July 2025 WATERLINE | 29 Emergency Preparedness Course MIA members - $195 Non-members - $200 (excluding GST) supported by 2 hour self-paced online, anytime course includes: Real-life marina case studies Guidance on legal compliance Steps for implementing an emergency planning process Instructions to develop a customised emergency management plan Procedures for setting up an emergency planning committee Methods for conducting a site-specific risk assessment Framework for establishing an emergency control organisation Guidelines to draft and test emergency response procedures Details on implementing an effective training program marinas.net.au Preparedness is key to minimising the likelihood of an incident and mitigating the negative consequences, such as damage and/or loss when an incident does occur. Marina businesses are susceptible to disruptions often outside the control of the operator, such as weather events and threats or actions of another party such as customer or contractor. Specific examples include extreme weather, cyber threat, or fire and oil spill. In such cases, an effective, well-coordinated response is needed. Businesses that anticipate risks, prepare their sites, and have detailed response plans are better positioned to avoid or minimise negative outcomes, rebound faster and often emerge stronger. There are three pillars to effective crisis management: Preparation, Response Planning & Training. 1. Preparation – it matters when it matters. Preparedness involves; • Identifying risks that may arise. • Mitigating consequences. While it may be impossible to prevent all damage, good preparation can minimise the damage. • Protecting assets including people, vessels, infrastructure and reputation. • Maintaining continuity of operations, avoiding prolonged operational downtime due to damaged infrastructure and assets. • Instilling confidence among employees, customers, investors, and regulators. Extreme Weather Preparation Plans are common across marinas and demonstrate good operational management. Cyclone prone marinas are well practiced in preparing for these weather events, rolling out their plans whenever an event is forecast, often resulting in minimal damage. 2. Response Planning – knowing what to do, when. For many incidents, there are no warnings, they take everyone by surprise. A well planned, co-ordinated and communicated Incident Response Management Plan will help those managing the incident with a way forward, rather than chaotic, panicked and uncoordinated actions. A Response Plan will provide a roadmap to follow ensuring that the right people take the right actions at, and in the right time. It will; • Prioritise activities. • Define roles, responsibilities & delegation of decision-making. • Provide escalation protocols. • Define communication strategies for stakeholders (internal and external). • Resource co-ordination including backup systems and alternative suppliers. • Outline a Business Continuity Plan to restore operations. 3. Training - turning plans into actions A plan is only as good as the people executing it. Training, both theoretical and simulated on-the-job scenarios, ensures teams know; • What is important and why. • The type of incidents that may occur. • Their roles and responsibilities. • Build muscle memory and confidence. • Identify gaps or weaknesses in the plan before they become real problems. • How to adapt in rapidly evolving situations. Be ready – build resilience Investing time and resources in preparation, developing response plans and conducting regular training is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect your business. Preparation, Planning & Response resources available from the Marina Industries Association (MIA) The MIA provides industry with resources to assist marinas develop best practice incident preparation and planning. These include; • Marina Operations Manual Key operational & administrative template for marina policies, procedures & plans. • Extreme Weather Preparedness Course Understanding weather, potential incidents and best practices to prepare and protect a marina in inclement weather. • Oil Spill Response Course Recognising, responding and clean up best practices. • Emergency Response Course Common marina emergencies, response options and Incident Response Management Plans. PREPARATION IS POWER THE CRITICAL ROLE OF PREPARATION & RESPONSE PLANNING By Suzanne Davies, CEO MIA FEATURE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
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