WATER police are urging boaties to check their vessels after gusty conditions caused several boats to break free from their swing moorings earlier this month.
Redland Bay Water Police officer-in-charge Sergeant Paul Ryan said he had seen countless boats set adrift from broken mooring lines.
“If it gets a bit blowy for a few days and there’s a big tide, a few (boats) will break their moorings,” he said.
While winds reached only 21 knots at Redland Bay across the weekend of Saturday, November 11 and Sunday, November 12, Sergeant Ryan said the strong breeze was enough to set boats loose.
He said owners could help prevent the mishap by visiting their vessel frequently to check mooring lines.
Maritime Safety Queensland also has warned boaties it is best to use two mooring lines and for swing mooring chains to be frequently inspected.
“Allow for a sufficient number of mooring lines so that you can double up your mooring arrangements,” the document read.
“You should also be aware that flooding events resulting from extreme weather events may result in build-up of debris around the mooring chain, compromising the integrity of the mooring arrangement.”
While the average yearly wind speed across the Redlands is about 10 knots, wind speeds of 44 knots were recorded during ex-tropical Cyclone Debbie in late March.
Bureau of Meteorologist meteorologist Sean Fitzgerald said conditions experienced across the bay could also be stronger than those over the mainland.
“While winds can be light inland, they can be quite windy over ocean,” he said.
“Up to 20 knots an hour can affect ships and people should check forecast and current observations.”
A Queensland Maritime Safety spokesperson warned boat owners could also be made responsible for clean-up fees should their vessel sink.
“The state has powers to recover clean-up costs from negligent owners through the courts which can also deliver hefty penalties for marine pollution offences,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson’s comments came after a boat sank at its mooring at Victoria Point earlier this month.
“The owner is taking action to have the vessel salvaged,” the spokesperson said.
