As reported on Power Boat World.com

NMSC Survey

The National Marine Safety Committee is asking boaties from around the country to volunteer for its National Boating Usage Study, the first long term diary study of its kind in the world.

A key area for marine safety research and policy development is determining how the amount of time spent boating is linked to incidents.

NMSC CEO Ms. Maurene Horder explained that they are aiming to recruit at least 4000 boaties over the next three months to participate in this 18-month study. Boaties will be asked to fill in an online diary each time they go boating between September 2008 and May 2010. “This study differs from other studies in this area that have asked boaties to recall or predict their boating activity over a given period of time.”

National Boating Usage Study volunteers will be asked to fill in diary details such as the number of hours spent on the water, the purpose of the trip, the number of people on board, and whether the boat was involved in an incident.

To ensure that the study represents Australian boating, NMSC is inviting owners and operators of all types of recreational craft including runabouts, ski/wake boats, cuddy, half or full cabin cruisers, sailing boats, jet skis, and personal watercraft to be part of the study. Study results will be used by the NMSC and marine agencies to develop policies to tackle boating safety issues.

“We will be able to identify high-risk boating periods, and risk to boaties in terms of the number of hours spent on the water,” explained Ms. Horder.

Volunteers will be provided with regular study updates, exclusive product discounts and chances to win great boating and fishing prizes.

What’s involved?

1. A one-off anonymous survey that asks general questions about your boating behaviour.

2. A Boating Diary, which you will be asked to briefly fill in each time you go boating.

All information collected is confidential and personal details will not be identified or released.

If you would like a registration form contact:

NMSC on Telephone (02) 9247 2124

Register online at www.nmsc.gov.au [BROKEN LINK]

The NMSC aims to achieve nationally uniform marine safety practices and is made up of the CEOs of Australia’s marine safety agencies.