Boaties blow safety whistle

Date08 July 2021
Published date08 July 2021
Publication titleMountain Scene
Boaties used to work closely with veteran harbourmaster Marty Black and his team whenever there was an emergency, or even a minor incident.

Black worked for contractor Southern Monitoring Services, however in May it was announced Cougar Security Group had won the tender to provide waterways regulatory services from July 1.

Council confirms Cougar’s hired four staff who’ve been warranted under the Maritime Transport Act 1994, including a harbourmaster, who’s local Coastguard president Phil Wiel, a deputy harbourmaster and an enforcement officer.

Pacific Jemm skipper Geoff Gemmell says last Friday, when Wiel visited his boat, he introduced himself as the new harbourmaster, but when asked if had a maritime qualification he replied ‘‘nearly’’.

‘‘I said, ‘where does that leave us in an emergency?’

‘‘He said, ‘we’re fully involved with the Coastguard’.’’

Speaking on behalf of Queenstown Bay boaties, he says ‘‘if we have an accident, we have to be comfortable with who’s doing the job and, until recently, we had a hotline to Marty’’.

‘‘It was a simple process and he’d go, ‘right, I’ll get one of the KJet boats to come and help you out, we’ll be there in a flash’.’’

Speaking yesterday, council boss Mike Theelen says there’s been a change in the contract, and for emergency services you need to dial 111 or contact the Coastguard.

‘‘A harbourmaster’s duties are largely around enforcing the waterways regulations.’’

Dealing with incidents and accidents on the water ‘‘is not the harbourmaster’s role, it’s actually the role of police and the Coastguard’’.

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