Steer clear
of aids to navigation for a win-win
Queensland Government
Maritime Safety Queensland
T
he humble aid to navigation, in its many and varied forms, has
for millennia been the mariner’s best friend. Be it a day marker,
a lighthouse, a lead light or a buoy, its primary purpose has been a
noble one - to stand proud at the entrance to navigation channels or as
a position indicator of a navigation hazard, safeguarding mariners by
guiding them on how to position their vessels to avoid dangers lurking
beneath the waterline.
As the providers and maintainers of some 8,000 navigation aids
(structures, lights and signs) dotting Queensland’s ports, harbours, rivers,
creeks, inlets and islands, we at Maritime Safety Queensland like to
think mariners appreciate the service they provide. We’d also like to
think they’d return the ‘safeguarding’ favour by keeping their distance
from aids to navigation as they pass by.
The vast majority of mariners do exactly that. But lately we’ve had
cause to wonder about a minority who evidently do not. We’re becoming
increasingly concerned about navigation aids being impacted and
damaged by vessels operating too close to them.
The problem does not seem restricted to any single sector of the
maritime community. From the towering structures marking our major
shipping lanes - snapped like matchsticks by massive trading ships - to
the smaller navigation aids knocked over by racing yachts, or bent over
by impacts from small commercial craft or dented by tinnies – none
seem immune.
Our concerns with this situation are twofold. First and foremost,
they are for the safety of the mariners and vessels directly involved. But
secondly, for the safety of other mariners who rely upon navigation aids
that are compromised or rendered inoperative by these impacts.
Underlying those concerns is the certain knowledge that, almost
by definition, mariners whose vessels collide with a navigation aid are
falling down on some fundamentals of good seamanship – keeping a
proper lookout and keeping a safe distance from other objects in the
water. The consequences of that can be serious.
Some recent marine incident reports we’ve received in respect of
collisions with aids to navigation suggest an over-reliance by mariners
on modern technological navigational assistance, or the inappropriate
use of same.
Global Positioning System applications have revolutionised
navigation in all modes of transport and, properly used, can certainly
enhance safety. But some mariners are running the risk of what we call
“GPS-assisted collisions” – those instances where GPS is relied upon or
used in such a way as to contribute to a marine incident rather than avoid
it.
Mariners regularly use navigation aids near waypoints to assist in
their voyage planning because they are normally the most recognisable
points at which to make an alteration in course. This is especially
important in unfamiliar waters or conditions of poor visibility. The
successful use of this technique assumes the master is at all times
keeping a proper lookout, is aware of the navigational situation the aid is
marking and has not been distracted.
Distraction can come in many forms - by something occurring on the
vessel, by a mobile phone call, or by a sudden urge to use the vessel’s
autopilot while making an ill-advised cup of tea! A rude awakening
caused by a sudden juddering, noisy impact with an aid to navigation is
one possible outcome.
It also assumes that someone else out on the water is not using the
same navigation aid as a waypoint. In this situation a few moments’
inattention could result in a collision between vessels. Long story short:
maintain a proper lookout at all times.
We also are aware of numerous instances where mariners have
simply not observed the requirement to keep a safe distance from
navigation aids. For instance, collisions have occurred when racing craft
have used navigation aids in the same way as a snow skier might use
a slalom gate – sailing up close before changing course to turn in tight
proximity to the structure to gain a competitive advantage, only to find
they have miscalculated or run out of room. A collision then occurs.
Repeated instances of this happening have led us to place conditions in
aquatic event permits requiring a 20 metre exclusion zone to be placed
around some aids to navigation. That would not be necessary if mariners
were exercising the basic requirements of good seamanship by keeping a
proper lookout and keeping a safe distance.
Section 107A of the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Act
1994 permits us to pursue cost recovery for damaged aids to navigation
from the master or owner of a vessel responsible for it. Those costs can
easily run into five figures and there are ways to identify the vessels
responsible if the marine incident causing the damage is not reported by
their masters (this is an offence in itself, for which the fine is currently
$391).
Most importantly, if you damage an aid to navigation please report
it as soon as possible to Maritime Safety Queensland. Having damaged
the navigation aid, if you don’t report it you are putting the next vessel to
pass this area – your fellow mariners – at greater risk as they will have to
navigate without its assistance.
But we would much prefer that mariners don’t get themselves into
this situation in the first place. By far the best way to avoid it is to
exercise those basic seamanship skills. Pass aids to navigation at a safe
distance and contribute to a “win-win” situation for yourself, your fellow
mariners and Maritime Safety Queensland.
Vsheet - DECEMBER 2018
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