Rugby league great Steve Walters, with Nigel Moore and his Coast Guard shipmates.
BY HARVEY SHORE
Brisbane Coast Guard volunteers praised local recreational boaties for their excellent safety record in 2022.
The local Manly flotilla received just over 200 calls for assistance from vessels in trouble at sea during 2022, which is 50% less than the number received in 2021.
There were no fatalities reported in local waters during 2022. This compares to several deaths in Moreton Bay the previous year. In fact, Maritime Safety Queensland just reported 13 fatalities on Queensland waters in 2021, adding that none of them were believed to be wearing lifejackets.
Coast Guard volunteers also launched fewer search and rescue operations last year, suggesting the boating public is paying more attention to marine safety.
However, while the number of distress calls from boats fell in 2022, the number from jet skis increased! Most of those were due to mechanical issues, but some were operator errors resulting in jet skis sinking and riders being rescued from the water.
Coast Guard trainers say the number of boaties signing up for the Australian Government’s official Marine Radio Certificate of Proficiency is rising.
Brisbane Coast Guard’s senior marine radio trainer Nigel Moore was delighted to see Queensland rugby league great and national Hall of Fame inductee Steve Walters turn up for Nigel’s last Marine Radio Course in 2022. Nigel said the legendary hooker breezed through the course and passed the test as easily as he won test matches on the footy field.
