Marine Safety in Victoria Report 2007-2008 (PDF, 1.3 MB, 72 pp.)

5.2 Response only incidents (n=926)
Response only incidents cover disablement of vessel and person in trouble. Figure 4 shows the trend in
the frequency of response only incidents over time. In 2007/8 there were 926 response only recreational
vessel incidents reported on the MIR system, an 18% increase on the frequency of incidents that occurred
in 2006/7.
5.2.1 Severity of ‘response only’ incidents
Ninety-six percent (n=886) of ‘response only’ incidents did not result in any damage to property or person,
3% (n=26) resulted in property damage only, 1% (n=10) resulted in other vessel damage and there were
two vessels lost (0.2%).
There was one serious injury incident, classified as response only because the injured person was not
onboard the vessel at the time of the incident:
• 62 year old male was pulled from water unconscious after checking prop on his 30’ cruiser at Flagstaff
Jetty. He was subsequently checked by paramedics and found to be O.K.
5.2.2 Major causes (types) of incidents
Of the 926 ‘response only’ recreational incidents reported in 2007/8, 98% (n=904) were disablements and
3% (n=22) were persons in trouble.
5.2.3 Vessel details
Most ‘response only’ incidents involved mechanically powered vessels (n=856, 92%), followed by sail
powered vessels (n=53, 6%) and human powered vessels (n=9, 1%). Data on power source was missing
for the remaining 8 cases (1%). The type of vessel was recorded for 99% of cases (n=924). Over one-third
of incidents were each related to open boats (40%, n=368) and half-cabin cruisers (38%, n=352), another
12% (n=114) were full-cabin cruisers, 4% (n=32) were yachts (keel boats), 3% (n=23) were PWC and 1%
each involved trailer sailers (n=12) and off-the-beach yachts/catamarans (n=6). The remaining 18 incidents
involved kayaks (n=4), skiboats (3), windsurfers (4), kite (4), rafts (2), tenders (2), and one houseboat, rowing
boat and canoe.
Nearly half (48%) of vessels were 4.8-8m in length, 30% were 0-4.8m in length, 4% were 8-12m in length
and 2% were greater than 12m in length. The vessel length was not recorded for 16% of vessels.
The vessel activity was missing, undefined or unknown for 74% of incidents so recorded data are not
meaningful.
5.2.4 Seasonal distribution
Half the incidents occurred in the 3-month period November to January (late Spring and Summer).
Incidents were lowest in Winter (9%). [Figure 5]
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