On-the-spot fines to keep waterways clean
Operators who fail to meet their ship-sourced pollution prevention responsibilities will face swift penalties with Maritime Safety Queensland marine officers now able to issue on-the-spot fines of more than $1000.
Marine officers can now board a vessel with a ticket book and deal with specific breaches there and then. Some offences such as failing to keep proper records of sewage and oil disposal or not having proper sewage treatment units on board carry fines of $1100.
The new powers will be particularly relevant to ports where the large volume and frequency of shipping activity requires a high level of cooperation between vessel operators and regulators.
These new powers will give them added opportunities to protect not only ships' crews and passengers, but the environment as well.
Buoys and charts for Burnett River
Boaties heading onto Bundaberg's Burnett River can now use navigation buoys and up-to-date chartlets to safely pilot the river after recent flooding changed conditions.
The Burnett River chartlets are available at Maritime Safety Queensland's Bundaberg office or they can be downloaded from the Bundaberg section of Notices to Mariners.
