Hi everyone, it’s Nathanielle Again , you will be the first to read about the new PERSONAL WATERCRAFT REGULATION (PWC) which has been drafted by SMSA ,it has not been finalized yet but i have been given permission to share a little on the matter.
The Personal watercraft Regulation refers to all vessels under the ‘Merchant Shipping Act, ‘ these include jet skis, wet bikes, waves runners, leisure boats below 15 gross tonnage and pleasure boat, these vessels were not required to be registered under the ‘Beach Control Act’ and the ‘Hire Crafts Act ‘ . As many of us may know that there are rules concerning these vessels, however such rules are not being taken seriously by the public or they seem to ignore them. First of all, all vessels will have to be registered from now on; emphasis is being place on jet skis, wet bikes and any other vessels under 15 gross tonnage, which before that had no need to register. A small fee will be required for registration. There will be a number of tests which one will have to go through in order to gain a license. The vessel shall be subject to a survey by a surveyor, who shall dully grant a certificate upon successfully surveying. Since all vessels will now be registered, safely checks will be a necessity. This new requirement will be for safety issues as well as an environmental precaution .Vessels will only be driven by a competent person; therefore the age limit will be 16 + (even jet skis/wet bikes). Restricted areas will be allocated as well as swimming, fishing, boating and jet skiing/wet biking / speed boating) and severe actions will be taken against offenders. The reasons as to why these new rules are being place is because of the constant negligence of people. For examples jet skiers who speed in restricted area, and therefore pose a threat to themselves as well as others. One point which was put forward was the crossing of marine parks. When the PWC is enforced, vessels such as jet skis, speed boats and wet bikes will not be allowed to cross through marine parks for obvious reasons .There will also be limitations put in places for both jet skis and wet bikes which are most common in Seychelles, to 2 nm, meaning one may not travel from on island to another on such vessels. There will be a time frame for jet skis and wet bikes because they have no lights, therefore from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm will be the acceptable times. Mooring inside marine parks will also be banned. This is only a short summary of what is to come after the regulations have been finalised. These are only some of the main points which stood out due to the intensity of the issues.
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AuthorThe interns of the Prosperity & Environment: Promoting sustainable development opportunities for youth in the Blue Economy sector. Archives
January 2018
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