SES OPERATIONS DOCTRINE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DIRECTIVES Resource Management BMR 14.0 Flood Boat Registration and Insurance Valid from 24/04/2014 Version 2.0 1. PURPOSE To outline the process for the registration and insurance of State Emergency Service (SES) flood boats. 2. RATIONALE It is important that SES flood boats are registered and insured in accordance with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) requirements prior to use. 3. APPLICATION Applies to all SES flood boats. 4. OPERATIONS DOCTRINE INFORMATION This SES Operations Doctrine replaces BMR 9.1 Flood Boat Process for Registration and Deregistration. QFES is responsible for providing registration for all SES flood boats. Local government is responsible for providing insurance for all SES flood boats. 5. PROCEDURAL INFORMATION 5.1 REGISTRATION Under the provisions of the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 SES flood boats are domestic commercial vessels and as such are required to comply with the provisions associated with Certificates of Operation, Certificates of Survey and Unique Identifiers. For the purposes of this doctrine the processes associated with applying for, amending or revoking Certificates of Operation, Certificates of Survey and/or Unique Identifiers will be encompassed by the term register, registered or registration within this document. QFES is responsible for the registration of all SES flood boats on behalf of the SES. All SES flood boats must be registered prior to any operational or training activity. SES flood boats are registered in the name of the Department of Community Safety (DCS) (Note: whilst the Department is now called QFES, registration remains in the former name of DCS). 5.2 VESSEL CATEGORIES AND SURVEY REQUIREMENTS SES flood boats are registered under the Scheme NS (Vessels not in Survey) of the Consolidated Regulatory Plan for domestic commercial vessels and as such a Certificate of Survey is not required. Page 1 of 5 Date: 24/05/2013 BMR 14.0 v3
SES flood boats are to be registered within the following categories as specified under the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV): Vessel Use Category - 2 Non passenger vessel; Operational Area Category - D - Partially smooth water operations; or Operational Area Category - E - Smooth water operations. The categories will be shown as USL Class: 2D or USL Class: 2E on the Certificate of Operation. Note: Under the NSCV a non-passenger vessel may be certified to carry up to 12 passengers. The vessel categories and any conditions are identified on the Certificate of Operation and the vessel must not be operated outside of these requirements. If a vessel is registered with conditions, the owner or master must not operate the vessel in contravention of the conditions. 5.3 REGISTRATION PROCESSES 5.3.1 NEW REGISTRATION Flood boats purchased by QFES will be registered prior to delivery. Where a flood boat is provided to the SES by an entity other than QFES, the SES Local Controller or delegate should liaise with the Area Office to ensure the appropriate registration of the vessel. 5.3.2 RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION QFES will coordinate the annual renewal of registration for all SES flood boats registered in the name of DCS on the annual common due date of 1 August. Certificates of Operation and any other required registration documents will be distributed to SES Units annually via the Area Offices. The SES Local Controller or delegate should monitor all SES flood boats within their SES Unit to ensure that registrations are current. Where an expired registration is discovered advice should be immediately provided to the Area Office. Where the registration of an SES flood boat has expired, the vessel is not to be used for any purpose until the registration is made current. 5.3.3 CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION Where an SES flood boat is no longer required for SES purposes, the registration of the vessel is to be revoked. To affect the revocation of registration for an SES flood boat held in the name of DCS, the SES Local Controller or delegate should contact the Area Office and advise the vessel identifier and boat details. The Area Director will advise SES Equipment, State Headquarters who will submit the required Application to Voluntarily Revoke a Certificate. Where the revocation of registration is required as a result of SES flood boat disposal, sale, or scrapping it is important that the required documentation applying for revocation is submitted prior to disposal, sale or scrapping. The vessel concerned should not be sold, disposed of or scrapped prior to confirmation that the registration has been revoked. Page 2 of 5 Date: 24/05/2013 BMR 14.0 v3
Following confirmation of revocation of registration the unique identifier displayed on each side of the vessel must be removed. Appropriate approval is also to be sought in accordance with BMR 5.0 Equipment Loss, Disposal, Transfer and Sale. SES flood boats approved for sale or disposal are to be decommissioned in accordance with the process outlined in BMR 17.0 Decommissioning Vehicles, Rescue Trailers and Flood Boats. 