PICTOU – With summer in full swing many people are spending time out on their boats. Summer also means the Pictou inshore rescue, Canadian Coast Guard, is busy with courtesy checks.
As part of their weekly routine and as an agreement between the Coast Guard and Transportation Canada, the staff of the inshore rescue team does safety checks for boat owners interested in knowing if they have the proper safety equipment for their type of boat.
“We have three days that we go out to three different marinas,” said Breagh Macdonald, a coxswain with inshore rescue. Although the team does not have any enforcement if a boat does not have the correct safety equipment, they can advise what a boat should have. Owners with all the safety equipment needed receive a sticker saying the boat has been checked.
“It’s just basically so people know,” said Macdonald. On Thursday nights at 6 p.m. the team checks the Pictou Yacht Club, Friday nights at 6 p.m. they check the Hector Marina, and on Saturday nights at 6 p.m. they travel over to New Glasgow to the Riverfront Marina.
Anyone unable to have their boat checked at this time can also call the station and arrange a time for an inspection, which takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes.
Some of the more frequently asked questions about safety include flares and how to dispose of expired flares, since they are only good for four years after the manufacturing date. Macdonald suggests that those with expired flares should contact their local fire department or the RCMP about how to dispose of them.
The inshore rescue team itself consists of six university students who in order to qualify for the position must have their standard first aid, level C CPR, as well as their marine radio course and pleasure craft operators card so they are prepared to respond to whatever comes their way.
Inshore rescue is available not just for boat checks but also for help in major situations such as search and rescue or minor tasks such as tow-ins, which they respond to a lot.
Although the team is only in from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., they remain on call for the remainder of the day.
“I find a big problem is a lot of people don’t know who to call,” said Macdonald, who suggests the best contact if help is needed is the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, at 1-800-565-1582.
“If they are in any kind of trouble on the water, major or minor, contact them,” said Macdonald.
