Its draft navigation safety bylaw and a survey seeking public feedback on the draft is now on the Otago Regional Council’s website.
The bylaw regulates the movement of vessels on waterways to improve safety. It also provides rules and regulations such as wearing lifejackets for vessels in harbours or at sea up to 12 nautical miles out from the Otago Coast.
Otago Regional Councillor Andrew Noone said it is important that people who use the region’s harbours and waterways read the draft and provide feedback by February 12.
"I have no doubt that there will be people who have views on how we can improve navigational safety. We want to hear from them if there’s anything we’ve missed, or if people believe these rules and regulations generally head in the right direction."
Otago Regional Council Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook, who is responsible for ensuring boaties comply with the safety rules, said most of the previous 2020 bylaw is expected to remain in place, with a few new additions. Aspects such as the need to always wear lifejackets on the water, for example, will remain unchanged.
One new proposal is for all commercial vessels carrying 12 or more passengers both day and night, and all vessels 15m-plus to carry a new mandatory automatic identification tracking system (AIS).
"The AIS technology, which we are proposing to be carried by all boats, will mean vessels’ whereabouts can be plotted on a geo-tracking system, and this will help them safely navigate around each other in the channels without mishap," he said.
"A lot of fishing boats already have these. The purpose of these tracking devices is to improve navigational safety and vessel management. The information will not be used for any other purpose. It is planned to provide a better navigational traffic picture to ensure safer outcomes for passenger-carrying recreational and commercial boaties and their passengers."
An AIS system could cost a boat owner up to $2500.
Another proposal in the draft is to enact a 60-day period whereby boat users and owners cannot anchor in Otago Harbour after they have utilised a 14-day allowance to anchor in one place. This is aimed at boaties continuously upping anchor and shifting to different locations around Otago Harbour.
