Junior Transport Minister James Lawless, has launched a revised and updated edition of the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft.
The publication of the new Code of Practice follows an extensive review of the existing Code by the Department of Transport, which included public and stakeholder consultations in 2022 and 2023.
The Code of Practice is a public service initiative containing safety information, advice and best practice operational guidance for owners, operators and users of a range of recreational craft operating in Irish coastal and inland waters.
These include sailing craft, jet skis, rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, motor boats, recreational angling boats and stand-up paddleboards.
Launching the new Code of Practice, Minister Lawless said: “Safety is at the heart of our transport policies and services. The Code of Practice has been a helpful and popular educational resource for many years for members of the public and for training providers.
“This updated edition includes new and expanded content in response to suggestions made by those who participated in the review and consultation processes. I am sure it will become a trusted and essential guide for all those who enjoy leisure time on our waters. I thank all those individuals and organisations who took the time to contribute to the review process.”
A new feature of the Code of Practice is a set of “Think and Prepare” Safety Checklists, covering issues such as hazards and risks, fatigue, and the importance of letting the Coast Guard know about each proposed trip. There is also a template for shore-based contact persons. These checklists encourage recreational craft users to think and prepare before going on the water.
Minister Lawless commented: “Much of this is common sense, but by taking simple basic steps you can improve your situation and be better prepared in the event of changing circumstances.”
In addition to providing updated information on the legislation that applies to recreational craft, the Code of Practice contains new and revised content on topics such as Traffic Report messages to the Irish Coast Guard, foiling, surfing and kitesurfing safety, coastal rowing, cold water shock, hypothermia, and radio communications.
The message that underlines the Code of Practice is the importance of personal responsibility and safety awareness for all those who take to the water. The continued growth in marine leisure activities brings with it a range of safety implications for regulators and recreational craft users alike.
After a three-year period between 2020 and 2022 of no fatalities on the water, the ‘2023 Marine Casualty Investigation Board Report of Incidents and Investigations’ records that five fatalities involving recreational craft occurred during 2023, which is a cause for concern and reinforces the ongoing need for vigilance and safety awareness.
Minister Lawless urged all recreational craft users to familiarise themselves with the Code of Practice, to think about safety and to plan each journey.
The Minister stressed the importance of checking the weather forecast prior to departure, always wearing a personal flotation device or life jacket, and telling someone shore-based about the plans for the trip, including letting the Coast Guard know by logging a Traffic Report message so as to help the rescue authorities in the event of a need for search and rescue. The Minister also stressed the need to have a dependable means of communication to call for assistance, such as a VHF radio, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or a Personal Locator Beacon.
The Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft is available to view or download, in both English and Irish, on the Department of Transport website and at www.gov.ie. Copies free of charge can also be requested from the Maritime Safety Policy Division of the Department of Transport at [email protected].
