Rockingham: Local skippers failing to make safety top priority on water

Of 223 safety checks completed last weekend, 26 skippers were turned away for non-compliance issues with flares (20), lifejackets, EPIRBs or no registration.

Seven trailers were also found to be defective.

Department of Transport supervising marine officer Simon Miller said out-of-date flares continued to be the major reason for skippers being turned away from boat ramps.

Mr Miller strongly recommends skippers undertake an annual 45-point check of their boat, trailer and safety equipment before the start of the summer boating season.

For more information about boating safety, visit www.transport.wa.gov.au/ imarine