manager of standards. “A float-free auto-activating EPIRB can send a call for help within minutes of being submerged in water, without any action by the crew.” >click to read<14:53
F/V Dianne Tragedy: sole survivor Ruben McDornan calls for tighter commercial fishing safety laws
The sole survivor of a dive boat disaster that claimed the lives of six men has accused the government of turning its back on commercial fishermen, calling for more stringent safety monitoring of boats. Ruben McDornan, the only surviving crew member from the FV Dianne, which sank off the coast of Queensland last year, says fishermen are dying unnecessarily because no government authority wants to take responsibility for their safety. “If six people had died in a mine, or in any other workplace on land, there would be uproar,” McDornan told 60 Minutes. >click to read<21:48
Coroner calls for compulsory EPIRBs after Returner tragedy
A Coronor has implored maritime authorities to make it compulsory for all fishing vessels to carry water-activated EPIRB devices, following an inquest into the sinking of the prawn trawler Returner off the WA coast which claimed the lives of skipper Murray Turner and deckhands Chad Fairley and Mason Carter. The findings of last year’s coronial investigation into the tragic sinking in July 2015 were released today, with coroner Sarah Linton concluding that a lack of stability of the trawler, which had undergone extensive modifications prior to setting out, had caused the vessel to capsize and those aboard to drown. >click to read< 09:58
Sleepy deckhand fined after vessel ran aground on auto-pilot
A 19-year-old deckhand who fell asleep at the wheel of a spanner crab vessel that ran aground on auto-pilot at Mooloolaba has been fined $2,500. The skipper and a female passenger were below deck when the boat was beached in the dark in July. No one was hurt but the Matahari was a write-off. Insurance did not cover replacement costs. The stricken vessel became a tourist attraction and was dragged one kilometre up the busy beach before being cut into pieces. photo’s, click here to read the story 09:29
Australian Maritime Safety Authority conducts crackdown on fishermen taking drugs
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is undertaking a major campaign across Far North Queensland targeting fishing fleets under the influence of drugs. Five men have already been charged after Cairns Water Police conducted a joint agency patrol in remote northern waters. Water police travelled 800km over an extensive eight day operation from Cairns to Cape Grenville. The search began on the 20th September this year, targeting vessels that were operating under the influence of drugs. Sergeant Andrew Ibell said the amount of fishermen with drugs in their system was alarming and correlated with marine incidents over the last few years. In total 37 boats were intercepted and five skippers tested positive to having drugs in their system. It is alleged a combination of methamphetamine and cannabis was detected within the operators,’ Mr Ibell said. Read the rest here 19:51
