Boating lobby teams with marine surveyors over safer boat sales

The initiative, launched in the wake of a coronial inquest looking into the 2021 capsize of a Halvorsen 42 Coastal Cruiser, will “help improve awareness of, and access to, trusted marine surveyors to support the recreational boating and light commercial vessel sectors”, BIA chief executive Andrew Scott said.

“BIA is committed to the promotion of safe, responsible and enjoyable boating,” Scott said.

“A great day on the water includes public confidence in boats that are being bought and sold.

“There are more than 900,000 registered boats in Australia and while not everyone needs a marine surveyor when buying and selling used boats, there are times when it is a good idea. 

“It is, for example, recommended for people considering buying the larger recreational vessels such as those kept in the water on berths or moorings to consider the services of a surveyor,” he said.  

“A trusted surveyor, such as those who are a member of AIMS and abide by the AIMS code of conduct, can help give buyers peace of mind that they have made the correct decision.”

AIMS is a not-for-profit membership-based institute established in 1986 that aims to support marine surveyors via a certification process that builds consumer trust. 

The institute has developed a mandatory code of conduct that its members must agree to follow, including a process for handling complaints.

According to AIMS chief executive Eric Perez, marine surveyors perform surveys of recreational vessels on behalf of owners, insurers or potential buyers to assess the condition or value of vessels.

“AIMS supports the need for safe and responsible boating ensuring vessel safety by engaging an AIMS marine surveyor.”

NSW Deputy State Coroner Erin Kennedy was heavily critical of the lack of regulation in the Australian boat industry that allowed the Eliza 1, a 2008 Halvorsen 42 Coastal Cruiser, to be sold even though it carried an undisclosed design flaw that would cause it to capsize in fairly benign conditions off the NSW coast, resulting in the death of its new owner.

“In a society where day-to-day products are the subject of stringent safety regulations, it is not surprising that purchasers of large recreational vessels assume that their expensive acquisitions have been built and certified to meet relevant safety and quality standards,” the coroner’s findings said. 

“The fact that there is no effective certification process is unacceptable and poses a risk to the lives of a significant, but unknown, number of people.”

Marine brokers selling boats do not have to be licenced or certified in Australia, but BIA members do have to follow a voluntary code of practice.

Of note, the coroner recommended that marine brokers tell anyone buying a boat more than 6.0 metres in length that they should have the vessel stability tested before it is taken out into open waters – something a marine surveyor will test.

Anyone selling a boat should also avoid terms such as “coastal cruising” or “passage making” when selling a boat “unless the relevant vessel meets a recognised standard for those types of operations”.