Safety and security concerns are forcing the Mackay Port Authority to clamp down on people using the commercial harbour for recreational boating, training and aquatic activities.

Near misses and other incidents involving ships and small craft have prompted the MPA to actively discourage leisure activities in the ship manoeuvring areas within Mackay’s commercial harbour precinct.

MPA chief executive officer Greg Mann is also concerned that these activities could compromise the port’s safety regulations.

“We had a situation at the weekend where an outrigger canoe was overturned after venturing too close to the rear of a tug that was engaged in berthing a large ship,” Mr Mann said.

“The wash from the tug is believed to have caused the canoe to overturn. Fortunately no-one was injured but the matter is now subject to a marine incident investigation by the Regional Harbour Master.”

“Since the marina opened we have actively discouraged leisure activities in the commercial harbour. The mix of small craft and commercial shipping has always been a potential recipe for disaster, hence the need for segregation which was provided with the construction of the small craft harbour.”

In addition, the Authority is now required under the new Maritime Transport Security Act to provide for marine exclusion zones around commercial shipping, which will inherently preclude members of the city’s yachting, outrigger, sailing and dinghy clubs and schools from using the commercial harbour for training and race events.

Mr Mann said the MPA had compliance obligations under new anti-terrorism laws to establish and manage those exclusion zones, which mirrored new land-based public-exclusion areas.

“We have scheduled discussions next week with the yacht club and sailing club over these requirements, but at the end of the day our hands are tied,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we now live in a more hostile world. September 11 opened all our eyes to the atrocities of terrorism.”

Mr Mann said the MPA was progressing with plans for a million dollar security upgrade at the harbour to be fully operational by 30th June 2004.

The plans include a fenced security cordon – this control barrier will restrict public access to the port’s land based operational and commercial areas, including strategic industrial, storage and loading facilities.

The port’s electronic surveillance systems are being extensively upgraded and automated access gates will be installed on Harbour Road and on Edmund Casey Drive.

But Mr Mann stressed the community will retain access to the southern breakwater wall, which provides an exceptional view of the port’s operations without compromising public safety or port security.