More than 500 commercial vessels inspected in week long Roads & Maritime boating safety blitz in NSW.
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Between Monday and Friday NSW Maritime Compliance Officers inspected 510 commercial vessels, provided safety advice to 448, carried out 62 higher level inspections and found more than 80 per cent of operators to be compliant.
The operation was carried out in support the NSW Government's Maritime Safety Plan 2021 aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries on the state's waterways.
Roads and Maritime General Manager of Industry and Environment Alex Barrell said the primary aim of Operation Mako 2 was to promote safe and compliant operation of all commercial vessels and to ensure the safety of everyone aboard or around them.
"We do this by working with the operators on safe practices and legal requirements and confirming safety equipment, emergency procedures and sewage discharge practices are up to scratch," he said.
"While there is still work to be done, overall we have found commercial vessel operators are working within safety and environmental requirements.
Mr Barrell said where non-compliance is detected Roads and Maritime makes no apologies for taking action against the minority of operators who are doing the wrong thing.
"If a vessel is not safe, we will take immediate action to ensure the vessel cannot operate until it is safe," he said.
"Our officers can and will immediately make recommendations to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to remove their licence to operate until any defects are made good.
"We will continue to carry out these types of operations until we are confident every commercial vessel in NSW is operating safely and complying with all regulations".
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