With the coming of the 2021 boating season, the RCMP West Coast Marine Unit gave courtesy boat inspections at MK Bay Marina for anyone coming in and out of the boat launch on Tuesday, April 20th.
Making sure everyone is carrying the proper safety equipment on their vessels, the west coast marine unit issued check-ups in the parking lot where officers got the chance to go through boat owners’ vessels.
“With everyone starting to come out with the nice weather, we just like to go through everything and make sure they know where their necessary equipment is if they put stuff away in the wintertime, and make sure nothings expired and ready to go for the season,” said Investigator Mariner, Constable David Kokesch of the RCMP.
If owners were missing anything, officers gave lists of what they needed. Luckily, everyone that came in and out of the marina was fully prepared so no tickets were issued.
“We like to call it educating because a lot of the public isn’t exactly sure what they need, […] a lot of people who own boats don’t realize how different it is how it is on the ocean compared to lakes; you have tides, currents, winds, and things go sideways fast,” said Kokesch. “Were not here to ruin your boating season, were here to make it fun.”
Mandating vessel safety and enforcing the Canada Shipping Act is part of the many job requirements governed by the RCMP.
The West Coast Marine Unit that came to MK Bay Marina by Katamaran covers the whole coast from Alaska to Vancouver Island also does inspections on the water when travelling from one community to the next.
“We have a small (rigid inflatable boat) on the back of the boat and if we see a vessel we’ll go over and do an inspection right on the water throughout the year,” said Kokesch.
RCMP also has a secondary unit with two more Katamarans that cover from Vancouver Island to all along the Oregon coast.
For more information about the necessary safety equipment needed on a vessel, visit ccg-gcc.gc.ca.
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