Marine Police hit boat owners with fines after safety inspections

Marine police have charged numerous weekend boaters after inspections found they lacked appropriate safety equipment.

MARINE police have charged 20 weekend boaters on Tasmania’s East Coast after inspections found they lacked the required safety equipment.

Sergeant Rob King said Northern District Marine Police inspected safety equipment on more than 40 recreational vessels on boat ramps around St Helens on Saturday and Sunday.

BOATIES TOLD WATER SAFETY IS NO LAUGHING MATTER

The owners of nearly half the boats inspected were slugged with $326 fines for failing to meet Marine and Safety Tasmania’s safety standards and regulations.

“We’re reminding vessel owners of the importance of safety equipment following an incident earlier this month where two men were rescued from the water after their boat capsized in Burns Bay, near St Helens,” Sergeant King said.

“The fact that their safety equipment was up-to-date and they were wearing the approved PFDs no doubt contributed to their survival.”

TWO FISHERMEN IN PERIL AFTER THEIR BOAT CAPSIZED

Marine police checking the safety equipment of boats during spot checks last weekend.

The fines follow last week’s plea from MAST chief executive Lisa Morris for Tasmanians to have their life jackets serviced.

“It’s not a life jacket if it’s not going to work,” she said.

Tasmania marine police constable Ashley Kent said life jackets would be a focus for police this summer

Sergeant King said marine police will continue to conduct regular vessel safety inspections of all recreational boats they encounter throughout summer.

Information on the compulsory safety equipment that must be carried by vessels can be found on the Marine and Safety Tasmania website at www.mast.tas.gov.au or in the Tasmanian Safe Boating Handbook.