Voluntary boat pre-check program returns

Aug 21, 2020 | 2:32 PM

It’s a way to ensure your boat is ready to safely go on the water.

RCMP and City of Vernon have announced the resumption of the RCMP voluntary marine vessel pre-check program.

Starting today (August 21), RCMP volunteers will be conducting safety pre-checks at the Paddlewheel Park boat launch. Volunteers will also be checking vessels for quagga and zebra invasive mussels to help protect lakes and waterways.

In March, all RCMP volunteer activities in Vernon were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since that time, a safe operation plan has been developed to allow the program to resume while ensuring appropriate measures are in place to protect the volunteers and the public, such as physical distancing.

The pre-checks are not mandatory, but are recommended for vessel operators. The trained RCMP volunteers assist the marine unit by allowing boaters to complete a pre-launch inspection of all the items required under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 as well as its regulations governing pleasure craft. Once the inspection is complete, the operator receives documentation that can be provided to RCMP, if they’re later stopped on the water.

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“The work being done by these volunteers is an important initiative, as it helps speed up our checks on the water,” said Const. Tibor Baldauf, who is one of two RCMP members who patrol the lakes around Vernon.

Vernon RCMP volunteers also work in conjunction with OASISS, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to working collaboratively to prevent, monitor and control the spread of invasive species in the Okanagan-Similkameen region. They will be using a questionnaire that follows Ministry of Environment protocols.

If a boat is determined to be high risk for invasive mussels (based on the answers to those questions) or if the RCMP volunteers were to observe anything suspicious, they will call a toll free reporting line (1-877-952-7277) or have the boaters call, ideally in their presence.

There are significant fines under the Canada Shipping Act that can be issued on the water. Examples:

Failure to have the required pleasure craft licence on board – $250
Operating a vessel with safety equipment not in good working order or not readily accessible and available for immediate use (not having enough approved life jackets on board) – $200

Some boating offences can result in fines to both the operator of the boat and to the person who allowed the operation of the boat. An example of this would be allowing someone under the age of 16 to operate a vessel.

Should your vessel be coming from a high-risk location and there are indicators that mussels are evident you may be required to have the boat either quarantined or decontaminated. As of December 2012, B.C. law requires that no zebra or quagga mussel, alive or dead, be present on boats or related equipment. Failure to clean mussels off boats or equipment could result in a fine of up to $100,000.

by Pete McIntyre

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