Anton McNulty
RECOMMENDATIONS to bring in tougher laws to govern the use of jet-skis have been welcomed by the Water Safety Officer with Mayo County Council, who claims that they are potentially a lethal weapon.
The recommendations were made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) following their investigation into the tragic death of Mr Alan Joyce of Castlebar who died on Lough Beltra on August 6, 2006, after getting into difficulties while jet-skiing with his friend, Conor Deffley. The investigation found that Mr Joyce and Mr Deffley had little or no familiarisation training on jet-skis, were poor swimmers and failed to wear lifejackets.
The MCIB recommended that the Department of Transport explore the feasibility of mandatory training and a course to provide practical training in all aspects of handling jet-skis and a limited knowledge of maintenance of the raft. They also recommended that any person wishing to operate a jet-ski must be licenced and have a recognised training course and produce a certificate from such a course.
The popularity of jet-skis in Mayo has risen in the last number years but they have been a source of controversy, with objections from many people regarding the dangers they pose to other water users. The death on Lough Beltra was not the only fatality to occur in Mayo involving jet-skis in recent times. Last May, Mr Patrick O’Hare of Gortmore, Tourmakeady drowned on Lough Mask after getting into difficulty when his jet-ski suffered mechanical failure.
The recommendations for regulations to govern jet-ski use was welcomed by Mr Michael Gavin, Water Safety Officer with Mayo Council Council, when he spoke to The Mayo News.
“I welcome these recommendations because at the moment there is nothing to stop a person jumping on a jet-ski and going onto a lake. They are potentially a lethal weapon when in the hands of incompetent people and it is only logical that they are regulated the same way as any person who wants to drive a car. People have more money in their pockets now and jet-skis and motor crafts are becoming more popular. It is ludicrous that any person can buy a jet-ski and five minutes later be on the lake without any proper training. It is an accident waiting to happen and unless these recommendations are introduced there will be more accidents,” he said.
