Gold Coast - Head Office
ARTICLE
The Basics of Boating Safety
Safety is one of the most important but also overlooked aspects of any activity in life, and this is especially true when it comes to boating. Boating can be a really fun and rewarding experience if done responsibly and with care. And for that, the best course of action is to learn through the many available boating online courses that teach you every little detail you will want to know about boating safety. But for now, let's consider just some of the most important aspects.
What you need to know
Be aware that whenever you enroll on a boating safety course, the amount of information to digest can be a bit intimidating, however the main learning objectives of such courses can be quite easily outlined:
- Learning about all the laws and regulations that pertain to boat and vessel operation in general.
- To familiarise yourself with all the aspects of boating that will help you become a safe boater, which in turn will make your boating activity far more enjoyable and memorable.
- Get acquainted with most of the boating issues that could endanger the marine environment.
- And most importantly, all boaters will be made aware of the responsibility they have towards their fellow boaters, their guests and to themselves.
Learning to be a responsible boater is very much like learning to drive. It demands quite a bit of patience, and it also takes a while to learn and master all the legal and safe practices.
There are also a number of items that must be available on board in order to comply with the minimum safety requirements. We will not list them all here, but we will discuss the most important ones for your reference.
PFDs or Personal Flotation Devices are perhaps the most known and basic of all the safety items any vessel must carry. And they can be the most helpful as well, since they are usually readily available all over the craft.
Now, beside the Personal Flotation Devices, there are other common safety items that are invaluable to have on board, like lifelines, a securely mounted pulpit, non-skid surfaces, among others.
Fire extinguishers are also of utmost importance on board any ship regardless the size. There are various kinds of fire extinguishers, however, not all crafts carry them all. Water and CO2 extinguishers are the most known and effective against the vast majority of fires.
On a side-note, vessel owners must always check that all fire extinguishers have not expired. It is a simple task, but one that is oftentimes forgotten, which could lead to a tragedy.
The fuel system is also extremely delicate, especially when it is being refilled. At that moment, absolutely no fires (not even a cigarette) should be nearby and both the vessel's and the refilling tanks must be entirely secured and operated by only the authorised personnel. Aside from that, a periodical tank inspection is a measure we recommend performing regularly.
This short overview dealt with just the bare minimum requirements for safety equipment and general information. However, you are encouraged to attend more in-depth classes or to do some research about any other boating safety references.
