Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/994982
M3 MOTORING & BOATING maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 JUNE 2018 TRANSPORT Malta pre- pared a campaign to raise awareness on safety at sea. The campaign will focus mostly on boat owners, who in summer spend a consider- able amount of time enjoying the seas around Malta and Gozo. Malta enjoys an ever- growing community of sea- going enthusiasts and thus it is pertinent that Transport Malta raises safety aware- ness among the many who frequent Maltese seas during the summer months. Alcohol A boat is frequently as- sociated with enjoyment. A number mix enjoyment with alcohol. The latter, among other ef- fects, increases reaction time and in case of an emergency, the delay may have tragic consequences. Every skipper must calcu- late the depth, wave height and current direction, among several other factors; alcohol will hinder the captain from taking the best decision at sea and may thus lead to ac- cidents. The captain is responsible for the safety of all persons on board. Thus, it is imperative that whoever is manoeuvring a vessel is sober at all times. Heat, sunlight and wave movements are all factors known to amplify the effects of alcohol. Whoever is under the influ- ence, which besides alcohol can be drugs or even medici- nals, may not necessarily rec- ognise dangerous situations. This applies not only to the person manoeuvring the boat but also to whoever opts to swim under the influence. Hence Transport Malta asks for cautiousness and common sense, so everyone can enjoy the summer season without accidents. Speed Excess speed can be a major factor that leads to serious accidents at sea. The speed limit is ten knots, 200 metres from rock, 300 metres from a sandy beach and within har- bours. It is imperative that every- one respects this speed limit. Within bays, marinas and berths, the speed must be even less, between five and three knots, enough for the boat to manoeuvre. Swimmers or divers, close to shore might not be visible because of wave height or be- cause they are beneath the sea but close to the water surface. It is much easier for vessels going at an elevated speed to hit some floating debris, pos- sibly causing huge damages and a serious accident. Caution Boat drivers must be con- stantly mindful. Conditions at sea change abruptly and the unexpected can happen suddenly. Boat drivers must be pre- pared for any eventuality and keep a constant lookout in front and around the ves- sel. The 'constant lookout' which is obligatory, might avoid a number of accidents. We must always err on the safe side and when in doubt, make way for the other boat. Don't litter It is important to respect the environment when en- joying the sea, so that we and those who come after us, can keep enjoying it. Whatever we throw in the sea will remain there for a huge amount of years to the detriment of the sea, the spe- cies that inhabit it and our- selves. Besides the irreparable damage to the bottom and the various species, no- body enjoys swimming in a dump. A plastic bottle can take around 450 years to de- compose, cigarette butts be- tween one and five years. For swimmers Transport Malta's cam- paign is addressing swim- mers as well. Transport Malta is preparing dedicated swimmer zones around Mal- ta and Gozo. The Authority cordons off around 50 zones in areas which are popular with those that love bathing during the hot summer months. Transport Malta encourag- es bathers to use these zones as much as possible and to avoid swimming in areas which are widely frequented by boats, for example close to slipways. Swimmers must be aware of strong winds that might lead them to difficulties, with po- tential tragic consequences. Transport Malta's cam- paign is unfolding throughout the first weeks of this summer season, on TV, newspapers, social media, public events, on beaches and even at sea. Transport Malta officers, who patrol the seas to curb abuses at sea, will be distrib- uting small tokens in cam- paign branding to show our appreciation to those that behave well at sea and at the same time encouraging all to be safe at sea. Be safe at sea