Marine Tech Recruitment plus, a thought-provoking reader’s letter
Sept 5, 2023
What are you doing to support Marine Tech Recruitment? Do you support mandatory PFD wear for all boaters?
In this edition of Boating Industry Canada News Week Digest, we are repeating the most recent four Marine Industry Career Profile stories from 2023. Another five Profiles from 2022 are available online at www.boatingindustry.ca . We love to celebrate the achievements of the clever and interesting people in our industry. If you have a suitable Profile candidate, let us know. We will reach out to them and we will interview them for a story – no-charge of course.
Do you have a talented crew member (young or old) who deserves recognition for their accomplishments? As we arrive at Labour Day again, consider your people, their importance to your business, and let us know if there is someone you feel deserves to be applauded.
You can email me directly at aadams@kerrwil.com or Allegra Smith-Herriott at asmithherriot@kerrwil.com .
Do you support mandatory PFD wear for all boaters?
On the important subject of boating safety and lifejacket wear, our readers should be aware that new legislation requiring mandatory PFD-wear in all boats under a specified size (we have heard the size being considered may be either 6-meters or 8-meters) is being considered and is strongly supported by some organizations.
Last week, we received the following letter from a reader who offers this important perspective:
Mr. Adams,
The Ontario Provincial Police, (OPP) made a very informative presentation on boating safety on August 28 to Safe Quiet Lakes (SQL) and the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA). The statistics on marine fatalities are very informative, and helps us understand the actual risk of power boating. Consider this:
Boating Fatalities: Perspective is needed when considering PFD regulations
There are 1.4 million adults in Ontario that have participated in boating activities over the past 12 months*. The OPP report that there were 261 marine fatalities in Ontario between 2013 and 2022, with 91 of them occurring in power boats**.
This translates to an average of 9 deaths per year**. (In 2023 so far, there have been 5 deaths from motorized vessels in Ontario).
Is it reasonable to impose mandatory Personal Flotation Device (PFD) regulations on the 1.4 million Ontario boaters to reduce the risk of 9 fatalities per year?
For the geeks in the crowd, this translates to one one-thousandth of 1%.
* VIVIDATA SCC Spring 2023
** OPP webinar presented by Safe Quiet Lakes (SQL) and the Muskoka Lakes Association (MLA), Aug 28, 2023 https://mla.on.ca/resources/Documents/MLA%20Municipal%20Submissions/2023%20-%20MLA%20SQL%20Webinar%20-%20modified.pdf
Robert Dilworth,
Bala, Ontario
And, here’s wishing that all our readers have enjoyed a safe and memorable Labour Day weekend and a great summer in 2023!
Andy Adams – Editor
