Practising water sports is not all just fun and games. Stephanie Fsadni pours some cold water on the adrenaline rush they can bring about by listing some rules and regulations that must be abided by to ensure everyone’s safety at sea.

Whether to entertain friends or for pure relaxation purposes, every boat owner must look forward to summer and the calm seas.

Year on year, sea craft owners are becoming more aware of their obligations. However, there are still some who break the law

But driving a vessel is not something to take lightly as it comes with a good dose of responsibility.

Despite less traffic on the waves, they must adhere to specific regulations for their own and others’ safety, just like a car driver.

The same applies to water sports enthusiasts.

Each year, Transport Malta launches a Safety at Sea campaign and issues a Notice to Mariners, wherein all the swimmers’ zones are laid down and details on the prohibitions and safeguards are published.

This seems to be leading to the desired effect, as year on year, sea craft owners are becoming more aware of their obligations, according to Victor Battistino, senior manager, customer care, media and PR at Transport Malta. However, he says that there are still some who break the law.

“The target of TM is to focus on this small number of people to ensure the safety of swimmers,” Mr Battistino asserts.

For this purpose, Transport Malta enforcement patrols are being conducted regularly until September.

The directorate is also deploying an enforcement officer with a rigid-hulled, inflatable boat to Blue Lagoon and Mellieħa Bay (Għadira Bay) to act as bay coordinator.

The scope of these coordinators is to establish a continuous presence at these bays during peak hours throughout the summer, to ascertain that vessel owners and also water sports fans abide by the stipulated regulations.

Lovers of sailing, kayaking and jet skis especially need to take heed.

“The Notice to Mariners states clearly that none of these craft can be used within a swimmers’ zone. Furthermore, users of such craft should be aware of the navigational rules and legislation for their own safety and that of others, and not cause any danger or obstruction to navigation.”

The same laws applicable to motor-driven vessels also apply to jet skis and waterskis.

“Jet skis are to follow the speed limits established in the Small Ships Regulations, which state that a motor-driven vessel shall not exceed 10 knots while being driven 200 metres from any foreshore, 300 metres from a sandy beach and in any port,” affirms Mr Battistino.

However, once outside the swimmers’ zones, which are properly delineated, there is no restriction on how far a craft has to be as long as the applicable speed limits for the area are observed.

Windsurfing and kitesurfing are not covered by the Small Ships Regulations, but kitesurfers may find that getting into the sea without passing through the swimmers’ zones may be difficult. So kitesurfers mostly practise their hobby in winter.

Windsurfers can better access the sea via slipways.

Mr Battistino attributes the main causes of accidents to human errror, including lack of proper appraisal of the prevailing conditions; not maintaining a proper lookout by sight and hearing; and not proceeding at a safe speed according to the prevailing circumstances and regulations. Drinking and driving is also a problem and those caught doing so are charged in court.

A special word of caution also goes to keeping children safe at sea.

“When on a boat, they should always wear lifejackets that are suitable for their age and these should always be in sight.

“Young children should also not be allowed to drive boats/tenders having any kind of engine,” recommends Mr Battistino.

“Moreover, children ideally should not be allowed to roam around the bow when a boat is moving so as to avoid falling overboard in case the vessel encounters an unexpected incident.”

People renting out a boat or any other leisure craft for a day also have to abide by regulations and there are restrictions in place.

In order to rent a boat, one needs to be at least 18 years old.

Any vessel without an engine, such as canoes, and any vessel having an engine of less than 30hp, does not require a licence.

Mr Battistino, however, suggests that any vessel equipped with an engine is manoeuvred by a person in possession of a licence.

“Although it is not compulsory to have a licence, it is always advisable, in the interests of safety, that people are in possession of minimum certification attesting basic awareness in the handling of a vessel, navigation and applicable maritime rules, legislation and directives of the authority,” he says.

“Furthermore, the operators renting out the vessels are under the obligation to supply the person hiring the vessel, in print and before the rental, with the operational characteristics of the vessel, the boating regulations peculiar to the area of rental, the common courtesies of operating the vessel and the effect on the environment and other water users.”