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Self Assessment - Vessel Audit
Start your Preparation Early - Self Assess your Vessel
Cyclone Preparation Starts with your Vessel Self-Assessment
Tropical Storms and Cyclones present all sorts of dangers to people and property so it is vital, when planning and preparing for these emergency events, that you understand the risks, you know what you need to do and you know what you will do should a Tropical Storm or Cyclone strike.
Experience has proven that in the event of a cyclone passing a Marina, the danger to boats can be significantly reduced by early preparation.
We know that Tropical Storms and Cyclones rarely strike when it’s convenient and when we consider the unpredictability of these storm systems, the best planning is to prepare early and prepare for the worst.
Getting stuck in to your own vessel inspection at the start of cyclone season is the perfect way to identify what’s working onboard and what isn’t; what needs fixing and what’s to be replaced. This is not just good practice to the maintenance of your vessel but vital to ensuring your boat’s ready to withstand the intense conditions of tropical storms and cyclones.
At the completion of your Vessel Audit, you’ll have a list of fixes and equipment to replace and a clear plan of the measures you will use to get your boat Cyclone Ready. Once you’ve managed to order your onboard priorities, you’re nicely positioned to chip away at the improvements and give your vessel the best possible chance to ride-out severe storms with the least amount of damage.
To support our boat owners with the self-assessment of their boat, getting the assessment done early in the season and developing their maintenance and cyclone preparation plan, we’ve prepared a Self-Assessment tool for you and it’s attached. Please feel free to use the Self-Assessment tool in its entirety or as a guide but what we do ask of our owners is that you communicate your preparation plans with us. Providing us with your Preparation Plan enables us to most effectively manage severe weather and emergency events.
View PDF: Self-Assessment – Vessel Checklist
First time Auditing your Vessel? Marina staff are available to answer any questions and inspect the readiness measures in place on your boat; so feel free to grab a staff member on their way around the Marina or call the office to book a 15 minute consult at your vessel. We share a common hope that Townsville and its surrounds aren’t impacted by any destructive weather but the Marina team thanks you in advance for your cooperation and willingness to get your boat ready for the prospect of damaging weather.
We’ve acknowledged in multiple emails already that we know that many of our local and resident boat owners will prepare differently to an owner who lives a distance from Townsville. That doesn’t however preclude our local boat owners from getting stuck in to a start-of-cyclone season vessel audit to list what’s working and what isn’t and what needs fixing and what’s to be replaced. This is not just good practice for the standard up-keep of your vessel but vital to ensuring your boat’s ready to withstand the intense conditions of tropical storms and cyclones.
Our strongest recommendation to all our boat owners is to undertake a Self-Assessment audit of your own boat, as soon as you can, and make a list of the condition of all your on-board equipment and systems. At the completion of your Self-Assessment audit, you’ll have a list of fixes and upgrades from which you can prioritise from most to least urgent. You’re then ready to get a start on your early Seaworthiness and Cyclone Preparations which gives you and your vessel the best possible chance to ride-out severe storms with the least amount of damage.