Boating mishaps and injuries hit 10-year low

Recreational boating incidents and injuries in Queensland fell last year to their lowest in a decade, according to the 2017 marine incident report.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the annual report, prepared by Maritime Safety Queensland, found seven lives had been lost in 2017 compared with 13 deaths in 2016, along with a massive drop in injuries and reported marine incidents.

“While any life lost on our waterways is one too many, it is still some consolation to see last year’s figure was almost half that of the previous year,” Mr Bailey said.

“Deaths, injuries and reported incidents were all lower than the previous year with injuries and incidents at their lowest in more than 10 years.

“Many factors appear to have contributed to last year’s outcome including education, waterways management and enforcement but the bottom line is boaties can take much of the credit.

“We have always maintained the master is responsible for the safety of all on board and for the safety of other waterway users.

”Considering the state has more than 800,000 recreational boating licence holders and 250,000 vessels, this result reflects the strong safety culture which exists in this maritime sector.

“The annual variations in marine incident reports are a very small fraction of the overall boating population and longer-term figures show a steady decline in marine incidents per 100,000 vessels.”

Mr Bailey said compliance and enforcement operations had also played a significant part in the annual result.

“Maritime Safety Queensland, Queensland Water Police and the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol have continued to work toward keeping boating on our waters safe and enjoyable,” he said.

Mr Bailey said the annual Marine Incident Report provided an analysis of reported marine incidents involving Queensland regulated ships — vessels regulated under the Queensland Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act 1994.

“These figures also relate only to Queensland’s recreational boaties and not to the commercial sector which is now under federal regulation,” he said.

During 2017, Maritime Safety Queensland received 322 marine incidents reports involving a vessel regulated under the Act (recreational).

These reported incidents involved 391 recreational vessels and 49 domestic commercial vessels and resulted in 55 people injured, including 21 who were admitted to hospital and seven fatalities.

Minor injuries were less than half those of the previous year (2016) while hospitalisations and fatalities fell by 45 and 46 per cent respectively.

Fatalities included three ships masters, three passengers and a water skier.

Regions at a glance

Maritime Safety Queensland has five maritime regions: Brisbane, Gladstone, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.

Brisbane (Pinkenba, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast).

In the Pinkenba management area, six people were injured in 63 incidents including two admitted to hospital. There were no fatalities in this area this year.

In the Gold Coast management area, 14 people were injured in 58 incidents including two who died and six admitted to hospital.

The Sunshine Coast management area had nine people injured in 30 incidents including three admitted to hospital.

Gladstone

Gladstone received 72 marine incident reports involving 102 vessels.

Twelve people were injured, including two who died and six admitted to hospital.

Mackay

The region received 53 marine incident reports involving 59 vessels.

Six people were injured including two who died and two admitted to hospital.

Townsville

The region received 23 marine incident reports involving 23 vessels.

Five people were injured, including one person who died and one admitted to hospital.

Cairns

The region received 23 marine incident reports involving 34 vessels.

One person was admitted to hospital.

ENDS

Media contact: Dominic Geiger, 0447355565