Navigare 3 - 2019

Editorial
english translation from page 4
We have to bring down the number of accidents
Behind us we have a relatively good
summer, with a fair amount of nice
weather and the opportunity to engage
in outdoor activities. With more than
900.000 recreational crafts in Norway,
the sea is a popular leisure activity for
many. That is understandable - not a
lot can measure up with a boat-trip,
whether it is a short trip to an island to
go swimming, or it is a longer
overnight trip.
This is all idyllic, but behind the idyll,
there are statistics showing that
approximately 35 lives are lost every
year while using recreational crafts.
Families and local communities are
affected, and that which was meant to
be a positive experience, turns to grief
and despair. Sometimes an accident
requires a search and rescue mission,
and sometimes the result is that the
missing person or persons could not be
found.
This is the reason why the Norwegian
Maritime Authority, with Mr. Olav
Akselsen, took the initiative to start the
work on an action plan against
accidents involving recreational crafts,
much like the Norwegian Public Roads
Administration did with its National
Plan of Action for Road Safety.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority, in
cooperation with the Expert group on
recreational crafts, were given the task
to draw up the plan, which runs over
the period 2019-2023. Thorough work
has gone into the action plan, and we
would like to thank all those who have
contributed during the process.
In addition to the zero-vision, an
ambitious interim for the first period is
set: 50 % decrease in the number of
casualties connected to the use of
recreational crafts within the expiry of
the plan period.
The most frequent types of accidents
with casualties are person overboard,
capsizing, stranding, collisions and falls
between the quay and the craft. The
work group behind the action plan has
chosen to focus on nine priorities:
safety equipment, drugs, safety at the
quay/harbour, speed, vessel safety,
fairways, boat rentals, the competence
of the driver of the boat, and the
general improvement of the quality of
facts.
In addition to the nine priorities, the
work group has also emphasized the
importance of visual police and
effective rescue service. The
organizations that participated in the
work with the plan, will proceed to
work on measures to be taken in these
target areas.
This will be demanding work. For us
to succeed, the “recreational craft
people” must realize the importance of
thinking safety. Up until the end of
June it seemed like the year 2019
would be a year of record low number
of casualties. Unfortunately, we had
several accidents in July and August,
and the numbers are now
approximately the same as last year.
Despite the fact that the numbers are
lower than the average over the last
years, it will take long-term and
focused work to achieve the zerovision.
For that we need a really good
and coordinated action plan.
In the commercial fleet we have seen a
positive development over several
years, where the number of shipwrecks
and personal accidents has decreased.
The same goes for the number of
fatalities in the commercial fleet. This
has been achieved in good cooperation
with shipowners and seafarers – from
the smallest fishing boats to the largest
cargo and passenger vessels. There is
nothing to indicate that we will not be
successful also for recreational crafts.
The keywords are cooperation, good
and targeted measures and increased
awareness amongst those who use
recreational crafts.
For your own safety and for the safety
of others: Remember your life jacket,
stay sober and take into consideration
the weather and other conditions that
may bring risk.
Lars Alvestad
Acting Director General of Shipping
and Navigation
Navigare 3 - 2019 | 55