Planning for weather safety
Weather can impact the safe and efficient operation of your domestic commercial vessel.
A weather safety plan is a key part of your vessel's safety management system. Use our guidelines to develop a safety plan that includes:
- weather-related risks
- how the weather may affect your onboard operations
- actions and procedures for hazardous weather.
This will help to:
- ensure the safety and comfort of passengers and crew
- improve the efficiency of operations
- ensure the vessel stays within operating limits.
If you operate a domestic commercial vessel, you need to develop a safety management system.
To learn more visit the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Understanding weather-related risks to your vessel and operations
Weather risks may be specific for your operations, type of vessel, and geographic area.
Our Marine weather safety section and Marine knowledge centre can help you:
- assess the weather conditions that are suitable for your vessel's operations
- understand different marine weather risks and safety procedures for each
- find marine weather information including forecasts, observations and warnings
- communicate marine weather risks to staff.
Developing weather safety procedures
In your safety management system, include safety procedures (controls) to address weather-related risks, including:
- onboard operations
- hazardous weather conditions.
For each risk you identify, use our guidelines to develop a safety procedure or control.
A safety procedure can be a control for more than one type of risk. We've included example procedures for bar crossings, wind conditions, and hazardous weather.
Consider the physical limitations of your vessel when developing your weather risk assessment. You'll find this information on the vessel's Certification of Operation or Certificate of Survey.
Weather safety controls for onboard operations
In onboard operations, include safety procedures to address weather risks. For example:
- conduct a routine set of weather checks before a voyage for the areas where you will operate
- provide a summary of expected weather conditions during crew or skipper briefings
- document navigational or marine weather hazards in your operational area using local knowledge. For example, the dangers of localised effects on wind and wave conditions
- define operating limits based on thresholds such as wave heights or wind speeds
- outline decision-making processes if the weather conditions may to exceed operating limits. For example, when to cancel a voyage or when to restrict operations to certain times or areas
- specify which sources to use for marine weather information when out at sea, and the protocols for using them. For example, using Channel 16 for weather forecasts and warnings
- outline steps to take if conditions develop beyond operating limits. For example, when to return to port or seek a safe haven
- create incident reporting protocols to document and review weather-related incidents.
Weather safety controls for hazardous weather conditions
Hazardous weather is a threat to crew and passenger safety, the vessel itself, and can be caused by:
- lightning
- thunderstorms
- sudden increases in wind gusts (squalls)
- sustained strong winds
- wave heights
- reduced visibility from fog.
For hazardous weather risks, include safety controls such as:
- weather checks before departure and while at sea
- access to weather information at sea. For example, marine radio or MarineLite
- standard operating procedures
- safety briefings
- charter agreements and defined operation limits
- crew competency assessments. For example, vessel handling and training in different weather conditions
- contingency and emergency plans for rapid changes in weather
- personal floatation devices, and level floatation devices
- communication channels such as marine radio
- distress communication such as marine radio and beacons.
For guidelines on how to develop and write effective emergency procedures, visit the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
Example safety procedures
Use the following example safety procedures as a guide to write your own.