Are you prepared for this upcoming Severe Weather Season? 

If you have a Berth Agreement with our Marina between 1 November and 30 April, it is requisite to your mooring that you comply with the measures in our Cyclone Management Plan.  This entails that prepare your boat to withstand severe weather and protect those boats around yours from damage.  Marina staff will do what they can to assist boat owners but it remains the responsibility of all boat owners to ensure their boat remains secure at its berth during severe weather and that everything practicable has been done to minimize the risk it breaks free and becomes a wrecking ball through the Marina. 

We add that the Marina conducts regular vessel audits over the season to check that readiness measures are being taken to prepare them for storms and severe weather and where there are obvious deficiencies, these will be brought to the attention of the respective boat owners and where they’re not suitably remedied, the measures will be corrected by the Marina and charged to the boat owner.  Vessel owners can prepare early by following these Cyclone Preparation Checks before severe weather is upon us.

Starting your preparations early is the key to minimising damage...

For those of you who have yet to experience a cyclone season in the north and are perhaps wondering how best to prepare, we encourage you to read a copy of our Cyclone Management Plan and start actioning both your vessel and personal preparations now.

There just isn’t time to start your preparations when a storm system is on approach and conditions have already begun to deteriorate. 

The Marina team will be busy in and out of the office and Staff may not be able to assist you preparing your boat if severe weather is imminent - early preparation is key to understand how much time will be needed onsite to prepare.

Early Preparation is key - self assess your own vessel & work out a plan to prepare NOW

View PDF:   Self-Assessment – Vessel Checklist

CLICK HERE: Complete a Self Audit ONLINE and Send to Breakwater Team to Review

Checking over your Vessel - Owners Guide 

NOTE:  This guide is for boat owners to review and consider what preparation is needed on their behalf - however, we understand in the Marina we have a multitude of vessel types, sizes and situations with each berthing agreement so some questions may not be relevant to answer. 

ONBOARD 

• Batteries – have you ensured they’re charging because power will likely go off and cloudy weather will not charge solar panels
• Bilge Pumps – is it in working order, and do you have clean and clear hoses?  
• Do you have clear unobstructed drainage points in your cockpit, lower decks, and around the deck areas in case of heavy rainfall?
• Pumps, Switches, Buttons and Knobs – when was the last time that you tested any electrical outlets on the boat to ensure they're still working?
• Do you need to seal any leaking windows and hatches?  How to do this?
• Fire Response & Emergency Equipment - up to date and ready to use?
• Where is your evacuation kit on the boat?

ROPES

• Are your ropes adequate?  Do you remember the last time you checked the condition of your mooring lines and do you have additional ropes and fenders ready? 
  Click to view>> Watch our Ropes Video
• Where are spare ropes onboard, and if you are not able to get to the Marina, are they easy to access for someone to find?
• Do you know how to double up your mooring lines?  Doubling up Mooring lines doesn't mean your ropes are the same piece of rope looped around 1 cleat and returning to the same point on the boat.  Do you know how to make a springer or how to position ropes so your boat doesn't ride up on the pontoon? 

See examples of different mooring lines below:

Click to view diagrams/photos:
> Tying-off your vessel  
> Aft Spring Line  
> Aft Spring Line to mid
> Forward Spring to Mid Ship  
> Doubled Up Springers

WIND

• How will you reduce any wind loadings and how long will this take? Think flapping sails, loose biminis, how will you tie these down?  Will it take more than 1 person to help you?
• How many fenders will you need to put out and where?  Remember, the wind may not just come from one direction. Click to view:  Example Wind Directions
• How will loose gear be secured?  Do you have extra tie downs, ropes, or storage areas to stow below deck?
• Do you know how to stop your vessel riding up on the pontoons/piers?
• Is your tender going up on davits with the bung out, or staying in the water?  Or will you secure it on your deck with tie downs?

ONSITE AT THE MARINA

• Living aboard full time in Townsville's summer season, you may have shade sails or tarps set up on your boat - how long will it take to drop these to secure and stow loose items?
• What items are on your walkway? Can they fall in the water with high winds?
• Do you have vehicles/motorbikes onsite? Where are they going to be secured/stored? Do they have alarms that may go off?

SUPPLIES

• When will you be filling fuel tanks, water tanks and gas bottles?
• What gear do you need to buy and is it available in Townsville?  How long will it take to ship it here?

PLANNING

• What regular maintenance needs to be planned over the year?
• When was the last Audit for your vessel to understand what repairs, upgrades and replacements are necessary?
• When does your Insurance expire?  Have you checked insurance terms, policy details and coverage.... and provided the Marina with a copy?
• How long will your batteries last without power....and is there food or bait in your fridge/freezer?  Remember, we don't want defrosted rotting food thrown in our waste bins.
• What if you cannot get to the Marina in an emergency - Have you assigned an alternate (ie. local) Emergency Contact who can attend to the boat in your absence, and how long will they take to get here?

