Pilbara Ports annual Recreational Vessel Safety Campaign has launched, reminding boat users about the importance of being safe at sea.
Our port operations are collocated with some of the Pilbara’s best recreational fishing and tourist locations, creating additional risks for boat skippers to be aware of.
Recreational skippers should stay well clear of restricted zones and shipping channels, navigational aids and large commercial vessels.
Pilbara Ports General Manager Marine Operations Captain Philip Christy said awareness was improving year on year thanks to the campaign, which first launched in 2015.
“This campaign has been really successful and we’ve worked hard to reach the communities that surround our operations to get the message out,” Captain Christy said.
“We want to make sure the community and visitors can continue to safely enjoy the areas surrounding our port operations, and not put themselves in harms way.
“The large vessels that transit our ports every day are up to 45 metres wide and 290 metres long, with blind spots that extend for hundreds of metres in front of them. These vessels cannot stop or divert their course when entering and exiting the port, so it’s important the community know to stay well clear.”
Pilbara Ports is reminding recreational boat users:
Penalties apply to skippers caught in waterside restricted zones and for interfering or tying a vessel to a navigational aid, including fines of up to $20,000 or imprisonment.
All incidents are reported to WA Police, who work with the Department of Home Affairs and the WA Department of Transport to investigate.
For information on boating nearby Pilbara Ports locations, visit the Recreational Vessel Safety Campaign section of its website to make sure you stay safe and follow local rules.