The Beagle Editor,
This is a new foreign vessel up the river. Did you notice? Yes the Singaporean registered barge came out of survey a few weeks ago and was required to travel to Brisbane for an out-of-water survey.
Did it? No The contractor requested a further extension to the already out of date survey but the Singapore authorities said no.
So what did the John Holland (Transport for NSW) do?
Simple register the vessel in the Cook Islands without a survey. Why? Because the safety and environmental requirements for a Cooke Island vessel are much lower and less strict. So this working platform for all the tradies may not be safe and the water discharge requirements are just not the same.
Why is this being raised?
The compliance with water discharge of this vessel is critical as the Clyde River is both a Marine Sanctuary and a multi-million dollar oyster industry and the quality of water in each is paramount.
Thankfully AMSA has taken a hard line on foreign vessels entering Australian waters over the last few months banning 4 vessels from our port because they are not safe and not compliant. Will AMSA visit the 1807 barge and check the safety equipment and working conditions?
Will the local Member and Minister for Maritime condone unsafe working conditions from his subcontractors just to finish the bridge?
Questions. Questions but as always we never get straight answers
Batemans Bay Boaters Association
