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Welcome to our inaugural newsletter - The Townsville Coast Guardian.
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The Townsville Coast Guardian Newsletter – December 2014
FROM THE COMMANDER
Heath Ward
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the first edition of the ‘Townsville Coast Guardian’. Each quarter we will bring you interesting local stories, articles and educational pieces to help our local community stay safe and knowledgeable when on the water.
I am proud to say that over the winter months Townsville Coast Guard has participated in a number of community events, including the Bill Fish Challenge, communications support for the Powerboat Races and marshalling for the Townsville Running Festival.
Recently we have been providing radio and communications training for the Palm Island Cadet Program, on Palm Island.
With the festive season and warmer weather upon us, I remind all skippers of their obligations to ensure the safety of all on board, including the legal requirements to carry a lifejacket for each person and ensure your vessel is kept seaworthy and prepared.
Townsville Coast Guard is proud to be of service to the local community, and during the Christmas period our crews will be on standby and available around the clock.
Wishing you a happy and safe Christmas.
40 YEARS OF SERVICE Townsville Coast Guard commenced in 1970, and operated from a caravan near our present location at Sir Leslie Thiess Drive, Townsville. Operating initially only on weekends, the caravan provided radio communications support and was stored at Angus Smith Marine during the week. On several occasions the caravan end up at the bottom of the ramp and it was soon decided that a more permanent facility was required.
Our current building was completed in late 1978, and then commenced a full time radio service and listening watch. A second boat ramp was installed to meet the growing boating community, thus increasing demands on Townsville Coast Guard.
The first boat in use was a ‘Shark Cat’ (Coast Guard 8), which was unfortunately sunk as a result of a collision in bad weather with an unlit vessel off Pallerenda. This resulted in significant injuries to the Coast Guard Volunteers. A subsequent Shark Cat was purchased, followed by a ‘288 Power Cat’, the ‘Mable Cunningham’, purchased with funds donated by Ted Cunningham, a local grazier. In later years, ‘Mable Cunningham II’, a 33 foot ‘Norcat 1000’ was built right here in Townsville and in use for 13 years.
Local Townsville boat builder ‘O’Brien Boats’ have been responsible for the design and construction of ‘Spirit of Rotary’, previously in service for 11 years and most recently our current vessel ‘Rotary Rescue’, in service for the past 4 years.
Since our inception our motto has been “Safety by all means”, and will continue as we provide ongoing rescue and recovery support for our local Townsville community.
We are always interested to hear from members of the public who may be able to assist us with historical information, photos or stories from our past.
LEGAL OBLIGATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF MARINE RADIOS The use of VHF and MF/HF radios is regulated by the Australian Radio Ccommunications Act 1992.
We at Townsville Coast Guard are aware that there are some un-‐licensed users out there which is obvious by their lack of knowledge of accepted radio procedures. And if it’s obvious to us it’s obvious to any authority. Here’s an example:
“Hey Kermit! Its Gonzo here. You got a copy mate?”
Kermit might be OK, because we haven’t heard his reply yet, (we think he was cringing) but we might suggest that Gonzo would benefit from a MROCP course run by the Coast Guard.
Fortunately the Coast Guard are not the “radio police,” however we are obliged to remind some of our members and the boating community of the legal requirements regarding the use of VHF and MF/HF radios.
Radio Operators
• The Australian Radio Communications Act 1992 states that marine VHF and MF/HF users must possess a certificate of proficiency in accordance with the International Telecommunication Union which is a Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency. (MROCP)
Radio Transceivers
• Marine VHF transceivers are not required to be licensed or to have an official call sign. They are covered under a Class License issued by the Commonwealth.
• MF/HF transceivers are required to have a ship station license and an official call sign issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
• There is no legal requirement for equipment or operators using the 27MHz band exclusively to be licensed, however this band has limited range, its use is now extremely rare and the chance of generating effective communication is only a remote possibility. We suggest you forget it.
The Coast Guard monitors all marine bands, however the main focus, and almost all of the marine radio traffic, is from the recreational boaties who are the VHF users. You are required by law to have license to operate a VHF radio.
Other provisions of the Australian Radiocommunications Act 1992 should be noted:
• You are NOT required to have a license to possess a VHF transceiver on board your vessel.
• Un-‐licensed persons on board your vessel are permitted to operate a VHF radio if they are under the control of a licensed operator.
• NOBODY (licensed or otherwise) is prevented from using any means at their disposal to seek help or to provide help in the event of a distress situation.
MROCP courses are carried out at Townsville Coast Guard Building periodically through the year.
The benefits to boaties on successful completion are that:
• You will receive a MROCP issued by the Australian Maritime College, which is your license to operate VHF and MF/HF transceivers legally.
• You will gain knowledge of the efficient procedures for routine and emergency communications.
