Clean Environment
Proudly awarded the Blue Flag Environmental Award
Westhaven Marina takes pride in upholding a clean environment and have achieved international Blue Flag status for 2010/2011, for the 6th consecutive year. You can show your support for the marine environment by signing an individual Blue Flag commitment. Visit www.blueflag.org.nz or contact the marina office.
Activities and Education
St Mary's School
In conjunction with Blue Flag, Westhaven Marina organises educational activities for staff, schools, marina users and the public. Thanks to Room LA4 from St Mary's School in Northcote, and the Ponsonby Cruising Club Sailing School for participating in this years activities.
Please take note of the following:
Sewage Discharges
Westhaven Marina is a No Discharge Zone
Even if your vessel is equipped with marine sanitation devices, any discharge from such devices is not permitted within the marina. The quality of the marina and our harbour waters can be degraded by boat sewage, grey water, cleaning products, spilled fuel, rubbish and the introduction of exotic organisms.
These materials not only degrade the marina and surrounding environment, but also diminish our enjoyment of the harbour. Marina operators cannot protect our environment alone. Each one of us must share the responsibility for pollution prevention. Sometimes it is as simple as doing things a little differently.
FUEL CONTROL FACT: A single litre of fuel can contaminate over a million litres of water. The cumulative effect of small spills has a serious impact on water quality. GOAL: Eliminate pollution within the marina and maintain a healthy and aesthetically pleasing environment that can be enjoyed by all.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE WHEN RE-FUELLING
Use caution in filling your fuel tank to avoid spillage into the water Listen to your boat – it gurgles before the tank is full Use a vent collection device or absorbent material to capture escaping fuel Attend the fuel nozzle at all times when fuelling If you overfill your fuel tank, wipe with a rag or absorbent material. Do not hose down the fuel into the water. Give the spent rags to the fuel jetty operator for disposal If a spill occurs, do not apply detergents or soaps. Notify the fuel jetty operator or marina custodians immediately.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE FOR BILGE OIL
Use drip pans with Matasorb® absorbent pads while draining oil from sumps Keep engines well maintained Regularly check seals, gaskets, hoses and connections for drips and leaks Regularly change oil filters Place oil absorbent material such as Matasorb® in the bilge Clean and maintain bilges with absorbent material and do not use detergent Always before pumping bilge, use water/oil separators or absorbents to soak up oil hydrocarbons Haul out your vessel before undertaking repair or maintenance work on engines Recycle or properly dispose of used oil and absorbents.
Contact the marina or your local authority for disposal options Report oil or fuel pollution to:
Westhaven Marina Dockmasters or Security on 360 5881 or VHF channel 13 (24 hrs) or Auckland Regional Council Enviroline - Freephone 0800 80 60 40.
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
The following regulations make it an offence to discharge harmful substances into the sea: Marine Protection Rule Part 170 Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Regulations 1998 Maritime Transport Act 1994 sections 226 and 237 Resource Management Act 1991 Auckland Regional Coastal Plan.
BOAT CLEANING FACT: Products used to wash boat hulls and decks often contain toxic ingredients such as chlorine, phosphates and ammonia. Degreasers dry the natural oils fish require for their gills to take in oxygen.
ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE WHEN CLEANING YOUR BOAT Preferably reduce the need for in-water cleaning: haul the boat from the water using a commercial haulout operator who will waterblast the boat where debris can be captured and properly treated. Use non-toxic cleaning products.
GOAL: Use cleaning methods that prevent or contain the release of pollutants into the marina and to surface waters. Environmentally safe products are on sale at the marina office.