What to do in an emergency

If you're sinking

• Put on lifejackets if you’re not already wearing them
• Raise the alarm (MAYDAY)
• Locate the source of the leak if it’s safe to do so, try to plug it
• Bail the water as best as you can with a bailer 
• If the boat submerges and you have to go in the water, stay with the vessel – your chances of being found are much higher this way.

Capsized vessel in NZ waters.

If you're on fire

An onboard fire can be a boatie’s worst nightmare. Control it if you can by:

• Putting on lifejackets if you’re not already wearing them
• Raising the alarm (MAYDAY)
• Controlling the fire if you can do so safely by removing either:
  • Fuel – Shut down the engine and fuel supply if it is an engine fire; Turn off power supply if it is an electrical fire.
    Note: This may effect communication, so make sure you’ve raised the alarm first.
  • Heat – applying cold water
  • Oxygen – smothering the fire with a fire blanket or extinguisher
• Preparing to abandon ship

Coastguard putting out a fire.

What's the best extinguisher to carry?

• Solid material fire: CO2, Multi-purpose, Dry powder, or a bucket of water!
• Liquid fires: Foam, CO2, Dry powder, fire blanket
• Gases: CO2
• Electrical fires: CO2, Dry powder

Make sure your extinguisher is easily accessible, and is serviced regularly.

A range of fire extinguishers. Credit: BoatUS Foundation.

Person overboard

There are four steps to remember if one of your mates goes overboard:

• Shout loudly, to make sure everyone knows that someone’s gone overboard
• Throw a life buoy, line or lifejacket as close as you can to the person, not only to help them stay afloat but also to mark their position
• Watch the person carefully – it’s easy to lose sight of someone in the water, so don’t take your eyes off them!
• Stop the boat and turn back as soon as you’re able.

Remember that the prop is always a danger to anyone in the water, so take care as you approach them.

Man overboard.

After you’re safe

If you’ve been evacuated from your boat, but it’s still seaworthy and can be towed, Coastguard will make every effort to remove it to a safe area. But it’s important to note that Coastguard is a search-and-rescue charity, so your life comes first. Sometimes a vessel will have to be left for recovery later.

Reporting an accident

If your vessel has sunk, you’ll need to contact your local Harbourmaster to inform them. They’ll be able to assess any environmental impact, determine whether your vessel is a navigational hazard, and advise you about salvage options.

In many cases, you’ll also need to arrange to remove your boat. Salvage agents across the country can assist with this.

Understanding the reasons behind accidents is important, so that lessons learned can benefit other boaties. You’ll need to contact Maritime NZ to report any accident.