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OPP marine unit checked 14 vessels on Georgian Bay this week

Marine officers responded to a report of a sunken vessel off the south tip of Beckwith Island
2020-10-21
Marine officers responded to this sunken vessel off the south tip of Beckwith Island at 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 12. Submitted photo.

NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The Marine Unit attached to the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) conducted 28 hours of marine patrol with the fall season weather conditions that occur on the waters of Georgian Bay over the Oct. 12-15, 2020 time period.

Officers checked 14 vessels and their operators for any signs of impairment and for having all of the required equipment during their patrol time covering the waterways from Wasaga Beach to the Big Chute Railway on the Trent Severn system.

Those vessel checks resulted in the following infractions being investigated-

  • One operator was charged for not having a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) or vessel registration
  • Three warnings were conveyed to vessel operators by the officers for various marine equipment issues.

Call for Service of Interest

  • Marine officers responded to a report of a sunken vessel off the south tip of Beckwith Island at 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 12, 2020. An investigation was commenced and it was learned that there were no persons injured in the incident and a further investigation under the Navigable Waters Protection Act is being conducted by investigators from Transport Canada. (See attached OPP submitted photograph)

Educational Marine Safety

Marine officers continue to participate in the "I Got Caught Wearing My Life Jacket " educational T-shirt reward program for young boaters. They also make themselves available for marine related media interviews and to remind cottagers closing down for the winter to view the following link - Safe Guard Ontario and vessel operators who may be storing their vessel for the winter to practise "Lock It or Lose It!"

The Marine Unit also visited four area marina's and made themselves available for marine educational questions from marina patrons during their patrol time. Vessel operators are encouraged to view the following educational videos on the effects of alcohol and cannabis https://csbc.ca/en/operation-dry-water .

Officers crewing the OPP patrol vessel's remind all vessel operators that they are checking for vessel equipment and for liquor offences which they are vigorously enforcing in an effort to reduce injuries and fatalities on our area waterways this fall season.

For more information on drinking and operating a vessel please view the following web video from our community partner Arrive Alive - https://youtu.be/rH5pvi0Bgoo en Francais https://youtu.be/mz0F605wXvw

Police remind vessel operators that an essential part of our enforcement effort is to save lives and reduce injuries on our waterways while promoting and educating the public about safe boating practices. Your LIFEJACKET ONLY WORKS IF YOU'RE WEARING IT! With the cooler water temperatures of the fall season now here, a view of the following link- ColdWaterBoootCamp will demonstrate the effects of cold water on the body should you go overboard.

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