Missing marks create navigational nightmare for NSW
Wild storms have made navigating unknown waters extremely dangerous, with more pain to comeTransport for NSW has urged boaters to be cautious when they head back out on the water, warning that a number of navigation aids have gone missing in the wake of almost a week of violent storms.
With flooding now a major problem, boaters have been advised to stay onshore until conditions become safer on the water and the system of buoys, poles and lights that help boaters safely navigate the waterways are replaced or restored.
“Up and down the coast there is a significant amount of debris in the water and this is particularly dangerous when it is submerged or semi-submerged as it is impossible to know it is there,” NSW Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings said yesterday.
Jetty removed
“An entire jetty structure was hauled out of the water and from the paths of nearby ferries just off Kirribilli Point earlier today by our environmental services team.
“There is a salvage underway for a 13-metre cruiser after it overturned in the surf conditions experienced at Balmoral Beach yesterday.
“In Camden Haven, a starboard lateral mark which indicates where it is safe to navigate has been dislodged and found in the surf zone at North Haven Beach, several kilometres away.”
Source: Maritime NSWHutchings said boats risked running aground without navigation markers in place.
“There are literally hundreds of navigation markers up and down the NSW coast which have been swept ‘off station’ due to a combination of increased water levels, the speed of the water flow, and the volume of debris building up in the water,” he said.
Broken moorings
NSW Maritime is also dealing with reports of vessels that have broken their moorings, navigational markers that have moved from their original positions, and debris from bushfires and oyster farms in the water.
“While NSW Maritime works year-round to maintain the thousands of navigation markers in NSW, the work generated after flooding in Sydney and on the north and south coasts is significant,” Hutchings said.
“Several navigational markers have moved up and down the coast with boating safety officers predicting it may take weeks to complete a full audit of what is missing, order new infrastructure and then have it installed.”
Tides higher
Boaters will also need to deal with higher than usual tides in the wake of this week’s spring tide, and increasing wind and rain expected to hit the mid-coast for several days from Wednesday.
Meanwhile, boaters in the state’s alpine and inland waterways have been urged to exercise caution as heavy rainfall changes water levels in reservoirs.
To report an out-of-position navigation marker or vessels washed up on beaches, phone Transport for NSW on 131 236.
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