Maritime New Zealand is responsible
for promoting maritime safety and environmental protection to the
entire maritime community, including recreational boaties.
Based on recreational boating death statistics, Maritime New Zealand has four key safety messages for boaties:
- Life jackets – take the correct sized life jacket for each person on board – and wear them.
- Weather - check the latest marine forecast and tides before you go out.
- Communications equipment – If you can’t contact us, we can’t rescue you.
- Avoid alcohol.
Stay on top with communications equipment
Communications equipment is an essential part of safe boating because if you can’t contact someone to say you’re in trouble, nobody can rescue you.
In the event of an emergency, your communications equipment should include at least two of the following:
- hand held VHF radio (Channel 16) – a hand held waterproof radio will allow you to speak to anyone in the area who could help (as well as rescue authorities) – hand held are recommended because in the event of a capsize, a radio attached to the boat is a problem
- cellphone (call 111) – remember keep it on you and keep it dry! The problem with a cellphone (compared with a VHF radio) is that you can only ring one person at a time
- red hand held flares – use red ones to signal for help
- EPIRBs - Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons are for maritime use and designed to float in water. For more about switching to 406MHz distress beacons from February 2009, see the Why switch to 406 section of our website or www.beacons.org.nz
In addition, don’t forget some low tech ways to help get attention:
- sound signals – use a horn or anything that makes noise
- torch – move or flash on and off or even signal SOS
- red flag
- arms – raising and lowering your arms is a recognised international distress signal.
More information and free resources
Email: publications@maritimenz.govt.nz with your details to request any of the following:
- a cellphone bag – ziplock bags to keep cellphones dry
- Safe Boating: an essential guide – booklet covering how to be safe on the water (sea, river or lakes)
- Safe Boating DVD – you can fast track your way through to focus on the advice you need
- sticker – a quick summary of safe boating tips
- Radio handbook – all about VHF and SSB radios.
To learn more about safe boating, check out the courses on the Coastguard Boating Education website.
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2007 Review of the New Zealand Pleasure
