Leisure Craft standard workshops

THE National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) has finalised venues for the continuing series of consultative workshops on the new draft standard for Leisure Craft.

Venues are now confirmed for Fremantle and Mandurah in Western Australia; Mannum and Adelaide in South Australia; Dareton (near Mildura) and Sydney in NSW; Hobart in Tasmania; and Melbourne, Victoria.

Responding to the wider variety of "hire and drive" activities now available, the new National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part F, Section 2 - Leisure Craft aims to provide more user-friendly requirements tailored to specific types of activities.

NMSC's Standards team leader John Henry said the first workshops held this week in Queensland garnered valuable feedback on the draft standard which covers a wide range of modern operations from unpowered off-the-beach craft, through to houseboats, PWCs (jetskis) and bareboat yachts.

"National data shows that most incidents involving these craft are the result of driver error so the emphasis is on safety management and the provision of an adequate briefing, especially for inexperienced and unlicensed hirers," Henry said.

"With the approach of summer and the peak tourist season, many of these operations and activities increase so it is an apt time for stakeholders to be thinking about what safety requirements should be applied through this new standard."

The new standard considers those "share" boats that fall within the definition of commercial vessels - and there are annexes on recognition of conformity assessment under the European Union system and on sewage holding systems.

The draft standard modifies other parts of the NSCV to cater for the specific risks and management approaches used with leisure craft.

"Overall, the new standard allows a more flexible approach to the range of operations without compromising safety for operators and the general public," said Henry.

Copies of the document and workshop dates and information can be obtained by phoning (02) 9247 2124 or at www.nmsc.gov.au.

The comment period closes on 16 December 2009.