Maritime New Zealand officially announced that the Buller District Council joined the national compliance “No Excuses” campaign. Specifically, the campaign focuses on recreational boaties not carrying or wearing lifejackets and those who speed on the water.
For the records, this is the 4th year in a row of the “No Excuses” campaign, while is the first time that 18 harbourmasters with Maritime officers are participating on this project this summer.
Through Buller District Council’s enter, recreational boaties on the West Coast of the South Island will be much safer.
Moreover, this is Council’s first official involvement in the campaign, as in case someone breaks the rules, will then have to face the consequences, for instance infringement notices of up to $300.
It’s fantastic that Buller District Council have joined No Excuses. Over the last four years considerable progress has been made towards a more collaborative approach to recreational boating safety.
…Manager, Sector Engagement and Collaboration, Baz Kirk said.
Maritrime NZ has funded the campaign, as harbourmasters offer additional staff, time and resources to the Campaign, coming from their work experience on safer boating.
Up to two thirds of recreational boating fatalities could have been prevented if lifejackets had been worn. Boaties should always follow the boating safety code – wear life jackets, carry at least two waterproof ways of calling for help, check the marine weather, avoid alcohol, and be a responsible skipper.
…Mr Kirk continued.
Concluding, Maritime NZ highlighted that boaties speeding in any area, especially to populated ones must be very careful since is unsafe and can result serious accidents to both water users, swimmers, divers and small craft who are difficult to detect in the water.