16 minute read
Ocean Crusaders
Ocean Crusaders Foundation was founded in 2010 after seeing dead turtles caught in rubbish. These environmental crusaders strive to educate people, while physically cleaning up.
picking up rubbishMore than just
Who does not enjoy boating on the Gold Coast waterways? The weather is always perfect. We have five rivers, and 270km of navigable waterways. We have 774 hectares of lakes and dams. The Broadwater, with its small islands and sandbars, is home to diverse species of flora and fauna. How can one not love our waterways? But while we are able to enjoy the generally clean environment, we may be unaware of all the rubbish that accumulates as we go about our boating adventures. We chat with Ian Thomson, the founder and managing director of Ocean Crusaders, who shares with us what type of cleanup they do, and how the activities entail more than just picking up rubbish on the shores.
What made you start cleaning up SEQ waterways? We landed in Brisbane after sailing around the world and seeing the issue in the South Pacific Islands first hand. We transformed Ocean Crusaders from an education team to actually getting out there and removing the debris that is already out there and using the images of boat load after boat load of debris to educate people that even our own backyard needs a lot of help.
What were the locations that you have conducted clean-ups in? Through funding from the Federal Government’s Communities Environment Program, we were given funding to clean the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, South Stradbroke, Wave Break Island and Coomera River to name a few.
STATISTICS (2020) ON RUBBISH COLLECTED:
● South Stradbroke – 7,270kg – 11-day program on the eastern beach (8 days) and northern campgrounds (3 days) ● Coomera River Clean Up – 12,050kg – 11-day program that cleaned from the mouth to GCCM ● Southern Moreton Bay Islands – 15,630kg – 15 days focussed around Browns Inlet and Jacobs
Well
● Wave Break Island – 1,750kg - 2-day community event
Please describe the types of rubbish collected from our waterways. Coomera River had a lot of flood debris, but there was also a lot of pontoon fendering, fenders, hats, boat cushions and ropes from boats.
Southern Moreton Bay Islands and Wave Break Island saw a lot of debris from live-aboards including carpets, BBQ’s, mattresses all hidden up in the bushes. Also, a lot of glass bottles obviously tossed off yachts with many of them smothering the mangroves.
South Stradbroke campgrounds saw debris from boaters who go camping with marquees, broken chairs etc, just left behind. The eastern beach saw a lot of debris washed out of the Seaway, including lots of Gold Coast parking tickets.
How do you measure success in terms of the activities that you have conducted? Is success judged by how much you remove or going out and finding the place clean? Unfortunately for us, we need more funding as the amount of debris out in the mangroves around the Gold Coast is unbelievable. Unless you come out and see it for yourself, you just can’t make people understand. Everyone who does come out, their lives change, as it is a real slap in the face to see how we are treating our waterways. The Gold Coast City Council have a clean-up program that sees three boats on the water every weekday. However it is targeted on constructed areas and they are advised not to clean natural areas. So if you have a palm frond on the rock wall of your mansion, they will come and get it; however, the mangroves that line the waterways are never touched.
Interview by Roselle Tenefrancia
How can we make people aware of the consequences of the rubbish problem in and on our waterways? Fishermen complain that there are not enough fish, yet we find lots of bait bags in the waterways. 90% of fish in the ocean have plastic toxins in them, while 30% have plastic remnants in them. And we consume a credit card size of plastic every month per person. I am not sure how we educate the human race. We seem hell bent on self-destruction and to hell with the environment! Some boaties have no respect for the waterways; all they want is to enjoy every weekend. It is only through magazines like yours that reach the masses, and articles like this that we can hopefully make a difference and open some eyes.
While 1,000 rivers produce 80% of the debris hitting the oceans, we have seen our local wildlife suffering from our debris. We have to stop blaming every other country and actually fix our own backyard first. We live in the greatest place in the world and to keep it that way we need to play our part. Otherwise our waterways will end up like those overseas. We don’t fish in international waters when we go out for a weekend; we fish in local waters and it is local debris that is hurting our local marine-life. We’ve all heard about plastic bags and turtles, but our fish life is suffering too. We want a healthy fish
Bottle cap sorting team
population and we certainly don’t want to be eating plastics in our fish. I believe we have to think globally but act locally. The best part of COVID is we are forced to enjoy what we have and many are realising that Australia is the place to be. We have so much to offer, so let’s look after our backyard.
What actions can ordinary people like us take? The best place to start a clean-up is by not purchasing items in the first place. If you buy it, it has the potential to end up in our oceans. 50% of plastic bags in the ocean come from landfill. If you go to Stapylton Landfill you will see the debris that blows around and the amount of birds that then go to our local waterways, often carrying debris with them. We need to stop it at the shop. However, we have seen success stories in Moreton Bay. It took us three years to clean Green Island, a small island off Manly. Last year we didn’t need to go out there as there was not enough debris for a huge event. Instead, we did a one day clean-up and covered the entire island with just six people. If we get rid of the generations of build-up, we can then maintain the environment. But first we need to get rid of the generations of build-up that have been neglected.
