Jet ski hoons put on notice

MARITIME Safety Victoria (MSV) now has more officers using onshore surveillance to target jet ski hoons, a growing risk to safety at popular beaches around Port Phillip Bay.

MSV recently released surveillance footage of personal watercraft (PWC) riders at Port Melbourne beach not only exceeding the five-knot speed limit close to shore but also not slowing to five knots within 50 metres of swimmers and other vessels.

“Our teams see first-hand the tragic consequences of jet ski collisions,” Maritime Safety Victoria director Rachel Gualano said.

“Injuries caused by jet ski collisions are significant. They have drastically impacted people’s ability to work and live normal lives, and in other cases resulted in death.

“Our data, in-field observations and other intel suggest that the likelihood of collisions is growing, putting more beach goers at greater risk of injury or death.

“And it’s a small but reckless group of individuals who are also putting public tolerance of these kinds of vessels at our beaches at risk.”

Since this footage was taken, an owner of one of the vessels has been fined as a result of the rider’s behaviour. The owner of a jet ski who allows it to be used by others who are unlicensed is a common dangerous behaviour, and one that MSV takes very seriously.

MSV has a number of cases about to be heard in court. The maximum penalty for allowing an unlicensed person to operate a vessel is $1611.90.

MSV works with local council and other enforcement agencies such as Victoria Water Police and Parks Victoria, who all report increasing congestion in the waterways.

PWC ownership growth was at six per cent in the past financial year, almost double than that of other vessels. There are more than 22,500 high powered vessels registered in Victoria as of June 2018.

Check the rules and MSV’s Ride Right safety advice at transportsafety.vic.gov.au/msv/pwc.