Marine Safety Program Increase your survival time and reduce your rescue time

Good preparation is essential for your safety before heading to sea. Good skippers always plan for the journey ahead, but they should also plan for the unexpected, because there’s always a chance that something may go wrong. Your engine might breakdown, the weather may change for the worse or navigational equipment could fail. Any number of things could combine to create a situation where you need to be rescued. The two most important rules to surviving in this type of situation are always the same...

Increase your survival time and reduce your rescue time. We reduce our rescue time through carrying and using equipment like EPIRBs and flares, which alert others to our location when we are in distress. These items are essential safety equipment, and good skippers carry them on all voyages.

One of the most important items to help increase your survival time is a good quality, properly fitting lifejacket.

A lifejacket will keep you on the surface in the event that your boat is swamped or sunk, and will allow you to stay afloat indefinitely. It is the one vital piece of equipment which will give you the ability to manage a very bad situation, and make good decisions to help keep you and your family alive.

Without a lifejacket, you will not stay afloat in open rough water long enough to be rescued. You will not be able to help yourself, or those around you, and a very bad situation will become rapidly worse.

WHAT TYPE OF LIFEJACKETS?

HOW MANY DO I NEED?

HOW ARE THEY CARRIED?

HOW ARE THEY MAINTAINED?

Good quality lifejackets are an essential piece of lifesaving equipment on all boats, regardless of how far they are travelling. They have saved the lives of thousands of people around the world, including here in Torres Strait.

It is essential that you carry a lifejacket for every person on board your boat, and ensure that all children have a good quality, properly fitted lifejacket. Lifejacket design and quality has improved dramatically recently, and manufacturers are now providing lifejackets which can be comfortably worn at all times when travelling in a boat. You should include these in your boat’s safety equipment.

Lifejackets are life savers - wear them

This is the most effective way to maximise your survival time in the water.

Do you have your LIFEJACKET?

Check

► Australian Standard 4758 PFD type 1 is required for recreational boats.

► Children must have a properly fitting lifejacket.

► Lifejackets must be in good condition to comply with boating safety laws.

► One lifejacket for every person on board.

► One child lifejacket for each child.

► Water skiers and PWC riders should wear PFD type 2 or 3.

► It is compulsory to wear a lifejacket if you are under 12 years old (from 12 months old and up to, but not including, 12 years old) in an open boat that is less than 4.8m in length and underway.

► Lifejackets should be worn at all times by all passengers on a boat if possible.

► If not worn, lifejackets should be laid on your lap.

► Extra lifejackets should be kept clean, dry and accessible.

► Lifejackets should never be used as seat cushions.

► Lifejackets should be clean and dry and free of mould or mildew.

► Inflatable lifejackets should be serviced annually.

► Lifejackets should be inspected for tears and repaired or replaced accordingly.

► Lifejackets should be checked to ensure zips are not seized.

Lifejackets are available at the various boating and marine stores on Thursday Island, as well as various other outlets in Torres Strait and Far North Queensland.

If you have any questions at all about lifejackets, or any other piece of safety equipment, please contact the Torres Strait Marine Safety Program officers on the numbers provided.

Torres Strait Marine Safety Program

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

80 Douglas Street, Thursday Island QLD 4875

PO Box 471, Thursday Island QLD 4875

P: (07) 4090 3079

F: (07) 4069 2573

Maritime Safety Queensland

4 Hastings Street, Thursday Island QLD 4875

PO Box 109, Thursday Island QLD 4875

P: (07) 4069 1351

F: (07) 4069 2190