Living Local?

At Breakwater, we understand our residents and local owners don’t want to completely lock down their boats for the season – you want to be able to keep using them when you choose. If you are a resident or a local owner, we’re asking that you start preparation now; do your vessel audit now so you can plan what, how and when you’re going to address your cyclone preparations.

Remember, cyclones rarely hit when it’s convenient so working progressively through a plan is the best approach to avoid a frantic and last-minute effort to prepare your boat for destructive winds, torrential rain and surging seas.  Keep this on as a guide or to pass onto your authorised contact if you cannot attend your vessel.

Have you considered…  

• How long will it take to prepare your boat - and do you need help? Remember, in the lead up to a Severe Weather event Marina staff will be busy - do not rely on their help to assist with lifting items, tying down sails or finalising your preparations - we may not have time.
• What happens if you away, and are not able to get to your boat (flights cancelled, roads blocked, car faulty)?
• If we need to, who does the Marina contact if we can't get hold of you, and does this person know how to get your boat ready?

For those vessel owners who sometimes live remotely from their boat over the season, please advise the Marina Office with up to date contact information and prospective dates you are unavailable.  This information is vital in the event we are forced to enact the mandatory evacuation of people from the Marina.

It is similarly important to consider providing a spare set of keys for the vessel to the Marina Office or advising who provide emergency access to your boat in your absence.

Residents remember - Power and Water may get turned off....

In the event of an imminent cyclone strike, Marina policy does include the shutting off of essential utilities like power and water so your preparations will need to make allowance for these disconnections.   Keep in mind, when Shore Power is switched back on it can trip as a consequence of the heavy rain and surges.  In the event the Marina is under an imminent threat of a Cyclone and our warning system has advanced to Stage 3 Condition Blue, all boat owners will be instructed to prepare for the shore power to be turned off and leads to be disconnected from the pedestal and stowed on board their boat.

Have you considered…

• How long will your onboard systems/batteries last without power?
• Is there food and bait that has been left your fridge or freezer?
• Where will you go if there is a Mandatory Evacuation?

Multihull Owners

Whilst we acknowledge that every Multi-Hull vessel is uniquely different, the significance of this vessel type goes to the potential for more exposure to prevailing conditions as a consequence of their width and sometimes height and most notably where they’re berthed. For Multi Hull vessels on T-Head berths, they can be more open to wind and wave action and vulnerable to damage in the event they’re not properly prepared for severe weather.  We have prepared a FACT SHEET for Multihull owners who are berthed in our Marina.   

Preparing your Multihull in Breakwater Marina

CONDITION RED - When Mandatory Evacuation Orders are issued

During a direct Cyclone Threat to the region, progression to CONDITION RED is considered very seriously; requiring absolute final preparations of the property and all boats in readiness for damage control and evacuation. If and when there is a notice issued for all Marina tenants to Mandatory Evacuate - do not ignore this advice - the decision to issue an evacuation notice is not taken lightly and is based on the imminent impact of damaging winds, intense rain and the possible inundation of coastal and low lying areas.  

We acknowledge many of our Marina customers are short and long term residents on their boats and that an evacuation order is disruptive but predicted impacts can be potentially damaging and therefore too unsafe for residents or local vessel owners to be in the Marina Precinct and to remain onboard. 
Issuing a Mandatory Evacuation will be in line with advice from the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group; an enforcement for all Townsville residents to stay off the roads and to seek shelter in a safe place.   If you don’t have a commercial premise or residence to seek shelter, the Council will declare refuge shelters open - the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group website will update details during a Cyclone Event.

Final Questions to Check:

Have You Sent A Insurance Certificate To The Marina Office?  If any of your personal details have changed, please update them with the Marina office and ensure your vessel insurance is up to date and a copy has been provided to the Marina.

Are You Sure Your Vessel is actually covered For "Cyclone Damage"?

Call your insurer or read through your Insurance Policy Disclosure Statement to ensure coverage for weather events like a 'named cyclones' or 'storm-tide events'.   If you don't have this, call your Insurance Agency and ask for a copy.

Have You registered an Emergency Plan With The Marina Office?  

If you are planning to be away from your vessel for any period of time, let the Marina office know. 
Details like; where your spare ropes are stored, who to call that can attend the boat in an emergency, and checking that you are leaving your vessel in a final preparation stage. 

Marina Staff are here to help - but help our Staff by preparing early

Remember that the lead up to a Cyclone Event can be busy in and out of the Marina Office - help our Marina team by being prepared and having your vessel, contact information and yourself ready for any severe weather events this Cyclone Season. 

View Gallery Below with helpful Cyclone Preparation Tips: