Boating Western Australia Inc.
10 Years of service to the Western
Australian Boating Public
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Mission Statement BoatingWA
e-mail; secretary@boatingwa.com.au
Office
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It minimises the
potential for environmental fines and prosecutions
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It improves company
image and increases customer patronage
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It increases confidence
with Government, the community, the neighbours and within the marine, tourism,
leisure and recreation sectors
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It delivers short and
long term cost savings and
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It
improves environmental
conditions for everyone
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| business
| your
employees
| your
customers and
| the
local community | |
It will result in detrimental effects on environmental health, safety, image, financial performance and quality of life.
There are four levels of achievement:
Level 1
Confirming your intent to improve: Clean Marina Pledge
Level 2
Self-Assessment
Level 3
Peer Assessment Blue Flag/Golden Anchors Certification
Level 4
External Assessment Blue Flag/Golden Anchors and World’s Best Certification
Contact the MAA for your copy of the Clean Marinas; Australia Guidebook and other programme material.
Clean Marinas Australia Ltd. A Division of The Marina Association of Australia Ltd.
The manual is intended as an educational tool for the operators of marinas, slipways, boat clubs and boatyards and the every day Australian boatie.
The document does not constitute a complete reference to Local, State and Federal Laws, Regulations or By-Laws and therefore relying solely on the information in this book will not protect you legally.
It is the responsibility of each operator and employee of the business to satisfy his general environmental duty.
This document represents industry practise at the time of issue and is therefore subject to change.
The Marina Association of Australia Ltd, nor Clean Marinas; Australia Ltd., the directors, shareholders, stakeholders nor members or associates can assume any liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information in this publication.
Every operator is encouraged to enter into frank discussions with the appropriate Local, State and Federal Agencies to ensure that a complete understanding of all appropriate Laws, Regulations and By-Laws and any other obligations are completely understood.
Some tasks pose risks to employees. It is important that protective clothing, gloves, boots and masks/respirators are used as required. In some areas of endeavour protective vaccinations are highly recommended.
For more information about
Australia’s Clean Marinas; Australia Programme, please contact:
For more information about Australia’s Clean Boaties’ Programme, please
contact:
The
Marina Association of Australia Ltd.,
PO Box 11, GOODWOOD SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5035
We commend you for committing to improve the environmental quality of your facility by using the Clean Marinas; Australia Guidebook.
You wll join a growing number of marina, slipway and boatyard operators who recognise the economic importance of the conduct of outstanding environmental practises at recreational and commercial boating facilities.
The Marina Association of Australia (MAA), through Clean Marinas Australia Ltd., developed the Clean Marinas; Australia Guidebook as a reference for environmental practises at marinas, slipways and boatyards and for other organisations sharing associated pursuits.
The word “Marina”, used throughout our documents, refers to marinas and other associated industries/activities.
Development of the Clean Marina Programme and the Clean Marinas; Australia Guidebook would not have been possible without the cooperative efforts of the marina industry and our associates in the public sector.
Through the Clean Marinas; Australia Programme, the Marina Association of Australia Ltd., will certify those marinas that demonstrate that they go above and beyond what is legally required, and have made a serious commitment to improving their environmental practises. Benefits of Clean Marina certification include:
| A
Clean Marina (Blue or Golden Anchors) flag
| Promotion
by the Clean Marinas; Australia Programme in industry publications
| A
Framed Attainment Certificate
| Authorisation
to use the “Australia’s Clean Marina” logo on letterheads and in
advertising and
| Introductions
to and attainment of International accreditation systems | |
As a companion to the Clean Marinas; Australia Programme, the Marina Association is assisting in the development of a Clean Boaties’ Programme to encourage the Nation’s boaties to learn about and to use clean boating techniques.
Clean boaties will be encouraged to use certified Clean Marinas.
Participation in the Clean Marinas; Australia Programme is entirely voluntary.
Picking up the manual is the first step towards Clean Marinas; Australia certification.
Many
operators have already made environmental changes in their operations—why not
make a few
more to become a certified Clean Marina?
| Maintain
your Marine Toilet
| Keep
the disinfectant tank full
| Use
biodegradable treatment chemicals
| Follow
the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance programme
| Never
discharge the holding tank immediately after adding deodorants since some
deodorants contain toxic formaldehyde that can kill fish
| Have
your Marine Toilet inspected regularly to ensure that it is functioning
properly
| Do
not dispose of fats, solvents, oils, emulsifiers, disinfectants, paints,
poisons, phosphates, nappies, or other similar products in your Marine
Toilet
| Greywater
includes soaps and detergents from boat showers, dishwashing, and laundry
facilities.
| Soaps,
even those labelled as “biodegradable,” contain substances that might
be harmful to marine life.
| Use
shore-side showers, dishwashing stations, and laundry facilities whenever
they are available.
| Check
product labels and use low nitrogen and phosphorous detergents for
on-board laundry, dish washing and general cleaning
| Use
all soaps and cleaners sparingly | |
| Do
you work on your boat rather than hire others to do the work for you?
| Do
you clean the deck, repaint the hull, and change the oil?
| If
so, here are some important tips to help you protect the waters wherever
you boat | |
Boat Cleaning
| Soaps
and solvents are toxic to marine life
| Take
care when using harmful products near the water | |
Hull Maintenance
| Boat paints and other hull coatings contain harmful components including metals, solvents, and dyes |
| Routine
engine servicing requires the handling of toxic substances such as oil and
solvents
| Care
must be taken while the cleaning is done
| Check
with marina staff to find out where engine maintenance is allowed at the
marina
| Clean
up work area with absorbent materials and a broom, instead of hosing
| Ask
if your facility has a collection area for boat maintenance waste such as
used oil filters, waste oil, lead-acid batteries, etc.). If not, take it
home and dispose of as household waste
| Pre-clean
engine parts with a wire brush to eliminate the need for solvents
| Keep
your engine well tuned to have it perform efficiently, to prevent leaks,
and keep it clean to spot oil and fuel leaks more easily
| If
you must use solvents, use VOC-free solvents
| Use
the orange-pink coloured propylene radiator fluids/coolants, which is
non-toxic, rather than the blue-green coloured ethylene glycol, which is
toxic to marine life | |
Fuel
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Keep
fuel tanks at 90% capacity to prevent deterioration of the stored fuel
You
should never fill the tank all the way because petrol and petrol products
expand as they warm, causing a potentially explosive condition
| Never
pour oil or oily liquids into the water | |
Non-Toxic Cleaning Alternatives
The following list provides non-toxic alternatives to typical cleaning products. It should be noted that even non-toxic substances can cause harm to the environment and should therefore be used sparingly.
When cleaning, always try water and a little elbow grease first.
| All
purpose cleaner: mix one cup white vinegar with five litres of water
| Air
freshener: an open box of baking soda
| Ammonia-based
cleaners: vinegar, salt, and water
| Brass
cleaner: Worcestershire sauce or paste made with equal amounts of salt,
vinegar, and water
| Copper
cleaner: lemon juice and water or paste of lemon juice, salt, and flour
| Chlorine
bleach: baking soda and water or borax
| Chrome
cleaner/polish: apple cider vinegar to clean; baby oil to polish
| Disinfectants:
one half a cup borax in three litres of water
| Drain
opener: dissemble and use a plumber’s snake or flush with boiling water
mixed with one-quarter cup baking soda and one quarter cup vinegar
| Fibreglass
stain: remover baking soda paste
| Floor
cleaner: one-cup vinegar plus five litres of water
| Paints:
use latex or water-based paints
| Paint
remover/stripper: use heat gun to peel off paint
| Paint
thinners: use water (effective for water-based paints)
| Stainless
steel cleaner: baking soda or mineral oil for polishing, vinegar to remove
spots
| Toilet
bowl cleaner: use toilet brush and baking soda
| Wood
polish: olive or almond oil (interior walls only)
| Window
cleaner: mix two tablespoons vinegar in one quart of water or rub glass with
newspaper | |
The way that you operate your boat or personal watercraft can have a direct effect on public safety and the environment.
When not operated properly, boats can inflict injuries on people, animals and on other property and cause pollution.
Specific considerations should be given when fuelling your boat.
Consider the following tips to make sure your boating activities are safe and protect the environment.
Boat Operation
| Observe
all rules and regulations including “no wake” zones
| Avoid
operating through shallow areas. You risk damage to your boat and
sensitive habitats, such as seagrass
| If
not familiar with the waters near the shore, proceed cautiously and refer
to the most current local charts
| Watch
your wake when boating near marshes and eroded banks. Your wake could
cause erosion
| When
your outboard motor needs replacing, consider an efficient 4- stroke or
direct fuel injection 2-stroke. Higher efficiency engines save money on
fuel and reduce the level of unused fuel released into the environment | |
Fuelling
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Attend
to fuel hose and filler point when fuelling
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Always
use an oil absorbent cloth or pad when fuelling to catch drips,
particularly when you remove the fuel nozzle from the boat’s fuel tank
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Prevent
spills by not over filling/topping off the tank, and listening to filler
pipe to anticipate when the tank is full
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To
prevent spills from the tank vent of a built-in fuel tank, install a
fuel/air separator or an air whistle in your tank line, or use a vent cup
to capture overspill. Ask marina staff if they know who can provide this
service
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Avoid
overfilling tanks; fuel expands as it warms up in the tank after being
moved from cooler storage tanks
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Never
fill from portable tanks in the marina.
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Add a
stabiliser to your fuel if you use your boat infrequently. This helps
preserve fuel and ensures it burns efficiently
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If you
see a leak or spill of any fuel, stop the spill at the source and contact
the marina staff immediately
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You
must report spills to the local authorities
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Understand
that squirting any detergent or emulsifier on an oil slick is not good for
the environment, against the law, and can bring heavy fines
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Everyone generates rubbish.
When not handled properly, rubbish, fish waste, fishing line, hazardous waste, and pet waste can injure marine life and people, and can ruin your boating experience.
Consider the following tips.
Rubbish
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Don’t
toss rubbish, including cigarette butts overboard
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Never
discard plastics into the water
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Always
store your rubbish on-board and dispose of it when you return to land.
Store it securely so it does not fly away while boating
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Use
the appropriately marked rubbish bins. If a bin is full, find another that
has room for your rubbish
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Separate
recyclable materials, like cans and bottles, from regular rubbish for
recycling at the marina or at a local recycling centre
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If
you are not sure how to dispose of a certain waste, ask your marina
manager
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Never
leave used oil or fuel filters unattended near a bin after hours
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Store
used filters in a safe and secure place (i.e. on-board) and contact the
marina office
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Be
a good neighbour and pick up rubbish that you come across, either floating
in the water or on land
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Always
pick up after your pet and dispose of pet waste in the marina’s
designated rubbish bins
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Fish Waste
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Fish
waste should be discarded offshore unless there are length limits for the
type of fish caught
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If fish
are cleaned at the marina, do it at a designated location. Waste must be
disposed of as directed
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Take
particular care to properly dispose of fishing lines. Fishing lines in the
water can entangle fish, wildlife, swimmers, and boat propellers
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