10. LGOM 010 – Powercraft Operations

All lifeguards are responsible to operate within the Queensland Transport guidelines, regulations and Surf Life Saving Queensland policies, power craft code of conduct and procedures. Failure to do so can jeopardise marine safety therefore causing injury or death and may result in the Operator and lifeguard service liable to criminal prosecution and civil litigation.

The relevant statutes contained in the Transport Operations Marine Safety Act and Regulations can be explained to any interested lifeguard or lifeguard supervisor by a representative from the Department Primary Industries or Queensland Boating and Fisheries and how they apply to the operations of ORB’s and Rescue Water Craft.
The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Division is the delegated authority to police Queensland’s boating and small craft rules and regulations and, as such, has the power to video tape and issue to any driver any of the following infringements:

Infringement	Penality (Subject to Change)
Unlicensed Driving	On the spot $565
Unsafe operations	To be determined by the Court
Unsafe operations causing injury or death	To be determined by the Court
Failure of the service to report any incident to Qld Transport within 48 hours of incident occurring	$339 (Imposed directly to the service)
Failure of Master to report any incident of QLD Transport within 48 hours of incident occurring	On the spot $339 (imposed on operator)
Owner/master fail to display correct registration numbers	On the spot $226 (can be issued to both owner and master)
Owner of commercial ship fail to register ship	On the spot $452 (imposed on service)
Exceeding 6 knots within 30 metres of people in water	$339 (Imposed on Operator)

As a licensed operator, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that you are abiding by the law. Any fines imposed will become the responsibility of the operator. Surf Life Saving Queensland will not be held responsible for unsafe operations or operations outside of core business conducted by any lifeguard or cover any costs incurred through fines.

The following points shall be adhered to during the operation of all Rescue Water Craft (RWC) operations:

1. RWC operator must wear type Level 50 PFD AT ALL TIMES
2. Only appropriately qualified crew are to operate the RWC.
3. RWC operators MUST maintain a speed NO GREATER than 6 knots if within 60 metres of swimmers/surfers.
4. RWC operators are to wear a Gath style helmet AT ALL TIMES (preferably red or yellow)
5. The RWC shall remain on a trailer until the completion of the day’s patrol.
6. RWC Surveillance patrols shall be conducted regularly during patrol times.
7. The designated RWC shall be utilised for patrol purposes only.
8. Only currently registered boats with the Queensland Transport are to be used.
9. Must comply with the MSQ Safety Management Systems (including reporting relevant forms for a marine incident within 48 hours for MSQ).
10. RWC Operators to follow all SLSQ policies and procedures whilst operating the RWC.
    

Powercraft Launching Areas

• RWC shall be located a minimum of 30m from the flagged area (downward side of current where possible).
• RWC shall be placed at the waters edge (unless in use for surveillance or rescue operations).
• RWC operators shall use a designated in/out zone for all craft launching from the beach. This area is to be designated by 5 witches’ hats and a Powercraft Launching area sign.
• RWC operators shall be aware of the current/sweep direction and ensure the placement of any powercraft on the downward side of the current/sweep relevant to the flagged area
• RWC operators shall be aware of swimmers drifting from the flagged areas into launching areas caused by influence of currents and rips.
• Training shall be carried out well away from the designated swimming/surf craft areas with approved warning signage erected.
• Warning (Powercraft/Training) signs shall be erected where training or regular patrolling activity is taking place (Refer Section10 – Patrol Signage Catalogue).
  

Note – All lifeguards in NQ are to wear PPE as per Dangerous Marine Creatures Guidelines – refer to Section 11

Powercraft Launch Procedures
Care should be exercised when towing (check tow point and safety chain, slow down, turn wide around obstacles) as per LGOM 010. Please note the following points when launching and retrieving jet skis:

• Operating a RWC between the flags is not a desirable area for any RWC operations and there is a requirement of 60 meters away or under six knots near persons in the water.
• Launch and beach the Jet Ski in the Powercraft launch and retrieve zone.
• Keep hands and body clear of the trailer hitch when ATV, tractor or towing vehicle is reversing towards the trailer.
• Determine a good area for launching and proceeding out to sea, inshore holes (without people) close to the water’s edge are good areas.
• Immediately before launching, complete one last check of the security for lanyard, covers, seats, hatches, bungs and tow points.
• If it is still on the trailer, run the jet ski for 10 seconds, prior to launching.
• Ensure area is clear of people.
• Reverse trailer and launch ski into desired area.
• If launching by hand, please follow local operating procedure if applicable before the below. ensure RWC is not attached to trailer winching points and can be easily launched.
• Once ready to launch, lifeguard is to hold RWC trailer and point towards launching area.
• Using the momentum of the trailer at a walking pace (at this stage the trailer should be comfortably held by the lifeguard whilst moving), meeting the first part of the water adjust the angle of the trailer to launch,
• Give the RWC a push launching it into the water.
• If an emergency, leave the trailer and hop onto the RWC.
• If not an emergency, get another lifeguard to move trailer back into the launching zone.
• Once on the RWC, establish radio communications with SurfCom and advise them of WHO you are (the location you are from), WHERE you are, and which location you are GOING – “Mooloolaba Lifeguard Jet Ski, tracking to Mooloolaba Spit”;
• Tell others of the danger on the beach side of the jet ski from wave movement.
• Do not ‘drive’ the RWC on or off the trailer whilst completing beach launch and recovery;
• If launching at a boat ramp remove the trailer lights and any tie down straps away from the ramp, reverse with care, watch for people – have someone watching behind, a vertical pole attached to the trailer extremity makes for easier reversing, being careful of slippery ramp.
  

