An unnamed Sydney boat operator has been fined $15,000 after they were caught emptying the contents from the sewage tank of a luxury vessel into Sydney Harbour.
Two charter boats were grounded and inspected by Roads and Maritime (RMS) officials in June during a targeted compliance campaign in response to ‘credible information received about potential safety breaches.’
‘An inspection of the engine room revealed the overboard discharge valve from the vessel’s sewage tank was secured in the ‘open’ position by a cable tie, and the sewage tank was empty – directly after the vessel had returned from a two-hour charter,’ RMS executive director Angus Mitchell said.
An unnamed boat operator has been fined $15,000 after pouring sewage into a Sydney Harbour (pictured)
An inspection of a vessel’s engine room revealed the overboard discharge valve from the vessel’s sewage tank was secured in the ‘open’ position by a cable tie (pictured)
‘This indicated that any toilet discharge was pumped directly overboard into the waters of Sydney Harbour.’
A department spokeswoman would not release the name of the boat operator to Daily Mail Australia.
Other safety breaches identified are being considered for other possible legal action by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
The operator now has 21 days to pay the $15,000 fine for the pollution offence.
Two boats were grounded for a number of days until safety improvements were carried out and verified by a marine surveyor.
Further action regarding other safety breaches (pictured) on the vessels are being considered
Along with the sewage issues, one of the vessels was found to not have a ‘competent crewman’ on board who also had no knowledge of the location of lifejackets or other safety equipment on board.
Deficient safety equipment included empty fire extinguishers, a life raft which was unable to float, out of date first aid kit and missing items.’
Of the 12,000 domestic commercial vessels in NSW, there are about 220 of this class of vessel in NSW with about 140 operating on Sydney Harbour.
The RMS has called on Sydney Harbour boat vessel operators to comply with strict safety standards
RMS executive director Angus Mitchell (pictured) said there was nothing more serious to other boaters and marine life than breaches of safety and marine pollution legislation
‘Maritime inspectors and surveyors take a risk-based approach and carry out regular inspections of high risk vessels, including targeted compliance of specific vessels as required, particularly after credible information is received by the agency,’ Mr Mitchell said.
‘All operators need to comply with strict safety standards which are in place to protect persons, property and the environment or face the consequences.’