Flares recall
Flares recalled, but are they really necessary asks Boat Owners' AssociationA red hand flare, widely distributed throughout NSW from February through June of this year, is subject to a safety recall due to a risk of fire hazard.
NSW boaters may have acquired the flares as part of the NSW Offshore Kit or the Aurora Inshore Kit. Boaters are advised to check their flares against the details at the recall site: http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1060284
The Boat Owner's Association (BOA) in NSW says the recall raises the issue of whether flares are still appropriate as a required safety device. They have to be replaced regularly and they are difficult to transport and dispose of. Anecdotal evidence suggests that a high proportion of flares fail to work when required.
The BOA believes that the time is appropriate to commence a discussion as to whether developments in other technologies, such as EPIRB and AIS, mean that flares should no longer be part of the compulsory equipment for boaters.
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