Retrievals Procedures

• When beaching the RWC, the operator is to ensure the retrieval zone is clear of people.
• Ensure that the operator is braced for hitting the sand.
• The beaching should only be done at low speed, turning off the ski will before gently nudging the sand.
• Once beached the operator is to retrieve their ATV/ 4wd/ tractor (or as per LOP) and tow up the ski when required to an easier location to winch back onto the trailer.
• This is to only be done when clear of people. This is not to be a snatching, like a weight bare and then tow a couple of meters out of the water zone.
• If the ski cannot be retrieved, leave ski in the current position on the beach and let Surfcom know, and organise a plan to retrieve it a more suitable time with more support where possible.
• Once back on trailer, put back in the standby position on the beach.
  

Reminders when Operating a RWC

• Remember not to start the RWC until enough water is underneath (knee depth) and only after rocking the RWC to disperse sand from the jet intake grill; •
• Warm the cold RWC up and check its operation in the small white water; •
• Always proceed with caution and determine your best/easiest path and risk outcomes before putting yourself and the RWC in unsafe situations and wave break areas; •
• Be well out to sea when passing the flagged areas (well past all surf breaks); •
• Beware of a high risk in shallow water if a roll-over occurs; •
• Passengers on the RWC are not allowed unless a rescue is in progress or they have completed the RWC operator course.
• Try to patrol with the RWC in areas where there is a high likelihood of a rescue situation, deep holes, rips etc. away from patrolled areas;
• Continue radio communications with SurfCom every half hour or at a change of direction or circumstance by the RWC.
• Ensure SurfCom is notified by radio communications prior to you crossing a bar and again once you have safely crossed the bar.
• SurfCom will monitor the time period for the bar crossing and will contact you should you not notify them you have safely crossed the bar;
• Do not beach the RWC for longer than a few minutes without placing it on the trailer (sand wear to hull) or moving it from the wave area;.
• All rescues should be logged as they happen during your patrol, information should be given to SurfCom once safe to do so.
• This should include, location, age, gender, distance from flags and any other relevant information;
• A standing position at a (safe) speed just above the planning speed gives the best observation of people in the water and on the beach – look for signals from lifeguards and lifesavers;
• Alter your course to stay more than 60 meters from people in the water or reduce speed to six knots (a walking pace, definitely not planning) – emergency situations accepted;
• No towing of other craft – obtain SurfCom help;
• No passengers (other than a RWC operator or SLSQ RWC crew induction award holder) – emergency situations or written prior approval accepted;
• *Tallebudgera Creek is a marine zone and as such all PWCs are banned from operating within marine zones. SLSQ has an exemption from MSQ which allow SLSQ RWC’s to enter Tallebudgera Creek providing they stay east of the Gold Coast highway bridge and keep under six knots;
  

Queensland Transport Marine Safety Exemptions for SLSQ RWC Operators

• The rescue craft are operated within 1 nautical mile of land;
• Rescue operations shall be conducted in accordance with Surf Life Saving Australian Training Manuals and SLSQ Patrol Operation Manuals;
• Lifeguards may exceed the speed limit of 6 knots within 30 metres of a person in the water only during emergency situations when operating a ship;
• Lifeguards may exceed the speed limit of 6 knots within 60 metres of a person in the water only during emergency situations when operating a personal watercraft;
• Personnel operating personal watercraft are to wear a Personal Flotation Device type 2 or type 50 at all times;
• The persons mentioned in the exemption are authorised by Surf Life Saving Queensland;
• The PWC’s used are operated by Surf Life Saving Queensland; and
• The exemption is to only apply when responding to an emergency situation.
  

Refueling Jet Skis

Always refuel the craft in a well ventilated area or at a petrol station. Lifeguards must ensure that nobody within the vicinity is smoking. When refueling, please refer to procedure for relevant region and ensure any spillage is cleaned immediately. Fuel is only to be stored in approved flammable liquid storage cabinets. SLSQ supplies spill kits to minimise the impact on the environment these should be used or readily available whilst refueling should a spill occur.

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