Coastguard Boating Education hosts International Maritime Rescue Federation Representatives
Coastguard Boating Education hosted international representatives from the IMRF (International Maritime Rescue
Federation) during their visit to New Zealand on March 14th.
IMRF CEO Bruce Reid commended CBE “on the great work CBE is doing in the field of boating education with the trustees
particularly impressed with the award-winning Safe Boating Programme CBE has developed to target primary and
intermediate aged children.
The success of the Safe Boating Programme is the link developed between CBE and community aquatic centres as the hub for
water safety educational activities to provide young people with the skills they might need to survive in a dangerous
situation.
The innovative program covers skipper responsibility and what safety equipment should be carried on board a vessel when
venturing out, highlighting the importance of lifejackets, Marine VHF radio and distress signalling devices in addition
to how to perform a safety briefing for the crew.
The practical session includes deep water boat drills, lifejacket buoyancy plus survival positions should the student
ever find themselves in difficulty.
CBE have issued over 21,750 certificates since the programme was first launched in early 2013 in addition to providing
professional boating safety training to the aquatic centre swim instructors.
Coastguard Boating Education is an accredited Private Training Establishment whose objective is to increase safety and
enjoyment on the water through a range of theory and practical boating courses.
CBE General Manager Neil Murray said that “with over 10,000 responsible boaties attending a course in 2013, the public
have clearly embraced the variety of course options from the popular Day Skipper, Boatmaster and VHF through to Ocean
Yachtmaster and practical RYA (Royal Yachting Association) courses.
Further information on Coastguard Boating Education courses as well as the Safe Boating programme can be found on the
website www.boatingeducaion.org.nz
ENDS