Saturday, May 16 marked the beginning of Safe Boating Week, a national event observed across Canada.
To support the initiative, the Sunshine Coast Power and Sail Squadron held two concurrent activities on Saturday as a public service. One was a pyrotechnic flare disposal day, held in cooperation with The Bitter End Boaters Exchange in Gibsons.
Flares are required by law as part of a boat’s safety equipment. The number and type are outlined in Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide publication available at www.boatingsafety.gc.ca. In the past, disposal of expired flares has been a problem. As a result, large numbers of these have tended to accumulate at home.
The initiative held Saturday resulted in more than 500 outdated flares being turned in for return to the manufacturer. Volunteers from the Sunshine Coast Squadron were available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive and catalogue outdated flares. A draw was held at the end of the day for all participants for a VHF radio donated by the distributor through the local retailer.
Concurrently, courtesy safety checks by trained Power Squadron volunteers were carried out for vessels moored at Gibsons Marina. The purpose of this program is to verify what safety equipment is being carried on board the vessel and ensure its compliance with Transport Canada’s legal requirements. Once all required equipment is confirmed to be aboard, a decal is awarded the vessel, which will advise law enforcement authorities that it has been checked and found to be compliant. It serves as early advice to the owner, and if deficiencies are corrected, may prevent a large fine later on should the vessel be found to be non-compliant.
The Power Squadron service is another public service, without cost, conducted on behalf of Transport Canada. It is on-going and can be provided by arrangement with one of the organization’s officers by consulting www.CPS-ECP.ca/SunshineCoast