Everyone can play a part. When people go boating, just taking the time to make sure you leave the place better than you found it makes a difference. They're our waterways, our playground, our future. If everyone did this, we would move forward.
Visit www.oceancrusaders.org to learn more about what they do and how you can support them.
A boat full of trash
Did you know that in the period 2018-19, Australia generated 75.8 million tonnes of solid waste, and that $17billion was spent on waste services in the same period. According to data, sectors generating the most waste were manufacturing (16.9%), construction (16.8%), households (16.3%), and electricity, gas and water services (14.4%). Plastic waste accounts for 3% of total waste documented, and households are the largest contributor of plastic waste (47% of plastic waste) followed by manufacturing (15% of plastic waste). All plastic types had the worst recovery rates of around 15%. Of 2.5 tonnes generated, 84% is sent straight to landfill. (Recovered waste refers to waste materials sent for recycling, used for energy production or exported. Higher recovery rates represent more reusable materials and a more circular economy.)
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ANCHORED RIGHT
THE NEVER-ENDING ‘QUEST FOR THE BEST’
Anchor Right produces a range of world-leading anchors and, not willing to rest on their laurels, is constantly on a ‘quest for the best’. So what planted the seed that culminated in an anchor design that is judged by many in the industry to be the top-rated anchor in the world? For the answer to that question, we need to travel back to the days when Rex Francis and his wife, Joy, indulged their passion for boating and fishing, accompanied by their young children. On one family fishing trip in the Wilson’s Promontory area of Victoria, they had anchored to do a spot of fishing, when Rex noticed that the boat was rapidly drifting towards the rocky shore. Clearly, the anchor had failed. Without alarming the family, Rex managed to haul in the offending anchor, start the motor, and navigate his precious cargo away from imminent danger.
When he had time to examine the flimsy anchor, Rex noticed that it had straightened under the strain of supporting their boat in the wavy conditions, failing to keep them attached to the seabed. This caused them to drift perilously close to rocks and almost certain disaster. From that moment, over thirty years ago, Rex began thinking about designing and making an effective anchor. While working in other fields, he used his engineering expertise to design a prototype. In the early days, the small company had to outsource much of the construction. But gradually, with an earnest desire to establish greater control over the manufacturing process, and thus ensure higher quality and the ability to easily tweak the design, Anchor Right began to assume more responsibility for the whole operation. Rex says that establishing the business was not an easy task, as many people were not supportive, but he refused to allow negativity to prevent him from realising his dream to build a world-class anchor.
A true family business, Anchor Right was established by Rex, together with his wife, Joy, who expertly manages the accounting and financial side of the operation. Their son, Brendon, grew into the business and has assumed responsibility for the manufacturing side, while Rex now focuses mainly on sales and marketing. Brendon is actively involved in devising improvements to the anchor designs, and combines his passion for fishing (when he has time!) with ‘road-testing’ anchors to ensure that they behave as expected under real conditions.
The ‘quest for the best’ anchors has led to the world leading SARCA (Sand And Reef Combination Anchor) Excel and Super SARCA models, and Rex and Brendon speak with pride about their range of anchors designed for anything, from fishing boats to live-aboard vessels, to search-and-rescue craft. Anchor Right’s products have, been rated highly on Steve Goodwin’s popular YouTube series on marine anchor testing, with the SARCA Excel consistently rated as #1 overall. However, not content to rely on Steve’s tests, Anchor Right have tested a wide range of rival anchors alongside their own. Their ‘snatch’ tests clearly demonstrate that the SARCA Excel and Super SARCA have easily the greatest holding power of all.
Anchor Right’s anchors have been rigorously tested by Robinson Lifting and Rigging, and Nobles, both NATA facilities in Dandenong. The National Marine Safety Committee subsequently accepted their certification as being of Super High Holding Power.
Rival manufacturers, internationally, have attempted to emulate Anchor Right’s innovative and highly effective designs but, due to a variety of factors from cost-cutting to a lack of understanding of the technology behind a superior anchor, have fallen short of the mark.
Rex and Brendon stress that the success of an anchor also depends on its correct use. There is a need for many boat users to understand more about correctly deploying anchors to ensure proper setting in the seabed, and for retrieving them without causing damage. They speak of the importance of anchor scope – the ratio of chain length to distance above seabed – for conditions, purpose, and duration of anchorage, suggesting that an understanding of effective anchor use could be part of gaining a boat licence.
Anchor Right’s products are so highly regarded in the industry that many boat manufacturers now supply the company’s anchors as standard on their vessels. In fact, the small all-Australian company is becoming so popular, due to its superior and high-quality products, that the business has had to expand, shortly to move into an additional factory space at the Pakenham Business Park location. The future is bright for Anchor Right.
Introducing A Unique Boat Lift Golden Elevator
Local boat lifting specialists, Dockpro, now distribute the industry's best Golden Elevator Lifts® solution to Australian boat owners.
