1 of 30

NEW BOATERS:

​

A POLICING PERSPECTIVE ON THE WEST COAST

​

Presented by: Sgt. Rod Pick

WEST COAST MARINE SERVICES

2 of 30

West Coast Marine Services

  • Who: 28 Full time, uniformed RCMP marine patrol;

​

  • Where: AOR is the entire BC Coast;

​

  • What: provides frontline policing services to remote coastal communities including many First Nation villages.

3 of 30

​

​

WCMS - Floating Detachment

4 of 30

WCMS - RHIBs

5 of 30

WCMS by land

6 of 30

WCMS – Approx. 600 boats / year

7 of 30

West Coast Marine RCMP

Top 4 Trends with New Boaters on West Coast – A Policing Perspective

8 of 30

#1 TREND WITH NEW BOATERS

#1

Lack of knowledge of marine rules, regulations and etiquette

9 of 30

#1 Lack of Knowledge of rules

Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations (VORR) – Designated areas where speed Limits can be enforced.

​

10 km / hr = ?? knots

10 of 30

#1 Lack of Knowledge of rules

​

​

Interim Order Southern Resident Killer Whales

​

New boaters are unfamiliar with:

  1. the Interim Sanctuary Zones (ISZ) designated by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that are prohibited for all vessels;

​

  • IO also states boaters must maintain 400 meter distance from the whales around southern Vancouver Island.

​

11 of 30

#2 TREND WITH NEW BOATERS

#2

Lack of operable safety equipment on board

12 of 30

#2 Lack of Safety Gear

Top 3 Deficiencies observed by West Coast Marine Services:

​

​

13 of 30

#2 Lack of Safety Gear

Top 3 Deficiencies observed by West Coast Marine Services:

​

1. Flashlight that does not operate;

​

​

14 of 30

#2 Lack of Safety Gear

Top 3 Deficiencies observed by West Coast Marine Services:

​

1. Flashlight that does not operate;

​

2. Expired flares (required on vessels 6 meters or greater);

​

​

15 of 30

#2 Lack of Safety Gear

Top 3 Deficiencies observed by West Coast Marine Services:

​

1. Flashlight that does not operate;

​

2. Expired flares (required on vessels 6 meters or greater);

​

3. Insufficient # of PFDs (must be worn) / Lifejackets onboard (and of appropriate size and condition).

​

16 of 30

#2 Lack of Safety Gear

17 of 30

#2 Lack of Safety Gear

18 of 30

#3 TREND WITH NEW BOATERS

#3

Lack of navigational experience

19 of 30

#3 Lack of Navigation experience

20 of 30

#3 Lack of Navigational experience

Inability to operate safely in conditions of restricted visibility such as fog.

21 of 30

#3 Lack of Navigation experience

Rental companies that do not require any competency (i.e.. PCOC) when renting out their vessels.

22 of 30

#4 TREND WITH NEW BOATERS

#4

Lack of proof of operator competency / vessel licence

23 of 30

#4 Lack of Proof of competency

24 of 30

#4 Lack of vessel licencing

25 of 30

Top 4 Trends of new boaters from a policing

Perspective on the west coast:

​

​

​

​

​

Conclusion

26 of 30

Top 4 Trends of new boaters from a policing

Perspective on the west coast:

​

​

​

​

​

Conclusion

    • Lack of knowledge of marine rules,

regulations and etiquette;

​

​

27 of 30

Top 4 Trends of new boaters from a policing

Perspective on the west coast:

​

​

​

​

​

Conclusion

    • Lack of knowledge of marine rules,

regulations and etiquette;

​

    • Lack of operable safety gear on board

​

28 of 30

Top 4 Trends of new boaters from a policing

Perspective on the west coast:

​

​

​

​

​

Conclusion

    • Lack of knowledge of marine rules,

regulations and etiquette;

​

    • Lack of operable safety gear on board

​

    • Lack of navigational experience;

​

​

29 of 30

Top 4 Trends of new boaters from a policing

Perspective on the west coast:

​

​

​

​

​

Conclusion

    • Lack of knowledge of marine rules,

regulations and etiquette;

​

    • Lack of operable safety gear on board

​

    • Lack of navigational experience;

​

    • Lack of proof of operator competency

and/or vessel license.

​

​

​

30 of 30

Thank you and safe boating!