Boaties need better safety focus: Lucas

Queensland boaties need to put more effort into safety, with the state close to becoming Australia’s boating capital, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said Maritime Safety Queensland’s boating safety report card showed there were 701 marine incidents reported last year, up nearly 8.7% from 2005.

Mr Lucas said while the increase may in part be due to a greater emphasis on having boaties report incidents when they occurred, it was a reminder of the importance of maritime safety.

“The number of vessels on our waterways is increasing every year,” Mr Lucas said.

“At the end of 2006 there were 208,301 vessels registered in Queensland, an increase of more than 4.5% in just one year.

“At this rate, Queensland will overtake NSW as the boat-owning capital of Australia within the next year or so.”

Mr Lucas said there were 17 fatalities as a result of marine incidents in 2006, four more than 2005. However, 36 people were reported as requiring hospitalisation for serious injuries, 12 fewer than in 2005.

The Cairns maritime region, which extends around Cape York and takes in the Torres Strait and Gulf of Carpentaria, had the greatest proportion of fatalities with seven deaths for the year. The region recorded 41% of the state’s fatalities and 25% of the state’s serious injuries for 2006.

“There are always challenges for us to improve the safety record around the state, but particularly in the far north,” Mr Lucas said.

“The State Government has introduced initiatives such as the Torres Strait BoatSafe training and education program, and is working with the commercial fishing fleet in Cairns to promote a culture of safety within the industry.”

The Brisbane and Gladstone regions each had four fatalities, while the Gold Coast and Mackay both had one fatality. There were no fatalities in the Townsville region for 2006.

Mr Lucas said in the overwhelming majority of fatal incidents around the state human factors such as drugs, alcohol, inattention and operator error were the major contributors.

Eleven people died in incidents involving recreational vessels, while a further six people died in incidents involving commercial vessels.

The most common incidents causing fatal and serious injuries in 2006 were those where a person was hit by a vessel or the vessel’s propeller. Nine such incidents resulted in one fatality and eight persons hospitalised.

Looking at incidents resulting in fatalities the most prevalent incident type in 2006 was person overboard, with six people losing their lives in this way.

The most frequently reported types of marine incidents were collisions between ships (134) and unintentional groundings (116).

Personal water craft, or jet skis, did not feature greatly in reported marine incidents in 2006 with only 29 jet ski incidents reported and three people seriously injured.

Mr Lucas said the report emphasised the need for people to be ‘boat smart.’

“Before you hit the waterways make sure your boat and safety equipment is in good working order,” Mr Lucas said.

“And remember the basics – look out for other boats, keep to the speed limit and don’t drink and operate a vessel.”

The 2006 Marine Incidents Report is available online at Maritime Safety Queensland's web site at www.msq.qld.gov.au.

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942

2006 Maritime Incidents regional breakdown

Queensland

701 reported marine incidents in 2006 – 56 more than 2005.
17 fatalities in 2006, four more than 2005.
However, 36 people were reported as needing hospitalisation for serious injuries, 12 fewer than in 2005.
Registrations increased 4.5% last year to around 208,000 vessels.

Cairns

122 reported marine incidents in 2006 – 29 more than 2005.
Included 7 fatalities, 9 seriously injured

Gladstone

139 reported marine incidents in 2006 – 35 more than 2005.
4 fatalities, 7 serious injuries – up on 1 fatality, 5 serious injuries in 2005.

Gold Coast

89 reported marine incidents in 2006, down 3 from 2005.
One fatality, 12 serious injuries – two fatalities.

Mackay

105 reported marine incidents in 2006, down 9 from 2005
One fatality & four serious injuries from a total of four serious incidents.

Townsville

42 reported marine incidents in 2006, 3 more than 2005.
No fatalities or serious injuries in region in 2006

Brisbane/Sunshine Coast

204 reported marine incidents in 2006, up one from 203 in 2005
Four fatalities and four serious injuries