MCA sticks with advice on flares
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is advising yacht skippers that they should still carry pyrotechnic flares for use in an emergency, rather than Electronic Visual Distress Signals (EVDS).
It has just renewed its advice with the publication of Marine Information Notice (MIN) 542. The MIN expires on 1 March 2022.
Some sailing organisations have campaigned for the MCA to reconsider its advice due to the difficulty in disposing of old flares, their limited shelf life and the inability to test them. The RYA cites DSC VHF, Personal Locator Beacons (PLBS) and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBS) as some of the ‘great safety devices’ available. It adds that AIS and EVDS can be used to help pinpoint a yacht in distress, and that more emergency calls are now made via mobile.
The standards of distress alerting equipment are set by The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). The MCA’S marine technology policy lead on life saving appliances, Rob Taylor, said there are no known EVDS which are compliant with the SOLAS technical performance standards. He added that having assessed the use of flares during incidents and consulted with search and rescue professionals, the MCA believes ‘pyrotechnic flares still play a crucial role in alerting rescuers.’ Only coded boats and boats over 45ft are required to carry flares in the UK, although many cruising sailors also carry them.