Murray Region boat tow safety warning for skis, wakeboards and tubes

3:30 AM Fri 27 Nov 2009 GMT

Ports and Waterways Minister Paul McLeay has called on boat owners and skippers in the Murray Inland Region to take extra care when towing people on skis, wakeboards or inflatable tubes.

Mr McLeay said NSW Maritime figures show an average of 26 tow-related incidents occur state-wide each year.

In 94 per cent of these incidents a person is injured - 47 per cent suffer serious injuries while three per cent of accidents result in a fatality. 'Of most concern are the inflatable tubes and devices that have become increasingly popular over recent years,' Mr McLeay said.

'The inflatables have no method of steering, so they are at the mercy of the tow vessel.

'In a turning manoeuvre the boat and tow line can act like a slingshot, sending the towed device and the person on board on a short but uncontrollable ride.

'Too often that scenario can put people at risk of collision and injury.' Mr McLeay said the Murray Inland Region has reported a number of recent serious incidents including:

. A fatal accident involving a 13-year-old girl being towed by a PWC;

. A 15-year-old girl and a 9-year-old girl both suffered serious injuries
as a result of hitting a structure while being towed on a ski tube;

. In January 2009, a 10-year-old boy was fatally injured when a boat
towing a skier came in too close to a beach to drop off the skier. The
young boy pushed his sister out of the way of the oncoming vessel and
saved her life but was tragically killed in doing so.

'NSW Maritime is particularly concerned about the number of serious towing accidents that have been occurring in the Echuca Moama area,' Mr McLeay said.

'There is an all-too-common issue where tow boats come in dangerously close to the shore to drop off skiers and this puts others at risk, especially swimmers.'

Mr McLeay said the NSW statistics include a large percentage of accidents involving people from Victoria, some of whom have been injured and flown to Melbourne for treatment.

Key tow-sport safety tips are as follows:
. The skipper is responsible for the safety of their boat, all on board and
the person being towed;

. The boat and device being towed must be kept at least 30m clear of
other boats, the shore and structures;

. The boat and the device being towed must be kept at least 60m clear
of swimmers;

. The tow boat must carry an observer aged 16 years or older/ or hold a
young adult licence to keep watch over the people being towed;

. No more than three people can be towed at the same time;

. The skipper, observer and person towed must keep under the 0.05
alcohol limit.

Mr McLeay said as part of its promotion of a safe boating culture, NSW Maritime is supporting a tow sports safety campaign which can be found at www.dontcrampyourstyle.com.au

Other information on towing safety can be found at maritime.nsw.gov.au/docs/publications/whatknowbeforetow.pdf

by NSW Government Media

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Murray Region boat tow safety warning for skis, wakeboards and tubes

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