Minister’s maritime safety plan to scuttle onboard drinking

LIFE JACKETS have been made compulsory on board any boat and drinking on board yachts is to be outlawed in a package of radical marine safety measures being floated by Dermot Ahern, Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

The water safety measures are contained in new draft regulations published yesterday which will become law in two weeks, following a consultation period.

Mr Ahern said: “We have endured too many tragedies at sea and on our waterways. I fully appreciate that people have to take responsibility for their own safety but the time has come, I believe, to make the wearing of life jackets compulsory on most of our vessels.

“These regulations are based on the overwhelming call from the public for a statutory requirement for the wearing of life jackets in response to a consultation paper on the wearing of life jackets and personal floatation devices on small watercraft which was published by the Maritime Safety Directorate of my department last year.”

The minister stressed that a life jacket or personal flotation device must be carried on every vessel, regardless of size.

Those at racing club events already do so, but there has been no legal requirement on life jackets and flotation devices.

The minister said as well as bringing in regulations covering drinking aboard pleasure craft, he will also deal with safety issues regarding surfboards and windsurfers.