The Marine Casualty Investigation Board has raised the question of whether recreational craft users should be required to have basic safety training, similar to driving test assessments.
It has again commented on what it describes as "the repeated incidence of marine casualties in the recreational craft sector" and questions whether recreational boat users are taking notice of the issuing of safety warnings by the Department of Transport.
This is a further warning aimed at the leisure boating sector, contained in an investigation report into a tragedy at Lacken Pier, Beltra in County Mayo a year ago, as Afloat reports here.
On July 16, 2023, one of two men launching a sea-angling boat died attempting to board the boat. He was swept out to sea, and his body was later recovered by Coast Guard helicopter R118. The other man survived when the open boat drifted out to sea and eventually, after the search by rescue services, came ashore at Lacken Strand.
The MCIB says it is "of the view that there is no point in recommending the issuance of another marine notice with similar or related content" to that of Marine Notice No.52 of last year, which cited safety requirements when going on the water.
"The question remains as to why there still appears to be limited compliance with the basic safety recommendations set out" and there is a strong warning about what action may be needed in regard to safety.
In its recommendations following the Lacken investigation the Board says: "The issues that may arise for consideration which are outside the remit of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, are those relating to communication and training.
The importance of training is recognised in the Code of Practice.
This does not have a regulatory remit, but the MCIB points out it does provide guidance on the regulations surrounding recreational craft, which are legally enforceable. It provides safety information and guidelines (albeit important ones). The training referred to is voluntary and it is unlikely that the current revisions to the Code of Practice will alter that.
"A further issue arises as to the nature of that training and whether there should be some sort of regime that requires recreational craft users to have engaged in basic safety training/awareness, similar perhaps to the online preliminary driving test assessment."
The Lacken incident report, available on the MCIB website, is No.6 of 2024
