New system for electricity crossings-NSW waterways

5:35 AM Sat 20 Dec 2008 GMT

NSW Maritime has developed a new system to promote safety in the vicinity of electrical cables which cross navigable waters.

The new system will be phased in from 31 December 2008.

Initially, the overhead crossings which pose the greatest risk to navigation safety will be modified by the electricity network operators to reduce the risk to acceptable levels. The remainder of the crossings will then be progressively modified, if necessary, to reduce the risk to acceptable levels.

Crossings of NSW Navigable Waters - click here

For more details on the new system please refer to the FAQs on the NSW Maritime website.

In summary the main things for you to remember are as follows:

you will need to know the maximum height of your vessel above the waterline and keep at good lookout at all times;

NSW Maritime has developed a handy sticker for you to place near the steering position of your vessel. The sticker will help you to remember your vessel height;

there will be new improved crossings signs which will progressively replace the existing signs;

there will be a completely new sign which will be placed at boat ramps.

The new signs are displayed below. Please familiarise yourself with them so you know what to look for.

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Overhead crossing warning sign- this sign warns that there are electrical cables overhead and advises of the maximum vessel height which can safely navigate under the crossing. There will be four of these signs located underneath overhead crossings - two on each bank oriented at 45? to the bank.

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Supplementary flood sign- this sign will be installed with all overhead crossing warning signs on waterways which are subject to flooding. It advises that clearances marked on the overhead crossing warning sign are reduced during flood conditions.

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Advisory overhead crossing sign- one of these signs will be placed at each launching ramp on the waterway which is within 5km of an overhead crossing. It advises that there are overhead electricity cables crossing the waterway and advises you to know the height of your vessel.

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Submarine crossing sign- this sign advises of the location of submarine electricity cables. It also advises that there are penalties for anchoring within 200m of the submarine crossing. There will be one sign on each bank parallel to the bank.

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Know your vessel height sticker- NSW Maritime encourages you to place this sticker near the steering position of your vessel. The sticker allows you to see, at a glance, the height of your vessel above the waterline making it easier to interpret overhead crossing warning signs. It also has some hints on navigating in the vicinity of crossings and NSW Maritime's Infoline number.

www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/rec_boating/crossings.html

by NSW Maritime

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