Boat Safety & Fire Systems - Safety Equipment Maintenance
Boat Safety is an important section within the planned maintenance programming of any boat.
A comprehensive Maintenance Programme has been developed by the imardex-marine team to cover all fire and boat safety equipment and emergency procedures on your boat.
Whether your boat is an inland waterways cruiser or an ocean voyager, basic maintenance and boat safety practices are essential for the well being of your boat and crew.
The following are just some of the equipment and boat safety procedures that are covered by our maintenance programme
- Boat Flares
- Man Overboard
- EPIRB
- Anchor release
- Kill Cord
- Lifejackets
- Safety Harnesses and Securing Points
- Emergency Steering
- Fire Fighting
- Emergency Fuel Shut Off
- Liferaft
- Bilge Pumps
- Grab Bags
Boat Flares
Flares indicate the position of a boat or a person in distress.
Flares - White, Red and Orange
White Flares: To indicate to another boat, there could be a danger of collision.
Red Flares: Can be used night or day and are very bright and visible. Ideal for attracting the attention of other boats, search and rescue helicopters, and rescue organisations.
Orange Smoke Flares are for daytime use only. It can be a canister to throw in the water or handheld.
Parachute Flares: A red rocket flare used day or night, reaching a height of 300 metres and then drifting slowly down by parachute.
How to use a flare
- Select the right colour or type to be used.
- Take a position on the boat where the wind is blowing the smoke away from yourself and the boat.
- Try to wear a pair of gloves.
- Set off the flare, and let it burn at arm's length.
- Do not use a parachute flare if helicopters are in the vicinity.
Danger
A pyrotechnic flare is explosive and can be dangerous in the wrong hands.
Keeping flares onboard
Flares should be kept in a waterproof container and if possible, with a pair of leather gloves and goggles, at sea in an accessible location near the helm. Keep them out of reach of children.
Flares - Expiry Date
Flares have an expiry date marked on their side. When changing flares, keep one set aboard until the next expiry date, then dispose of the older set; that way, you always have two: a new one and the other on standby. Always use your most recent first in an emergency and for insurance purposes.
Disposing of pyrotechnics - TEPs
Out-of-date pyrotechnics are now known as TEP's - Time Expired Pyrotechnics. Disposing of these flares can mean taking them to the local chandlery or coastguard station and checking in your location where TEPs can be disposed of.
Handling a flare
Your crew and yourself must learn how to use a flare. Take the flares out of their container, pass them to your crew to get used to them, and read the instructions on how they are activated. Discuss the best position to use it so that heat and smoke are blown away from the boat.
Team Imardex-Marine
In many countries the authorities now require paperwork showing test certificates and expiry dates for fire and safety equipment, VHF and AIS certification, and certificates showing compliance with local rules including test results of LPG appliances and systems. These systems are covered by imardex-marine’s Maintenance Programme.
Boat Insurance
Please click here to read our Boat Insurance information.
Please continue to our ‘Fishing Vessel Maintenance’ page.
Posted by : The imardex-marine team