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A qualified Coast Guard-approved marine drill instructor, Fred Mattera of Point Judith, RI is the owner\/president of North East Safety Training Co. (NESTCo), which conducts fishing vessel drills and inspections and basic safety training workshops.<\/p><\/div>\n
Outcome was that 21 individuals were rescued and 6 loss their lives.\u00a0 This incident could have had a much more tragic conclusion without the use of a flare.<\/p>\n
Thus, my concern:\u00a0 Do you know where your flares are on your boat, are the compliment of flares based on the location of your fishing, do you know how to activate them, know they are not expired, and that they are readily accessible?<\/p>\n
Also, recognize that you have a full compliment of flares in your life raft survival pack.<\/p>\n
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Number of flares required<\/b><\/p>\n
I am often asked what to do with old, expired flares or if I want them.\u00a0 Actually, I do take and use them to conduct hands-on flare training.\u00a0 I also tell captains to consider keeping an expired flare kit in a container marked \u201cfor training purpose only,\u201d distinguishing them from the vessel\u2019s updated kit, and use them for at-sea training.<\/p>\n
Flare kits are required safety equipment on commercial fishing vessels.\u00a0 Outside of 50 miles, a vessel needs a SOLAS A kit containing six hand-held, three orange floating smoke, and three parachute flares.<\/p>\n
From three miles to 50 miles, vessels are required to have a SOLAS B kit with the same number of flares and types.\u00a0 These are just a little less bright and burn for a shorter duration.<\/p>\n
SOLAS stands for the International Convention for the \u201cSafety of Life at Sea,\u201d a maritime safety treaty.\u00a0 To distinguish the two kits, SOLAS A kits are marked as 160.121 and SOLAS B as 160.021.\u00a0 Note the difference in the last three digits, which, for SOLAS A, starts with the numeral 1 and, for SOLAS B, starts with the numeral 0.<\/p>\n
Cost is a factor as well.\u00a0 SOLAS A kits are more expensive.\u00a0 But there are times when I see SOLAS B flares on an offshore vessel, which means the boat is not in compliance.<\/p>\n
Flares also are included in the equipment package aboard your life raft, identical in number and type as the flare kit you need for your vessel.<\/p>\n
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Read the instructions<\/b><\/p>\n
Flares are excellent distress signaling devices but all have their advantages and disadvantages.\u00a0 They can be used only once, and they can cause injury or property damage if not properly handled.\u00a0 It is extremely important to read the instructions.<\/p>\n
Always look for the direction of the arrow on the flare, which points to the end of the flare that ignites.\u00a0 I have witnessed a parachute flare shot right into the toe of a fisherman\u2019s sneaker.<\/p>\n
The flare itself is very hot and will expel ash and slag as it burns.\u00a0 Even though these particles cool quickly, they can cause a painful burn or ignite materials.\u00a0 Always take the wind into consideration and keep it at your back.\u00a0 Also, you must hold a hand-held flare over the side and in such a way that neither you nor the raft is damaged.<\/p>\n
Pistol-launched and hand-held parachute flares have many of the same characteristics of a firearm and must be handled with the same caution and respect.\u00a0 Never aim flares directly at a searching aircraft or surface vessel.<\/p>\n
Hand-held or floating orange smoke flares work best on clear days with light winds.\u00a0 They tend to lose effectiveness in high winds because the smoke rapidly disperses.\u00a0 So, they are best used during a helicopter rescue, providing a large target and indicating wind direction to the helo crew once it\u2019s in sight.<\/p>\n
Red hand-held flares can be used during the day but are most effective at night or in restrictive visibility such as fog or haze.\u00a0 Always hold only the plastic handle at arm\u2019s length before igniting.\u00a0 Turn your head away and, again, be sure the wind is at your back.<\/p>\n
Pistol-launched flares can be used during the day but are most effective at night.\u00a0 Because they descend rapidly, their burning time is shorter and they may not be as readily seen as a slow-descending flare.<\/p>\n
Red parachute flares are good for both day and night because of their altitude, slow descent, and brilliant intensity.<\/p>\n
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From the raft<\/b><\/p>\n
Once you are situated in the life raft, one of the first things you should do is to ignite a parachute flare to alert vessels within a 20-mile radius that may not have heard a Mayday call to your position.<\/p>\n
This parachute flare is shot out of a tube and ascends to 1,000\u2019 in approximately two seconds.\u00a0 It then slowly descends over 25-30 seconds giving off a bright red light.<\/p>\n
This is a very powerful and dangerous flare.\u00a0 Again, read the directions<\/i>.\u00a0 Find the arrow and point it toward the sky at an 80\u00b0\u201385\u00b0 angle.\u00a0 Hold it with your knuckles facing toward your body at chest-to-chin height before activating the trigger.<\/p>\n
I have seen a fisherman ignite a parachute flare and shoot it right by his ear and down the side of a building because he was holding the flare with his knuckles not facing him.\u00a0 I can\u2019t emphasize the importance of properly handling this type of flare.<\/p>\n
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Storage\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Store your flare kit in a brightly colored container in a cool, dry, and readily accessible place.\u00a0 Everyone onboard should know where the flares are.<\/p>\n
Also, assign one crewman responsibility for grabbing the flare kit as part of your abandon-ship procedure.\u00a0 You may want to store a pair of welding gloves and protective eye wear in the container.<\/p>\n
Expiration dates are important as these flares are only good for three years from the time of purchase.\u00a0 Expired flares do not count as part of your minimum requirements.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t want to save expired flares, again storing them in a clearly marked container for training purposes, dispose of expired flares by bringing them to your local fire or police department.\u00a0 Do not place them in the trash.<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, I never realized how bright and hot the hand-held flares are, not to mention how scary and powerful and quick a parachute flare is.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad I\u2019m activating them here in a drill rather than at sea in peril.\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve heard comments like this hundreds of times.<\/p>\n
Take time to train.\u00a0 Don\u2019t end up the victim.\u00a0 An excellent opportunity to activate and ignite flares is during the series of free safety and survival training sessions that will be offered by the Fishermen\u2019s Partnership Safety Training Program.\u00a0 For more info, call the partnership at (617) 928-3443.<\/p>\n
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