Boaties Advised To Prepare For Peak Season

MEDIA RELEASE
19 October 2010

Boaties Advised To Prepare In Anticipation Of Peak Season

Coastguard New Zealand urges boaties around the country to make water safety a priority and give equipment a stringent inspection before they hit the water this Labour Weekend.

Coastguard CEO Bruce Reid says that the ongoing unpredictable winter weather meant people were less inclined to go out in the rough conditions but the long weekend often signals increased activity on the water in the lead up to summer.

“Now that we have been given a taste of the warmer weather, it will no doubt encourage many more Kiwis to venture out with their boats so it’s critical that they give attention to equipment before they go out – especially if it has sat idle during the winter months,” says Mr Reid.

Key areas that will require careful scrutiny include:

• Batteries - these are likely to require charging or replacing
• Fuel for the engines - old or stale fuel will need to be replaced
• Check the fuel filters for water
• Safety equipment (flares, lifejackets, torches and locator beacons) – Check to make sure it has not expired or been misplaced since the boat was last used.

“We also can’t stress enough the importance of communications and communications equipment when out on the water,” says Reid. “Without a working Marine VHF radio, flares or locator beacons, it is impossible to alert Coastguard if you get into difficulty. Another added security measure is to ensure skippers always log a trip report via their VHF radio advising where they are heading and how long they expect to be.”

Coastguard volunteers will continue to keep Kiwis safe on the water during the peak season after being kept busy over the winter period with volunteer hours up by 22 per cent on last year.

From July to September, Coastguard answered 39,233 radio calls, an increase of 9,994 from 2009, although calls for assistance (368) and assisted individuals (615) were both down during the same period for the previous year.

Reid says a large number of the incidents attended by Coastguard volunteers could be prevented by simple preparations such as:

• Ensuring there is enough fuel (and a little extra for unexpected weather or delays) for the trip
• Has the engine been regularly maintained over the winter? Run the engine and check that everything is working before you head out on the water
• Having basic life saving equipment on board such as marine flares and life jackets that fit correctly
• Checking the marine forecast before departing and then regularly while on the water

Adhering to the following safe boating tips, as well as enrolling in one of Coastguard’s many recreational boating courses (options ranging from an introductory VHF and Day Skipper course to more advanced courses), will help to ensure your safety on the water this summer.

For more information about the more than 40 specialty programmes available, visit www.cbes.org.nz

You can also download the “Boating Safety Guide” for a full list of essential things to check before you head out on the water for this summer.

Coastguard tips for Safe Boating

1. Tell people of your intentions - lodge a trip report with your local Coastguard VHF Radio station.
2. Take a correct size and type of lifejacket for each person and for the type of activity you are undertaking.
3. Take at least two water-proof methods of communication - primary method is VHF marine radio. Secondary is a cell phone – (always put your cell phone in a zip-lock bag) – if you can’t call us, we can’t rescue you. Other options include flares, personal locator beacons.
4. Get a marine weather forecast before you go boating and keep yourself up to date during the day with the Coastguard Nowcasting on VHF– the weather can change quickly at sea.
5. Check the boat and engine before you leave and don’t overload the boat – be prepared for the unexpected.
6. Ensure your vessel carries the correct and appropriate safety equipment (e.g. flares, EPIRB, VHF radio, First Aid Kit as examples)
7.
Ends

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