Hosted by National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC)
Venue: Burswood Entertainment Complex

Caption: Greg Beanland from Victoria
clocked up 720 hours in one trip.

Caption: One of the estimated 750,000
recreational boats from around Australia.

Find out how people really use their boats and how the amount of time spent on the water is linked to incidents and accidents by attending -

the launch of the NMSC's National Boating Usage Study Interim and Final Reports at the Marine Safety Conference 2010 Gala Dinner

This is the first study of its kind in the world and delves into a key area of marine research, providing a link between the amount of time spent on the water and incidents and accidents.

• The study tracked over 2,000 boating volunteers for 18 months.
• Volunteers went on a total of 32,000 trips and spent 300,053 hours on the water.

NMSC Research Manager Dr John Bentley will release significant findings from the study including information about boaters, boat usage, boating behaviour, boating incidents and the boating experience.

This vital information will be used by the NMSC and marine agencies to develop policies and education programs to tackle safe boating issues.

John Leech, Irish Water Safety's CEO and Chair of the Irish Branch of the Institute of Marine Surveying was brought up within 15 feet of the water on the banks of the river Shannon and so followed it to sea for his first career in the Navy.

"By engaging with as many organisations as possible we have managed slowly but steadily to change the ABC of our nation towards water safety... we have strong connections between our two nations [Australia and Ireland] and I see this as an opportunity to strengthen them at the marine and water safety level," Mr Leech say

Jeffrey Hoedt is Chief of the Boating Safety Division of the US Coast Guard. He’s responsible for the development, coordination, and implementation of the National Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Program and oversees the Coast Guard’s efforts at reducing fatalities, injuries, and property losses in recreational boating in the US. At the conference he will share his ‘best practice’ on boating safety in the USA….

Dr Edward Mahoney is a Professor and marine industry extension specialist at Michigan State University USA and a co-director of the Recreation Marine Research Centre. He was invited in 2009 to Australia by the Marinas Association of Australia to undertake research into the value of the marinas and the economic and social value of modern harbour to the community. At the national Marine Safety Conference he will be focusing on his general research findings on the economic and social issues facing a safe marine industry culture.

Gina Johansen developed the Fish Safe Program in Canada's British Columbia and she is also the co-chair of the Fish Safe Advisory Committee that directs the program.

"Fisherman need to truly believe that safety can make a difference. That's all about the right kind of education," Ms Johansen says. According to an article in Canada's Times Colonist (30 August 2009): "Many deaths occur after vessels capsize, something that can be caused by a cabin or fishing gear added where they shouldn't be. Sixty per cent of the 760 fisherman who have so far taken the Fish Safe Four-day stability course say they have changed the way they carry our their jobs".

Glenn Finniss is Acting Commissioner of the recently-formed Marine Rescue NSW. On secondment from the NSW Police Force, Glenn brought with him over 14 years experience in volunteer rescue operations to his new role. He sees the conference as a good opportunity for people with a common goal in marine safety to meet.

ABC TV's 'New Inventors' 2009 Inventor of the Year Colin Chamberlain is currently developing his Environmental Safety Propeller for a world market. He invented the safety propeller in response to hearing about serious injuries during boating incidents.

FREE RECREATIONAL BOATING FORUM

You are invited to stay on for the morning after the Conference and join members of the Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group as they address key marine safety issues facing the recreational boating sector.

Find out more about Maritime Communications, PWC Risk Hoon Legislation and the latest in Community Education.

When: Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Where: Studio 1 Burswood Entertainment Complex
Registration: Just tick the attendance box on the Marine Safety Conference Registration Form

For more details, click here for the Draft Program.