National Boating Usage Study

Volunteers to Improve Boating Safety

The National Marine Safety Committee is calling on 4000 boaters from around the country to volunteer for its National Boating Usage Study that aims to measure the amount of risk faced by boaters when out on the water.

A key area for marine safety research and policy development is determining how the amount of time spent boating is linked to incidents.

NMSC CEO Ms Maurene Horder explained that the NMSC is piloting a new study method that asks volunteers to complete a simple boating diary each time they go out on the water between September 2008 and May 2010.

“This study differs from other studies in this area that have asked boaters to recall or predict their boating activity over a given period of time.”

National Boating Usage Study volunteers will be asked to fill in details such as the number of hours spent on the water, the purpose of the trip, the number of people on board, and whether the boat was involved in an incident.

Study results will be used by the NMSC and marine agencies to develop policies to tackle boating safety issues. All information collected is confidential and personal details will not be identified or released.

To ensure that the study represents Australian boating, NMSC is inviting owners of all types of recreational craft including runabouts, ski/wake boats, cuddy, half or full cabin cruisers, sailing boats, jet skis and personal watercraft to be part of the study.

Volunteers can win great boating and fishing prizes, receive special product discounts and receive $100 off Club Marine Insurance.

What’s involved?

1. A one-off anonymous survey that asks general questions about your boating behaviour.
2. A Boating Diary, which you will be asked to briefly fill in each time you go boating from September 2008 – May 2010.

If you would like a registration form please call the NMSC (02) 9247 2124 or go to www.nmsc.gov.au to register on-line.