Dial 119 to ensure safety at sea

The next time you see a boat speeding dangerously close to the shore, you can do something about it and not just seethe with frustration.

The Malta Maritime Authority, which has launched its 13th safety at sea campaign, is encouraging the public to call 119 to report any contraventions on the water.

Whether immediate action can be taken is another matter, though. The set-up is there: the report is relayed to the police Administrative Law Enforcement unit and the teams at sea are informed. The problem is human resources, which are at a premium. Nevertheless, there seems to be an understanding of the need to invest in manpower, says Capt. David Bugeja, MMA deputy harbour master.

In the past, the same police officers who patrolled the shores for contraventions were also responsible - and giving priority - to combat illegal hunting at sea. Now, the job is being carried out in a joint venture between MMA marine inspectors and the ALE.

Normally, two teams of two or three persons patrol the islands' shores but they do not operate every day, which would be the ideal, according to Capt. Bugeja. Eventually, the intention is to introduce on-the-spot fining so the pinch of a fine is immediately felt.

Capt. Bugeja believes that, considering the amount of boats in Malta, the number of accidents is not "extraordinary and alarming". "However, the probability is that every time they occur, the key player is the human element. So, irrespective of enforcement, it boils down to education and the individual," he adds.

As regards education, Malta lacks hands-on training facilities for boating, which would supplement the induction courses already on offer by Mcast's maritime institute.

Capt. Bugeja maintains that training for recreational boating is a niche that also has business potential, given the boom in boating and the attractiveness of marinas. The private sector should tap the market and invest in a school that offers training by qualified boat-handling instructors.

Capt. Bugeja cannot stress enough the importance of experience at sea. "It is not sufficient to afford a boat and obtain a licence - it does not make you a sailor! You need experience on your particular boat to know it well because no two boats, even if they have identical hulls and engines, are the same," he says, pointing out that some owners do not even know how many people their boat can carry and why, or its limitations.

"Different boats behave differently when stopped, for example, while visibility at sea can be much more limited than perceived," he says, expressing serious doubts about whether people really keep a proper lookout, which is an international obligation.

"People do not realise that the rules of the road also exist at sea, despite the lack of signage.

"They are often unwinding after a hard week's work and alcohol inevitably comes into play. The entertainment element of boating is predominant and dangerous.

The tendency is to go out, step on the gas and down a couple of beers, meaning a lack of alertness. Drink-driving on boats is not really taken into account but it is still drink-driving.

"Moreover, people are influenced by events such as the PowerBoat P1. They cannot drive a Formula 1 car in Malta but they can step on the gas out at sea. There is nothing wrong with speed but you have to keep your distance, be experienced and prudent."

Capt. Bugeja is pleased to note, however, that people are starting to feel the need for better education on safety at sea, which is evident in the fact that they are attending the boat-handling and safety courses at the nautical school even if their boat does not require a licence.

Designating swimming zones - of which there are 26 but which may be increased in the near future - can mean the MMA has to face the conflicting interests of the recreational and commercial aspects of the sea. The idea is to segregate the two, and the challenge is to strike a balance, Capt. Bugeja explains.

He appeals to swimmers, who also have their own responsibilities, to steer clear of launching lanes for boats, the buoys of which can prove to be magnets to curious children. To sailors, he says, there is plenty of sea out there so they should steer clear of the coast and keep a safe speed when close to shore.

The MMA is investing heavily in infrastructure to assist high-speed craft in obeying the regulations of keeping 200 metres from a rocky shore and 300 metres from a sandy beach by, for the first time, placing buoys that mark the distance.