Police act after ferry captains complain about youths leaping from Manly Wharf
Thrillseeking youths leaping off Manly Wharf into the harbour have attracted the interest of police after ferry captains warned that divers could get seriously hurt.
Manly
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Police are cracking down on daredevil divers leaping into the harbour from Manly Wharf after ferry captains complained that swimmers could be killed or badly injured by their vessels.
Officers have been taking down the names of thrillseeking youths jumping from this wharves as the Manly ferry and fast ferries try to dock.
Groups of youths are also risking their safety, and being hit with a $500 fine, by using the wash from departing twin-hulled fast ferries to be pushed along the surface of the water.
Ferry captains are also concerned the wharf diving can affect service timetables as vessels wait for youths to get out of the water.
Crew members have also complained that when they challenge some youths about their dangerous behaviour at what is one of Sydney’s busiest ferry terminals, they have been spat at and verbally abused.
Wharf divers have also spat on ferry windows and bared their buttocks when told to move on.
On Thursday the Manly Daily saw police taking down the names of more than a dozen youths, including at least six teenage girls, who were illegally jumping from wharf 3.
Last weekend police told a group of 15 youths to leave the wharf after complaints from ferry crew members.
“Ferry captains now are calling police each time they have to deal with the potential danger,” a police spokesman said.
In April last year the swimming exclusion zone around the wharves was expanded due to safety concerns.
Roads ands Maritime Services also installed new signs warning swimmers not to enter the water from the wharves.
The exclusion zone stretches from the western side of the wharf to the area in front of the Manly Wharf hotel’s outdoor deck. Swimmers can be fined if they enter the exclusion zone.
“The Manly wharf precinct is one of the busiest ferry terminals on Sydney Harbour,” a RMS spokesman said last year.
A spokesman for Transdev Sydney Ferries said today that the safety of customers, employees and the public was its first priority.
“We have rigorous operational safety procedures in place,” the spokesman said. “Our ferry masters and shore staff work closely with stakeholders, such as Transport for NSW and the police, to keep Manly Wharf safe and to discourage unsafe activity on and around the wharf.
“Ferries cannot stop quickly and we remind the public that it is unsafe to jump off any wharf where there are regular services operating.”
RMS urged people who see others jumping from the wharves to call the police.