SMSA appeals to the public to report dangerous jet ski activities |28 May 2020

Mr Valmont (Photo: Joena Meme)

Members of the public who witness incidents where jet skis and other pleasure crafts through their activities breach the existing regulation and come dangerously too close to the shoreline endangering people in the water, are being urged to report the incident to the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) immediately there and then.

Talking to the press yesterday morning, the chief executive of the SMSA, Joachim Valmont, said the number to call anytime is 2722956 whereby the different law enforcement authorities including the Coast Guard, Marine Police and the Seychelles Ports Authority will be alerted.  

Since April 1 the Seychelles Maritime Safety Agency became the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) and for this reason it has become more proactive, Mr Valmont has pointed out.

He said in the recent past there has been numerous complaints of jet skis and speed boats not respecting the 120 metres from the seashore as per section 5(1) of the Beach Control Act that is reserved for swimmers.

He said with the new authority vested in the SMSA, this will allow it to register, identify privately owned jet skis and issue a certificate giving the owner permission to use his or her jet ski which has not been the case until now.

He said the aim is to bring more control in the use of this kind of pleasure craft. Mr Valmont admitted that at present with no proper measures to ensure control it is very difficult for law enforcement agencies with their limited resources to patrol all the coast and beaches of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, hence the urgent need for public cooperation.

“The SMSA and its different partners worked closely together during the COVID-19 restrictions on movement of people to try and enforce the prohibition order issued by the Public Healthy Authority. At the same time the exercise has allowed us to identify the different weaknesses, overlapping issues and loopholes in the existing law and this is why we are currently working on a document which sets out new measures to educate and better inform all owners of motor boats, pleasure crafts, yachts and jet skis and users included,” Mr Valmont explained.

He said this will entail ensuring that they inform the Ports Authority and the SMSA each time they go out to sea, the number of people in their vessels and on their jet skis and that jet ski operators should be aged 16 years and above and should be in possession of a competency certificate among other measures.

Marie-Anne Lepathy

Members of the public who witness incidents where jet skis and other pleasure crafts through their activities breach the existing regulation and come dangerously too close to the shoreline endangering people in the water, are being urged to report the incident to the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) immediately there and then.

Talking to the press yesterday morning, the chief executive of the SMSA, Joachim Valmont, said the number to call anytime is 2722956 whereby the different law enforcement authorities including the Coast Guard, Marine Police and the Seychelles Ports Authority will be alerted.  

Since April 1 the Seychelles Maritime Safety Agency became the Seychelles Maritime Safety Authority (SMSA) and for this reason it has become more proactive, Mr Valmont has pointed out.

He said in the recent past there has been numerous complaints of jet skis and speed boats not respecting the 120 metres from the seashore as per section 5(1) of the Beach Control Act that is reserved for swimmers.

He said with the new authority vested in the SMSA, this will allow it to register, identify privately owned jet skis and issue a certificate giving the owner permission to use his or her jet ski which has not been the case until now.

He said the aim is to bring more control in the use of this kind of pleasure craft. Mr Valmont admitted that at present with no proper measures to ensure control it is very difficult for law enforcement agencies with their limited resources to patrol all the coast and beaches of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, hence the urgent need for public cooperation.

“The SMSA and its different partners worked closely together during the COVID-19 restrictions on movement of people to try and enforce the prohibition order issued by the Public Healthy Authority. At the same time the exercise has allowed us to identify the different weaknesses, overlapping issues and loopholes in the existing law and this is why we are currently working on a document which sets out new measures to educate and better inform all owners of motor boats, pleasure crafts, yachts and jet skis and users included,” Mr Valmont explained.

He said this will entail ensuring that they inform the Ports Authority and the SMSA each time they go out to sea, the number of people in their vessels and on their jet skis and that jet ski operators should be aged 16 years and above and should be in possession of a competency certificate among other measures.

Marie-Anne Lepathy