Face your fears by being prepared.
Let’s face it. No-one wants to have to deal with an emergency at sea. A worst case scenario is mostly one we don’t want to think about. We go boating because it’s fun and enjoyable, right? It’s a chance to relax, to escape, to enjoy the freedom of the open ocean or the tranquillity of gentle river. Who wants to blot our pleasure by thinking about fires, collisions, sinking or… gulp… man overboard.
Even experienced boaters can face emergencies at sea
But the truth is, the more time you spend on the water, the more likely it is that you’ll face an emergency. A disastrous situation that requires urgent action. In 2023 the Australian Maritime Safety Association (AMSA) received almost 6,000 marine incident reports and safety concerns relating to commercial vessels. Or 113 safety incidents every week.
Figures relating to recreational boating are less reliable. But it’s fair to assume it’s not just the professional mariners getting themselves in trouble at sea. Who knows how many recreational boating emergencies were contained before the call for outside assistance.
As soon as you drop the dock lines and turn the bow seawards, you’re essentially on your own. Your vessel is its own self-contained safe place for as long as you’re on the water. Oh sure, there are services available to help mariners in an emergency. Thankfully! And you should never be reluctant to call for help when it’s required. But it is the responsibility of each us to minimise the risk to ourselves, other boaters and the marine environment.
The secret to safe boating is preparedness. Preparing yourself, your crew and your vessel.
What sort of emergencies happen at sea?
Emergencies at sea come in almost any form you can imagine. And there’s plenty! Think about your own vessel, or boats that you’ve crewed on. What sort of situations may arise that warrant immediate action. Perhaps you’ve seen one unfold.
Some of the scenarios to consider that could quickly escalate into an emergency include
- Fire
- Collision
- Running aground or holing of vessel
- Medical emergency
- Inclement weather and sea conditions
- Person overboard
- Loss of propulsion and/or steering
- Equipment or mechanical failure
How would you deal with each scenario? Do you know what to do first? What about where to find the equipment you need? Do the rest of the crew also know this? What are the first steps to contain the situation? What about second and third steps? Who do you call if you need assistance? How can you summon help if you need to?
So many questions… do you have any of the answers?
Prepare for emergencies while you’re still onshore
When facing a potential emergency, often our first instinct is to panic as adrenaline kicks in. This is our natural fight or flight survival mechanism – it’s kept us humans alive forever. But panic is often a response to the unexpected. It’s rarely helpful
Keeping calm and maintaining a clear thought process when confronted with an emergency will go a long way towards containing it. It’s much easier to stay calm if you’re prepared for sticky situations. This means knowing your vessel and how to operate its systems. Keeping your boat maintained. It’s essential to educate yourself on topics like weather, navigation and marine radio operation. Unless you’re boating solo, it also means keeping your crew informed and encouraging them to learn too.
Education is key to preparing for an emergency
If you do find yourself faced with a dreaded ‘worst case scenario’, it’s easier (and safer) to deal with if you’ve already thought about it and have an action plan. We know it’s much easier to not think about potential disasters. But being in denial is no excuse.
In fact it’s irresponsible. Both to yourself and to your crew, but also to others who may be impacted. As a minimum, we recommend you are competent in the following:
- Marine radio operations – learn the essentials and apply for your operator’s licence (LROCP or SROCP)
- Emergency Preparedness – how to feel safe and confident on the water
- Coastal navigation – whether you’re a beginner or advanced boater, everyone should know navigation basics
- Marine weather – interpreting synoptic charts, forecasts and applying your own observations
Being a responsible skipper is also a legal requirement. Regulations vary from state to state so it’s important to familiarise yourself with maritime safety requirements relevant to your waterway.
How prepared are you for an emergency?