Barry Greer, Wednesday, 19 December 2012
As we prepare for the post-Christmas rush to get out on the water, a reminder to recreational boaties about this important item of safety equipment.
A person cannot lawfully operate a recreational vessel unless all safety equipment required to be carried on board is:
· placed or located in a conspicuous and readily accessible position at all times,
· kept in good order at all times,
· maintained or serviced in a way that ensures safety equipment is able to be operated at all times in the way that they were designed to operate, and
· serviced on or before the date specified by the manufacturer for that item of equipment.
One of the things most frequently forgotten to check are the flares.
When operating on coastal and enclosed waters, most recreational vessels are required to carry two hand-held red distress flares and two hand-held orange smoke signals of an approved type.
Red distress flares have a visibility range of ten kilometres and are designed for use at night but can also be seen during the day.
Orange smoke signals can be seen for up to four km (or ten kilometres by aircraft) and should be used in daylight to alert others of your position.
If the vessel is further out than two nautical miles from the coast, a red star parachute distress rocket is required on board. They are designed to fire a single red star to a height of approximately three hundred metres. The star burns while falling for at least forty seconds and can be seen from the greatest distance due to its intensity and height above sea level.
Flares need to be stored in a cool, dry place, ideally in an approved waterproof flare container. These containers will also float if dropped in the water.
To operate a flare:
· Read the instructions on the side of the flare.
· Make sure the wind is behind you.
· Firmly hold the flare by the handle and hold the flare over the gunwale. Be careful not to hold the metal canister as when ignited, it burns hot; so DO NOT hold the flare anywhere else.
· Unscrew the lid on the top of the flare.
· Hold the flare away from you at all times.
· DO NOT look into the top of the flare.
· With your other hand, pull the yellow tag away from you and let the tag go.
· The flare may take several seconds to activate.
· Once the flare is activated, making sure wind is behind you, hold it up in the air, and away from you.
· When smoke or flame is extinguished, drop the used flare canister in the water. Never drop the used canister in the bottom of the boat, as it could burn through your hull or start a fire.
· Delay using flares until you can see an aircraft, or until people on shore or in other boats are in visual range.
· Keep flares away from fuel or combustibles and store in an accessible dry place.
It is the skipper’s statutory duty to ensure everyone on board the vessel knows where the flares are stored and how to use them.
Flares have a shelf-life of three years. Flares are required by law to be current and new flares should be purchased if their use-by-dates are reached. Expiry dates are stamped on the side of each flare.
Last Modified on 19/12/2012 07:08