Golden Elevator Lifts® is a premium solution that can be used in the most extreme docking situations such as concrete canal walls, high fixed jetties or steep embankments. Guaranteed your boat will be lifted higher than ever. No matter the distance of the water level to the ground, your boat can easily be lifted up and down. The Golden Elevator Lifts® are ideally suited for water applications with great depths or sites where levels of water fluctuate.
The minimalist design makes it ideal for different boat styles and hull shapes. The degree of incline of the lifting system will be determined by your installation requirements. You don’t need to worry about weather, water conditions, or water depth. Suitable for many tricky locations, the Golden Elevator Lifts® offer great lift speed in tight or restricted places such as a narrow canal or at a location where you can’t have fixed pilings in the seabed or because of necessary permits, an embankment, a rock wall or a seawall. The Golden Elevator Lifts® allow boat lifting in impossible places. Manufactured in the USA, the Golden Elevator Lifts® are custom-built for your docking location. Built with maximum features, each component is welded for durability and strength, allowing weight capacity from 300kg to 27,000kg. In addition to clever design, Golden Elevator Lifts® are 6061 T-6 aluminum with stainless steel hardware. Their winders are solid aluminium with deep grooves and have a larger-than-average diameter for extended cable life. This contributes to greater lift speed. They don’t come close to exceeding the bending radius of the cable. You can be assured that your boat will sleep safe and sound because the Golden Elevator Lifts® utilise heavy-duty materials, wheels, and accessories. Featuring stainless steel cables, wheel brackets, and axles, all used for a clean, safe, and strong build. Moreover, sacrificial metal anodes complete the boat lifts, serving as protection against electrolysis. Also contributing to the solid strength of Golden Elevator Lifts® is the use of 12 wheels with stainless equaliser brackets (versus the average 6, or fewer, of competitors), and welded box construction for drive connection to track beam. Carpeted bunk boards are also a standard feature. There are no higher-quality boat lifts than Golden Elevator Lifts®. The lifts are covered by the following warranties: 5 years on structural parts, 10 years on Golden Sea-Drive® Gear Reducer, and 2 years on all other parts. Built to withstand tough water conditions, like strong waves and currents, these systems can lift your boat higher in an unlimited water fluctuation environment. This means that they are less likely to get damaged and require less maintenance and repair. The elevator boat lifts showcase a stylish, low-profile design that enables ultra-fast docking operations and accessibility to hull and prop. Call 1300 736 761 or visit www.dockpro.com.au to find out more.
WATER TRAILER BY MARINESCAPES
www.marinescapes.com
Marinescapes is a Melbourne-based marine infrastructure company with vast experience in the design and manufacture of marine floatation platforms.
Having undergone a major restructure over the past two years, Marinescapes has been busy developing and expanding its product range. The team have undergone a rigorous process of market research, including a customer needs questionnaire.
Marinescapes have invested heavily in new technology and machinery, and has begun its rollout of marine solutions to meet the changing requirements of customers and legislation. There was real need to create a tough and easy-to-use dry berthing solution for customers with smaller boats and budgets. People wanted something that could handle the punishment of sitting on rocky and muddy bottoms right through to deep tidal waterways.
The Water Trailer was born, the first product Marinescapes has developed and successfully launched. There are several benefits of the Water Trailer. There is no power required. It is designed to arrive in one piece, making it easy to self-install to save on installation fees. It is perfect for both shallow and deep water berthing. It does not have metal or moving parts to rust, cease, tear or puncture. The Water Trailer has been designed and built to protect your boat in all conditions, provide an excellent return on your investment, is very simple to use, and has the ability to outlast the life of the boat. It comes in both six-metre and seven-metre versions, with the ability to take monohull boats up to approximately 6.2m in length and 1900kg in weight. It has a width of 2.5m with cleats on both sides to allow for easy installation of an aluminium walkway providing all round access to your boat. The wide water stance of the Water Trailer also means that it ensures an extremely stable platform for your boat to sit safely on.
If you're in the market for a good looking, tough, easy to use and low maintenance dry berthing solution, the Water Trailer could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for. Today, MarineScapes has grown into a respected global provider of marine lifting and custom float solutions.
Thousands of Marinescapes boat lifts have been designed and installed around the globe. Marinescapes DryBerths have the capability to lift jetskis and both monohulled and multihulled boats from 14feet to 40feet in length. Marinescapes flotation devices and lifts are now widely used by major fleet operators, coast guards and water police and rescue services in Australia and around the world.
The dedication to continuous research and development has resulted in a range of unique, durable and environmentally-friendly marine products that are transforming the global marine industry.
By using Marinescapes DryBerths you can realise substantial cost and time savings by eliminating the need to regularly anti-foul your precious marine assets.
Marinescapes is a strong advocate of reducing environmental impacts. Our durable products are environmentally sustainable and will not puncture or wear. Marinescapes products also protect our precious waterways by providing an alternative to the regular toxic anti-fouling of marine craft.
DRY BERTH LIFT
Marinescapes Queensland graham@marinescapes.com Graham Murphy Ph: 0419 778 621
