Boat owners are reminded of their responsibilities on the eve of the NSW Government stepping in to remove an 11 metre derelict boat dumped on an emergency mooring at Camden Haven.
NSW Maritime Executive Director, Mark Hutchings said Transport for NSW would be seeking to recover from the boat’s owner the estimated $20,000 in costs of salvaging the derelict 11-metre ferro-cement sailing boat.
“Since May, the boat has been left attached to an emergency mooring with attempts by NSW Maritime Boating Safety Officers to encourage the owner to remove the vessel and dispose of it responsibly which has not happened,” Mr Hutchings said.
Crews from a salvage contractor will be on site from early tomorrow with a crane to transport the dilapidated vessel from the emergency mooring to the tip.
“It is the responsibility of owners to dispose of their boats properly and to respect the various forms of moorings available. These include private moorings which are yellow, commercial moorings which are orange, and pink courtesy moorings which are for recreational boaters to use for up to 24-hours only.
“Emergency moorings are blue and are for exclusive use by NSW Maritime, Marine Rescue and NSW Police to store vessels short-term, during an emergency.
“A poorly maintained vessel can sink – polluting the waterways and the environment and become a hazard to navigation.
“NSW Maritime is working proactively with boat owners to ensure the waterways across NSW are safe by carrying out regular checks to ensure private moorings are compliant.
“A boat owner whose boat breaks away can be responsible, and not covered by insurance, if it causes damage to other moored vessels, maritime infrastructure, the environment or other boating users.
“To ensure the mooring is installed correctly, boat owners should engage an experienced mooring contractor for the annual service, which is a requirement as part of a mooring agreement, and use only quality materials.”
For more information about mooring types and requirements, visit https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/maritime/moorings/private-moorings.html
