Storm Season Resources for Vessel Owners

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.

Links to our Information Series sent on Email:

About the Marina-Wide Cyclone Readiness Audit

The Breakwater team starts a marina-wide, vessel by vessel Cyclone Readiness inspections early November, assessing each vessel and taking photos. This gives us a useful baseline to work with owners to make sure planning for severe weather is underway and on track to implement effective readiness measures that are known to reduce the risk of damage to vessels.

We want to acknowledge that many of our Vessel Owners will approach their boat preparations differently; for example marina residents and those who live locally here in Townsville may wait for a storm system to develop before finalising preparations.

We also understand all boats are different and a "one size fits all" approach doesn't work for all of our vessel owners.

There are three things however, we want to really impress on our Marina Community this year:

It is the responsibility of ALL Boat Owners with a current mooring agreement at Breakwater between 1 November and 30 April to comply with the Marina’s Cyclone Management Plan (CMP); ensuring all boats are seaworthy and best prepared to withstand severe weather, and
If you're living away from Townsville, or you plan to be out of town for work or play anytime from now to the end of April, that you prepare and lock your boat down before you go - do not expect Marina Staff to complete preparations.
It is mandatory that vessel owners comply with the Marina’s instructions to ready their vessels early. Marina staff will inspect vessel preparations regularly and communicate with owners to help bring them up to standard. Non-compliance will require the correction to be undertaken by the Marina at the vessel owners cost.

Early Preparation is key - start early, self assess your vessel & plan to prepare NOW

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 NOW considering how long it will take you to prepare your vessel; do a 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?

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.