Notice To Mariners – AMSA Safety Alert

Port of Gippsland Lakes & Port of Corner Inlet and Port Albert

Location: Bar Ports in Australia

DATE:  07 August 2020 DETAILS: On Friday 24^th July, following recent investigations, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued Safety Alert No.04/2020 regarding the installation and use of passive fin stabilsers predominantly on fishing vessels operating through Bar Ports in Australia. Gippsland Ports has considered the Safety Alert advice from AMSA regarding the use of passive fin stabilsers and at the same time assessed the inherent risks of boom and paravane stabilsers when they are deployed during departure and arrival through Bar ports and through channels and fairways withing port waters. For the Port of Gippsland Lakes and the Port of Corner Inlet and Port Albert the following Harbour Masters Directions shall apply from the date of this Notice to Mariners;

• The deployment of passive fin stabilsers whilst vessels are entering or departing through the Bar entrance or transiting channels and fairways or berthing within Port Waters is prohibited.
• The deployment of boom and paravane stabilsers whilst vessels are entering or departing through the Bar entrance or transiting channels and fairways or berthing within Port Waters is prohibited.
• Stabiliser booms must be stowed inboard whilst a vessel is entering or departing through the Bar entrance or transiting channels and fairways or berthing within Port Waters.
• Fishing equipment booms must be stowed inboard whilst a vessel is entering or departing through the Bar entrance or transiting channels and fairways or berthing within Port Waters.

AMSA have advised mariners to assess the risks for deploying and retrieving stabiliser equipment and document the control measures in the vessel Safety Management System. AMSA also advises that crew members should receive training in accordance with a procedure for deploying and retrieving stabiliser equipment to reduce risk of injury. A copy of the AMSA Safety Alert 04/2020 is available at the link below.  https://mailchi.mp/amsa.gov.au/amsa-safety-alert-fixed-fin-stabilisers