YouTube video leads to conviction
Commercial vessel operator fined $1500Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) has fined a fishing charter operator $1500 for negligent navigation after an incident in January this year at the entrance to Bermagui Harbour.
According to RMS Manager Maritime Investigations Craig Purdon, on January 28, six passengers, two crew and the master were on a 13-metre fishing charter vessel when it was returning to Bermagui Harbour and was hit by a wave causing it to roll violently to one side.
The incident was filmed by a person on shore and then uploaded it to YouTube. One of the passengers involved then alerted RMS to the incident and the YouTube video.
RMS investigators used the YouTube footage, passenger statements and those from witnesses on shore to find that the 55-year-old master from Bermagui was negligent in his navigation of the vessel and exposed his passengers to significant risk.
This was due to his failure to fully brief his passengers on safety when aboard. He also failed to fully assess the forecasted weather and of four-metre seas and dangerous surf conditions.
The master was found to have failed to fully prepare his passengers for the trip and conditions of heightened risk as he had not asked them to wear lifejackets or muster on the open back deck.
RMS has investigated 65 marine incidents so far this calendar year, Mr Purdon said.
For information on boating safety go to www.maritime.nsw.gov.au
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