At least as best I can remember that was the amendment that heralded the 90day limit on anchoring in NSW waters in a calendar year one of the concerns at the time was I could be used to force vessels waiting for a mooring licence to use commercial mooring / marina facilities. And these facilities would charge exaggerated fees knowing the " client had little choice " or unseaworthy vessels would put to sea to avoid accumulating penalty notices. It appears that this is becoming a reality and the proliferation of mooring minders that clog up the system is exacerbating the problem. A novel approach to the mooring minder issue would be an annual day of move your boat and those whom don't forfeit their mooring licence. "Move it or loose it " maritime slogan has a certain ring to it ! And it could be a fun day out in company for those whose boats go. Rant over.
Clause 17A
Marine Safety Regulation 2016, clause 17A - Restrictions on time at anchor:
- The operator of a vessel must not allow a vessel to be at anchor in NSW waters for more than 90 days in any calendar year.
- The operator of a vessel must not allow a vessel to be at anchor in any one place in NSW waters for more than 28 days in any calendar year.
Maximum penalty is 50 penalty units. which I think is $5500.(!)
Not sure how thoroughly they keep a statewide count, but wouldn't care to risk it, at that price.
If you're living aboard or travelling then it's not an issue provided you move port to port and keep your boat in a tidy and presentable condition. These rules are aimed at trouble makers and visual pollution so they can be moved on. This comes from first hand experience having travelled and lived aboard for 3 years up until recently.
I'm sure this legislation would only effect a handful of people. Real cruisers would be safe. Who is going to count? The last MSB officer we had here would check on the moorings about once a fortnight. He was just sociable and wanted out of the office. The new bloke is much more casual. Cruisers passing through, who knows where they anchored last! The Customs officers used to photo graph all the boats once a year once but I have not seen them for years. Pensioners in waterfront properties might keep a log!
The legislation is there I'm sure just for the handful of trouble makers. If you keep a low profile you will be fine. Just don't hang your washing on your boat where pensioners can see it!
Select to expand quoteQuixotic said..
Clause 17A
Marine Safety Regulation 2016, clause 17A - Restrictions on time at anchor:
- The operator of a vessel must not allow a vessel to be at anchor in NSW waters for more than 90 days in any calendar year.
- The operator of a vessel must not allow a vessel to be at anchor in any one place in NSW waters for more than 28 days in any calendar year.
Maximum penalty is 50 penalty units. which I think is $5500.(!)
Not sure how thoroughly they keep a statewide count, but wouldn't care to risk it, at that price.
One of the problems is that, at one time (don't know if it still is the case) one place was defined as any waterway including any and all of it's tributaries, so for example Sydney Harbour was defined as one place, 28 days would mean 19 weekends.
I fully understand the intent, however empower a group and somewhere, sometime an ass will apply it exactly as written.
In our bay 70% of the boats have not been boarded since Covid . Almost attached to the bottom with growth,and hopefully will only run ashore,when mooring goes,rather than sink.
The cost of maintenance/antifoul exceeds their value,and the process of disposal too complex !!
The whole exercise of boat ownership is skewed to $/Marinas,but the waterways will remain cluttered with rubbish,which will only worsen as the costs escalate,and Fibreglass continues to float .
???
Rant Over.
Mason
Select to expand quotePLanter4 said..
In our bay 70% of the boats have not been boarded since Covid . Almost attached to the bottom with growth,and hopefully will only run ashore,when mooring goes,rather than sink.
The cost of maintenance/antifoul exceeds their value,and the process of disposal too complex !!
The whole exercise of boat ownership is skewed to $/Marinas,but the waterways will remain cluttered with rubbish,which will only worsen as the costs escalate,and Fibreglass continues to float .
???
Rant Over.
Mason
They will disappear eventually at your expense. The owners will abandon them and the maritime will get around to them and paste removal notices. They have to be removed in 3 months. The owners do nothing then maritime eventually, after lots of delays lifts them ashore where they are up for auction after another 3 months. If no one bids they are broken up and the usual routine is someone has a contract to break them and sell the parts. The tax payers are the losers here. We have lost 3 out of our mooring field so far.
Select to expand quoteRamona said..PLanter4 said..
In our bay 70% of the boats have not been boarded since Covid . Almost attached to the bottom with growth,and hopefully will only run ashore,when mooring goes,rather than sink.
The cost of maintenance/antifoul exceeds their value,and the process of disposal too complex !!
The whole exercise of boat ownership is skewed to $/Marinas,but the waterways will remain cluttered with rubbish,which will only worsen as the costs escalate,and Fibreglass continues to float .
???
Rant Over.
Mason
They will disappear eventually at your expense. The owners will abandon them and the maritime will get around to them and paste removal notices. They have to be removed in 3 months. The owners do nothing then maritime eventually, after lots of delays lifts them ashore where they are up for auction after another 3 months. If no one bids they are broken up and the usual routine is someone has a contract to break them and sell the parts. The tax payers are the losers here. We have lost 3 out of our mooring field so far.
And this was the point of my online rant, the system is being screwed by the have to have mentality, I think I might have to be restrained next time I hear the comment " I'm not letting my mooring go they're to hard to get " it ****s me ! You can't sell the license it's worth nothing. Decommission the boat, cancel the mooring licence and let someone else have a go !
It is a mess ! Have yachts with removal stickers 2/3 years old - almost indecipherable under bird poo !!
Wonder if it is only a NSW problem,as Victoria and Queensland seem to be more pro -active /better admin ?
Mason
Select to expand quoteQuixotic said..
Clause 17A
Marine Safety Regulation 2016, clause 17A - Restrictions on time at anchor:
- The operator of a vessel must not allow a vessel to be at anchor in NSW waters for more than 90 days in any calendar year.
- The operator of a vessel must not allow a vessel to be at anchor in any one place in NSW waters for more than 28 days in any calendar year.
Maximum penalty is 50 penalty units. which I think is $5500.(!)
Not sure how thoroughly they keep a statewide count, but wouldn't care to risk it, at that price.
The penalty is $550 PER DAY. I've had one of these and moved, but was chased on the 28th day. Luckily that yacht was sold on that day!
Select to expand quotePLanter4 said..
It is a mess ! Have yachts with removal stickers 2/3 years old - almost indecipherable under bird poo !!
Wonder if it is only a NSW problem,as Victoria and Queensland seem to be more pro -active /better admin ?
Mason
Moorings are too expensive in Victoria. We don't want their system.
Select to expand quoteRamona said..PLanter4 said..
It is a mess ! Have yachts with removal stickers 2/3 years old - almost indecipherable under bird poo !!
Wonder if it is only a NSW problem,as Victoria and Queensland seem to be more pro -active /better admin ?
Mason
Moorings are too expensive in Victoria. We don't want their system.
Not that simple. The "system" varies by location, from stupidly high prices for the well-to-do near Portsea, to no-sale waiting list schemes in other places. The putative pro-active ways of Parks Vic is also a myth. "Mooring minder hulks R us" is closer to reality.
Cheers, Graeme
