Safe Boating Awareness Week runs from May 17 until the 23, with members of the RCMP Marine Unit patrolling the waters off the coast of Vancouver Island looking for impaired and unsafe boat operators. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

safety first

Vancouver Island patrols checking for impaired drivers during Safe Boating Awareness Week

May 20, 2025 | 12:45 PM

NANAIMO — Members of the RCMP Marine Unit want to ensure everyone on the water is operating their vessel safely during Safe Boating Awareness Week, from May 17-23.

Cst. Dave Kokesch said they will be conducting patrols in waters off the Island and have information booths set up to ensure boaters are prepared for the season after sitting for the winter.

“Take a day and make sure that you have all your safety equipment in them, like making sure your flares are up to date. Make sure your batteries and your flashlights work. Also, check your life jackets. Make sure they’re in good condition…make sure you have enough for everybody on the boat.”

According to the Canadian Safe Boating Council, over 80 per cent of Canadians who drown while boating were not wearing a lifejacket or were not wearing it properly, with over 16 million people taking to the waters annually.

Kokesch said to ensure each vessel has enough life jackets on board per the number of people, and keep them in an easily accessible location.

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“It’s $204 if you don’t have a jacket, and then about $100 for each one you don’t have after that. Impaired driving of a vessel is the same as driving a car or vehicle. Impaired charge is the same, and there’s no leeway for that. If you’re caught, and you can while you’re driving a vessel, you’re going to be charged. “

As part of Boating Awareness Week, recognized by the Canadian Safe Boating Council since 1995, the RCMP Marine Unit will have increased patrols all across Vancouver Island, including a new Port Alberni-based vessel covering the west coast.

Kokesch said they will be stopping random boaters checking for impaired drivers and ensuring their equipment meets the legal requirements, and offering tips to keep their stuff safe.

“A lot of times people leave their fishing reels on board, or generators or tools or different things like that. Make sure that they’re marked in some way, whether it be your initials or whether it’s the serial number, because that way if something does happen and they go missing, you can enter them on our police system, they can be located and you can be notified.”

All drivers of motorized vessels are required to have a pleasure craft operators card, which can be obtained through an online course.

– with files from Jon De Roo, 97.3 FM The Eagle

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