#Alcohol - Alcohol consumption “continues to be a significant factor” in marine incidents involving recreational craft.
That’s according to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS), whose latest Marine Notice highlights the risks to the public associated with drink and drugs when operating or simply travelling on the water.
The DDTAS cities “the concern expressed” by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) over the number of incidents it has investigated since 2010 that involve alcohol.
As laid out in a previous Marine Notice from 2012, the law requires that masters or owners of pleasure craft must not operate their vessels or allow others to do so while under the influence.
Similarly, any person on board such craft must not consume drugs or alcohol in circumstances that could affect theirs or others’ safety. Persons being towed or on board any vessel or object being towed by a pleasure craft must also avoid drugs or alcohol.
A fixed penalty of €150 applies to any failure to comply with this law, with potential for prosecution and fines of up to €5,000.
Moreover, fines of up to €100,000 and prison terms of up to two years may apply in cases where “deliberate or reckless action” under the influence is a factor.
More details can be found in Marine Notice No 15 of 2017, a PDF of which is available to read or download HERE.
