Storm preparation

The old adage that you need a plan to succeed is absolutely relevant with storm preparedness,” says Andrew Chapman, Chief Operating Officer of Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard (GCCM), President of the Marina Industries Association (MIA) and Certified Marina Manager. We asked Chapman to share some key risk mitigation advice to help you prepare your boat for storm season.

  1. Maintain your vessel and ensure it is in good, seaworthy condition with an appropriate trim. Damage should be repaired as soon as practical so as to maintain the vessel’s integrity which can be essential in some storm conditions. Vessel maintenance should include window and storm board seals and scupper operation checks.
  2. Have prepared storm emergency kits stocked and stored in an appropriate location on your vessel. This kit may include additional lines, torches including the new head lamps, duct tape, additional bilge pump, bucket, tools, straps, cable ties and a knife.
  3. Adding additional lines to alternative cleats can assist if the main mooring lines break or cleats fail. Spreading the load over longer lines allows some give when lines tighten. This spring effect will absorb some line shock and potentially extend the life of a line through extended storm events. Lines should be inspected regularly as different lines are affected by UV exposure or retained moisture. Mooring line life can be shortened by the conditions at each marina so inspect and replace as required at least twice a year. Fenders should also be inspected regularly as they are fastened with lines that are in the elements 24/7 when in use, which may include significant UV exposure. Fenders should be of an appropriate size and inflated to the designed pressure to absorb vessel movement against the dock.
  4. Batteries should be effectively maintained and have sufficient storage to operate bilge pumps in a prolonged power outage. Power outages may be grid orientated or marinas may turn off power in some storm surge events for safety reasons.
  5. Sails, biminis, cushions and dinghies should be removed or appropriately stowed from above deck if a storm is approaching to reduce windage. If a dinghy needs to remain on the boat ensure the bungs are removed and the path for rainwater to escape is clear.
  6. Fridges and freezers should be emptied to avoid spoiled food if power is off for any prolonged period. Frozen food that defrosts can be a major problem if it leaks outside galley fridges onto carpet and other surfaces.
  7. Bilge pumps should be well maintained and operationally tested and set to automatic mode. Bilges must be maintained in a clean state so as to prevent bilge pump or float switch fouling during operation. It’s imperative that bilges are also free from any fuel or oil residue so that this is not pumped into the environment. In some instances, back-up bilge pumps can be petrol-driven to give that power source redundancy in an extended event.
  8. Update the marina with contact information especially if you are going to be away. It’s important to nominate an additional person to make decisions in your absence.
  9. Consider moving your vessel to a more secure location depending on the type of extreme event that is impending. Considering a more protected marina or even an upriver mangrove refuge sometimes offers more protection than sitting in a berth close to the coast. However, each storm is very different and advice should be sought from appropriately qualified professionals with local knowledge. Remember to plan ahead and not move when the storm is in play. Your safety is most important.
  10. Make yourself aware of your marina’s emergency procedures and evacuation points as it’s important to remember that your personal safety is far more important than that of your vessel in a storm.

Visit gccm.com.au

Safety during a storm

Checking the marine weather forecast is a key part of responsible boating, however sometimes conditions can change unexpectedly. Two boating safety experts share some advice about what to do if you’re caught out on the water in a storm.

Glenn Sullivan, Monaro Region Zone Duty Operations Manager with Marine Rescue NSW.

Boaters should always check the weather and conditions as part of their pre-launch procedures and monitor conditions while out on the water, but sometimes we do get caught in storms. If you do need to weather a storm, follow these safety tips:

  • Stow away any loose items to prevent projectiles and load shifting and secure the deck.
  • Close and secure all hatches and windows.
  • Reduce the windage on the vessel and make way into the sea and storm. Your speed should be fast enough to maintain control but slow enough to ensure safety in the conditions and avoid jumping over waves. Try to approach the waves at 45 degrees.
  • Assess whether heading to a safe anchorage is possible, or if it is safer to stay out wide and ride it out.
  • Brief your crew and passengers on what your plan is.
  • Call your local volunteer marine rescue (VMR) and provide them with your caller ID and your intentions. This will make any calls quicker if needed, and the local VMR can prepare for a potential assist. They are there to help, but they can only help if they know you need it.
  • As visibility drops, turn on your navigation lights.
  • Ensure crew and passengers are wearing their lifejackets correctly, and inspect to make sure they know how to use and deploy them if required.
  • Make sure the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), flares, and safety equipment are all readily available, and that everyone knows how to use them, just in case you, as the master, become incapacitated.
  • After the storm passes, check everyone for injuries and any damage to the vessel. Call the local VMR again to inform them of your intentions and your condition.