5.3.4 AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION Where the details shown on registration documents are not accurate or have changed a request to amend the registration details needs to be submitted. To affect the amendment of registration for an SES flood boat held in the name of DCS, the SES Local Controller or delegate should contact the Area Office and advise the vessel identifier, boat details and amendments required. The Area Director will advise SES Equipment, State Headquarters who will arrange for the required documents to be submitted. Where amendments are the result of alterations to an SES flood boat the following process is required: No alterations are to be undertaken to SES flood boats unless they have been specifically approved by the Commissioner, QFES or delegate and coordinated through State Headquarters. Where alterations to an SES flood boat are proposed, a proposal should be submitted by the SES Local Controller to the Area Director. The Area Director will forward the proposal to the Regional Director or delegate for assessment and where deemed appropriate, the Regional Director or delegate will forward to SES Equipment, State Headquarters to seek approval from the Commissioner, QFES or delegate for the alterations. Note the term alteration means: to change the vessel such that new measures are required to eliminate or control the risk to health and safety, but does not include routine maintenance, repairs or replacements. Examples include but may not be limited to: the addition, alteration or replacement of engines, bilge pumps or other machinery; changes to scuppers or other drainage systems; changes to or replacement of any part of a vessel (including machinery) that, because of its weight or location, alters the stability of the vessel; alterations or non-identical replacements to the hull, deck, watertight bulkheads, enclosed spaces or other structural elements. It should be noted that some alterations may necessitate the inspection of the vessel and further assessment and advice should be sought from an accredited marine surveyor or naval architect prior to the commencement of any alteration. 5.3.5 TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION Registration of SES flood boats is not to be transferred to any other entity. Page 3 of 5 Date: 24/05/2013 BMR 14.0 v3
5.4 REGISTRATION PARTICULARS AND DOCUMENTS 5.4.1 CERTIFICATE OF OPERATION The Certificate of Operation for an SES flood boat is to be displayed in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Regulation 2013 in a prominent manner on the vessel, unless it is impracticable for the certificate to be displayed in this manner. If it is not reasonably practicable to display the Certificate, it is to be kept in a secure place onboard the vessel and accessible at all times. A current copy of the Certificate of Operation is also to be held in the SES Flood Boat Safety Management System folder. 5.4.2 VESSEL IDENTIFIERS The vessel identifier for an SES flood boat is to be displayed in accordance with the requirements as detailed in BMR 9.0 Flood Boat Identification. 5.5 INSURANCE Local government is to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage for all SES flood boats registered in the name of DCS. All SES flood boats must be insured prior to any operational or training activity. Where an incident occurs, the SES member involved should ensure an exchange of names, contact details and vessel or property details is undertaken with the other person/s involved. It is important that the SES member does not admit liability for loss, damage or injury. 5.5.1 LOSS OR DAMAGE The SES Local Controller must be immediately notified, either verbally or in writing, upon loss or damage to an SES flood boat. Where the loss or damage may involve personal injury or potential personal injury, significant damage to property, affect the safety of SES members or the general public, affect operational effectiveness, or involves, in the SES Local Controller s opinion, damage to SES property (other than minor damage), the SES Local Controller must endeavour to immediately notify the Area Office and local government, either verbally or in writing. Where the loss of an SES flood boat is as a result of theft, or suspected theft, or damage sustained to an SES flood boat is a direct result of a traffic accident, the SES Local Controller or delegate is to also report the matter to the Queensland Police Service. Where an incident meets the classification of a marine incident as outlined in ODO 18.1 Marine Incidents, the reporting process and duties of the Master of the vessel are to be actioned in accordance with the procedures outlined in ODO 18.1 Marine Incidents. Any accident involving an SES member should also be reported and actioned in accordance with Workplace Health and Safety Policies for Volunteers: Policy WHS 009 Incident / Accident and Injury Reporting, Recording and Investigation. Regardless of the extent of loss or damage, the SES Local Controller must ensure that the loss or damage is reported in writing to the Area Office and the local government within 48 hours. Page 4 of 5 Date: 24/05/2013 BMR 14.0 v3
Where the loss or damage to the SES flood boat also results in the loss or damage of SES equipment appropriate action should be undertaken in accordance with BMR 5.0 Equipment Loss, Disposal, Transfer and Sale. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION This information is to be accessible for all relevant personnel. 7. FORMS AND TEMPLATES Nil 8. APPENDICES Nil 9. RELEVANT LEGISLATION, POLICY AND GUIDELINES Disaster Management Act 2003 Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law 2102 Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Regulation 2013 National Standard for Commercial Vessels Work Health and Safety Act 2011 Workplace Health and Safety Policies for Volunteers SES Flood Boat Safety Management System folder QSES - BMH 24.0 Workplace Health and Safety QSES - BMR 5.0 Equipment Loss, Disposal, Transfer and Sale QSES - BMR 9.0 Flood Boat Identification QSES - BMR 17.0 Decommissioning Vehicles, Rescue Trailers and Flood Boats QSES - ODO 18.1 Flood Boats - Marine Incidents QSES - ODO 18.4 Flood Boats - Ship Records 10. DOCUMENT REVIEW This document will be reviewed every 18 months or as otherwise required as a result of identified legislative, policy and/or procedural changes. Original Signed Lee A Johnson AFSM FIFireE Commissioner Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Page 5 of 5 Date: 24/05/2013 BMR 14.0 v3