• You will receive a comprehensive Marine Radio Operators Handbook which provides details of the law, Maritime Communication stations, radio equipment, frequencies, routine maintenance, emergency systems, radio procedures etc.
For your safety it is advisable to have a marine radio on board your vessel. By law, at this time, this is not a mandatory requirement, but for the safety of all on aboard it is recommended.
Some recreational boaties take their mobile telephones with them as their only means of communication. We strongly recommend the mobile phone as a backup device, but when they are out of range or have flat batteries then the user becomes solely reliant on the mandatory safety devices on the vessel in order to obtain help.
When another vessel is in sight at a distance, the mobile phone has no broadcast capability whereas with a marine radio an “All Ships” broadcast will be heard and will initiate a response to a request for assistance from anywhere within range.
In summary, If you are likely to venture into “semi sheltered” or “open water” we at the Coast Guard recommend that you carry a VHF radio, ensure that there is a licensed operator on board, take at least one mobile phone, make sure that somebody knows your plans and contact details and fill in a trip sheet with the Coast Guard.
Further details: http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Safety/Marine-‐radios.aspx
Please contact the Coast Guard for details of upcoming MROCP courses.
GET ON THE WATER THE RIGHT WAY!
Some hot tips to ensure your trip is a good one. Story by: Gary Young
Is my battery fully charged ?
Check and inspect the condition of the battery, terminals and all leads. Also check the battery charge and recharge if necessary. This should be done in ample time before your trip to allow any maintenance/testing to be carried out.
Dose the engine start and run well ?
Run the engine for a short time at different revs and make sure that the water tell tale from the engine is a consistent and good pressure.
Do I have all my safety gear ?
In date flares, Life Jackets, EPIRB ( if going more than 2 NM off land fall ) and ALL other Safety Gear including your navigation lights as recommended by Dept. of Transport and Marine.
Is my boat seaworthy for the trip ?
It is an offence to go to sea in a vessel that is NOT seaworthy
Do I have enough fuel for the trip ?
Many boat owners run out of fuel. In planning your trip know where you are going, what you will be doing, what are the sea condition and what they may likely to be during your trip. A simple rule of thumb is to add 10% to what you think you may need. If you vessel dose not have the capacity to carry the required amount maybe you should rethink your trip.
Do I know what my boats fuel consumption is ?
When you buy a boat or replace your engine carry out a trial. The trial should be over a known distance. Load the vessel with all you would normally take including a full fuel load. Proceed at a trial engine rev. Take note of the weather conditions and the sea state. At the end of your sea trial you should have an understanding of what your fuel consumption is and operate your vessel accordingly.
Have I told someone where I am going / leaving from and when I will be back home ?
You should always inform your local Marine Rescue Organisation eg; Lodge a trip sheet as well as tell a relative or friend who is not with you.
Dose someone have a description of your boat ?
Before going on your trip give a relative or friend who is not with you a description of your vessel. It is also a very good idea if you register your vessels details with your local Marine Rescue Group ( Coast Guard Townsville ) as if anything happens to you, your passengers or your vessel they will know what they are looking for.
Is my marine radio working ?
In North Queensland all vessels should carry a VHF radio. This is a line of communication from you to Marine Rescue and other boaties if you get into trouble. You can call them and make sure the radio is working. In operating a VHF Marine Radio you should be qualified in its use.
Do I have any other means of communication
Mobile phones may be taken on your trip as a backup. Check up as to how far out to sea they will retain coverage.
WEATHER REPORTS
In issuing weather Reports to the boating public in the Townsville region the Bureau of Meteorology issues weather reports twice daily which are then broadcast at 0845 hr and 1645 hr on Marine Radio Channels VHF 16 and 22, HF 4125 and 4483 and 27 meg on 27.88 and 27.90 by Coast Guard Townsville.
The daily tide highs and lows for the Townsville region are also broadcast at those times as well.
Weather/Tidal information for the Townsville region can also be broad cast on request.
USEFULL WEBSITES Useful web sites used by Townsville Coast Guard for their area are:
www.bom.gov.au (This is the official site for weather information used by Townsville Coast Guard )
Other resources:
www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye
www.seabreeze.com.au
www.windfall.com.au
www.marinetraffic.com
UPCOMING TRAINING Stay tuned for the New Year as Coast Guard will be running courses in First Aid and Marine Radio operation.
GIVE A MEMBERSHIP…
Consider a Coast Guard Marine Assist membership this Christmas and be sure your loved ones are covered for break downs and emergencies when they head out. 12 months membership, valued at $80
CONTACTING US Find more info about Coast Guard Townsville , visit the website: www.coastguard.com.au
Then go to the Flotilla Locator and click on QF8 Townsville.
Alternatively, Like us on Facebook and stay up to date with local happenings.
www.facebook.com/townsvillecoastguard