The best advice when considering storms is to confirm the weather forecast by all available means, and be prepared to enter a safe harbour, even if it takes extra time.

Visit marinerescuensw.com.au

Ian Beard, Training Officer for Volunteer Marine Rescue WA’s Marine Radio Communications Support Group.

  • Weather can change unexpectedly. In Australia’s north, from November to April, severe storms and heavy rainfall leading to flooding are common, not to mention tropical low-pressure systems and cyclones.
  • The boater’s best friend all year is the marine weather forecast and being able to understand it is a vital part of boating safety.
  • Before heading out onto the water check the marine weather forecasts. In Australia, visit the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website or use the BOM Weather App to access the latest weather warnings, forecasts and observations, including the MetEye forecast winds, waves and weather maps. The Golden Rule is: ‘if in doubt, don’t go out’.
  • While out on the water, it’s also important to keep your Marine VHF radio tuned to channel 16 for Sécurité safety messages. This will help to keep you informed about the current weather conditions.
  • If you are caught out on a boat during severe weather, personal safety should always be the number one priority.
  • At the first sign of bad or severe weather while you on the water, make sure everyone on board is wearing their lifejacket correctly.
  • If possible, head for the nearest mooring area, marina, boat ramp, or other safe haven, and follow any directions received from the regional harbour master, police or emergency services.

Visit vmrwa.org.au

Post-flood waters

From submerged debris to compromised water quality, there can be numerous safety hazards for boaters following a flood. Two boating safety experts share some key risk mitigation advice to help you stay safe.

Adam Smith, President of the Boating Industry Association and Owner of Australian Boating College Sydney.

  • Unless you absolutely have no other choice, simply avoid flooded waters. Like driving your car on a flooded road, it’s not worth the risk. The unseen hazards are as dangerous or more so than those you can see.
  • After storms or flooding, enclosed waters (harbours and rivers) will contain unknown risks and hazards for some time. Debris in the water and on the seabed will be new or moved, navigation aids may have disappeared or moved, and the water itself will be murky, so you can’t see anything below the surface where you may normally have been able to.
  • Extreme storms and flooding can also overload sewage systems and see untreated water discharged into waterways. In flooding, all manner of chemicals and contaminants can also be washed off the land into rivers and harbours, then out to sea. While we would all agree that we shouldn’t go into this water, there is always the risk of ending up in there unintentionally or having this water splashing on us while underway. Even touching a mooring or anything that has been in that water can transfer disease to you and make you sick. Stay off the water if you can.

  • Extreme flooding and debris from it will create hazardous conditions in these rivers’ coastal waters. If you’re planning a coastal passage past areas where there have been recent storms or flooding, be aware of this risk and consider delaying or rescheduling the trip.
  • Monitor your marine radio. A SECURITE message may be broadcast to advise vessels of any hazards to navigation in that area, including flood debris.
  • Storms and flooding raise water levels in enclosed waters, even in tidal waterways. Storm surges and flooding also reduce clearance under structures and power lines, increasing your risk of damaging your vessel or injury to yourself and your crew.

Visit abcboating.net.au and bia.org.au

Glenn Sullivan, Monaro Region Zone Duty Operations Manager with Marine Rescue NSW.

  • Although flood waters are primarily thought of in the enclosed waters environment, heeding the following advice when travelling in any waters inshore and off, is vitally important.
  • Have all onboard keep a proper lookout and maintain a safe speed. Large objects ranging from logs to shipping containers and everything in between can be washed through the river systems and out into open waters.
  • If anything is seen, please report it to the local volunteer marine rescue (VMR) so that a safety message can be broadcast so as other water users do not collide with these objects. • If an object is struck, assess everyone’s welfare and any damage caused to the vessel.
  • If the vessel including hull or propulsion equipment is damaged, do not hesitate to call the local VMR via your Marine Band radio, call Triple Zero (000) by phone or even use your EPIRB and flares as required.
  • In worst-case scenarios, attempt to stem the flow of water ingress and make sure everyone is wearing their lifejackets, prepare to deploy your life raft and brief your crew on the exact situation and the actions needed to prepare. Take action early to increase your chances of a successful outcome. • After a flood, a lot of pollution including chemicals, sewage and deceased animals can be found on shore and offshore. So, remember if fishing, be prepared to travel to locations that have not been affected and re-evaluate if you are going to eat your catch.
  • Having larger deceased animals washing through our systems and offshore, attracts larger marine life such as sharks, so again reassess if you are thinking about entering the water.

Visit marinerescuensw.com.au

 

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