East Anglia Press Releases for the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads with Press Releases and Articles from the Broads Authority in East Anglia, and the East of England UK.

Boaters are able to take their vessels for informal advice about safety and preparation for a Boat Safety Scheme examination at a series of free riverside surgeries being organised by the Broads Authority and the Boat Safety Scheme Office.

Local BSS examiners, the national BSS team, and Broads Authority staff will be around to give advice on how best to prepare a boat and owners can make arrangements for an examination if they wish.

Throughout the Saturday surgeries there will be demonstrations about preparing a boat for an examination and the Broads Authority’s hazardous boat checks. Items from the BSS ‘black museum’ will be available to illustrate potential pitfalls. Copies of the BSS Essential Guide will be on sale at the discounted price of £6 at the stand.

There will be opportunities to ask about:

• getting your boat examined
• what is covered in the examination
• a specific requirement relating to your craft
• general safety advice
• the enforcement of the Broads Authority (Boat Safety Standards) Byelaws 2006.

Boat owners can also turn up without their boats for an informal chat about the requirements. Those that bring their boats should book them in on the day.

The Boat Safety Scheme came into force on the Broads on April 1st this year for the largest boats and will be introduced in phases in 2008 and 2009 for smaller vessels.

Charlie Middleton, the Broads Authority’s Waterways Officer, said

"Owners of vessels in the second phase are recommended not to delay making preparation as boatyards and examiners could be overstretched this coming autumn and winter if everyone leaves it to the last minute.

It’s best to take advantage of these surgeries and the better summer weather to get all the preparation work done well before the examination in time for next year’s registration."

The surgeries will be held on:
Saturday 28th April - 10am to 4pm - Ranworth Broad Tourist Information Centre.
Saturday 12th May - 10am to 4pm - Bramerton Common Broads Authority Moorings.
Saturday 9th June - 10am to 4pm - Waveney River Centre.

Reproduced by kind permission of Broads Authority.