Safety reigns supreme

Sailing is all about fun and relaxation and it would be a pity to have your trip ruined by an accident that could have easily been avoided. Transport Malta, like every year, has released a number of tips and suggestions to make sure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

No vessel is allowed to enter or make use of the swimmers’ zones

Starting with the most basic of requirements: it is the skipper’s responsibility to ensure that there is appropriate life-saving equipment on board and that everyone knows how to wear and use it. You will also need to ensure that the boat contains enough Personal Floating Devices (PFD) for all people on board, including children, plus one extra PFD for an adult and an extra one for a child.

Other safety equipment that is a must includes: a fire extinguisher of an appropriate size on all boats equipped with an engine; a waterproof, first-aid kit and waterproof flashlight; a life raft or dinghy; a VHF radio; a GPS, fixed or handheld; visual distress signals (minimum one orange smoke and one red flare); a bucket, bailer or bilge pump. Do not forget to check your equipment periodically to ensure that it is within its expiry date.

Safety checklist

• The owner or the skipper of the boat is responsible for the safety of all the people on board. Before going out to sea, the transport authority recommends going through this basic checklist, which is aimed at addressing very basic safety issues:

• Check the weather forecast.

• Review all relevant Notices to Mariners. These can be downloaded from www.transport.gov.mt.

• Check the boat for defects or damage.

• Make sure you have enough fuel for the trip, plus reserve.

• Make sure you have sufficient water and food.

• Check that all the recommended safety equipment on board is in good order.

• Show the passengers where the safety equipment is located and how to use it.

• Inform a reliable person about your boating itinerary.

• Make sure you have some means of communication on board in case of emergency.

• A valid nautical licence, insurance policy cover and boat registration documentation should be kept on board at all times.

Swimmers’ zones

During the summer months, various areas around the Maltese islands are designated exclusively for swimmers. It is the responsibility of all mariners to review the respective notices that are issued by Transport Malta in order to get acquainted with these zones.

No vessel is allowed to enter or make use of the swimmers’ zones. A line of red and yellow buoys delineates these zones; you cannot moor your vessel to these.

Vessels needing access to the beach to load/unload something can make use of the launching lanes that have been installed; only a dead-slow speed is allowed in these areas.

Like last year, Malta’s most popular bays – Blue Lagoon, Comino and Mellieħa – will have Malta Transport enforcement personnel acting as bay coordinators to educate both swimmers and sailors and to ensure disciplined use of these bays from all angles.

Speed limits need to be respected even away from bays and swimmers’ zones. The speed limit for all crafts (including speed boats and jet skis) is 10 knots in the following areas: within 200 metres from rocky shores; within 300 metres from sandy beaches; and in all ports.

The speed limit in marinas is of three knots. However, all vessels are required to maintain a safe speed according to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. This means that if you are navigating close to other vessels or in poor visibility or heavy traffic,then the speed should be much less then 10 knots so that you have full control of the situation.

Useful numbers

Telephone
Emergency - 112
Valletta Port Control - 2291 4491/2
Rescue AFM - 2180 9279

VHF radio
Valletta Port Control - Ch 12
Marsaxlokk Port Control - Ch 14
Malta VTS - Ch 69
Navigational warnings/weather broadcasts - Ch 11
Distress and safety messages - Ch 16

www.transport.gov.mt