Are your flares out of date?

1:19 AM Fri 26 Mar 2010 GMT

NSW Maritime

Distress signalling flares can help save lives in an emergency but are only as good as their use-by date. Minister for Ports and Waterways, Paul McLeay and Member for Wyong, David Harris, today visited Norah Head's popular coastal boat ramp to raise awareness to the issue of out-of-date flares.

'Flares are essential and compulsory emergency signalling equipment for boats in open waters,' Mr McLeay said. Mr Harris said the problem is they have a use-by date. 'Flares expire after three years. After this time, there is no guarantee they will fire when needed,' Mr Harris said.

'This is why flares must be replaced before they expire and old flares, which are classed as explosives, must be disposed of properly.'

'If trouble strikes off the coast, it can be difficult to attract help and that is why flares are essential safety equipment for skippers boating on open seas,' Mr Harris said. 'Every boat going on open seas should carry a minimum of two red hand flares (for night or day use) and two orange smoke flares (for day use), although some exemptions may apply.'

Flares can now be placed into special containers at NSW Maritime centres. From they are stored for collection and transported to the Sterihealth facility at Silverwater, Sydney.

The expired flares will then be destroyed at ultra-high temperature under strict environmental conditions.

'Some flares, it appears, may have been ending up in landfill. We now have a disposal option that is safer and better for the environment,' Mr McLeay said.

BACKGROUND
. The new flare disposal system was the result of a close partnership between NSW Maritime, WorkCover NSW and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.

. There are some 230,000 vessels registered in NSW with around 10 per cent being used for offshore boating.

. The trial will run until July 2011.

For more information or to locate your nearest NSW Maritime centre visit: www.maritime.nsw.gov.au

by NSW Maritime

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Are your flares out of date?

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