Filenews 7 July 2023
Legislation that will allow electronic surveillance from land of high-speed vessels was prepared by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, which admitted yesterday in Parliament that controls are rudimentary due to lack of staff.
The issue of inspections of speedboats and pleasure boats was registered by Famagusta DISY MP Nikos Georgiou and was discussed yesterday in the Transport Committee. As it was said by an official of the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, there are jet skis that run with 300 hp, simulating them as airplanes. Mr. Themis Evriviadis said that a bill was prepared amending the 1992 legislation on high-speed vessels and this includes issues of their supervision, the operation of training schools, the issuance of licenses, while it is foreseen that it will be mandatory for the providers of such vessels to import technology for their supervision from land.
Under current legislation, he said, when a tourist or Cypriot wants to rent a jet ski he can do so after being informed of the risks and signing a statement. In other countries, Mr. Evriviadis added, when a driver is a beginner, then the boat he operates has less horsepower so that he cannot run. He said that there has been no increase in accidents in recent years and stressed that the supervision of speedboats is done by the Deputy Ministry and the Port Police. However, he said that the Deputy Ministry does not have boats, adding that there is understaffing in the department and that two officers are currently dealing with the issue of speedboats and pleasure boats. "We urgently want positions," he said. "After the memorandum we hit rock bottom. Our inspectors have retired and we don't have people to supervise. Also, since 2012 we have not had a permanent executive director in the department so there can be no planning."
Regarding the fatal accident involving a 6-year-old girl in the Lady Mile area, Mr. Evriviadis said that both father and mother had a drivers license, the jet skis were new, passed an inspection but did not have time to obtain their license.
Another officer of the Deputy Ministry said that for boats with crew, supervision is carried out once a year, certification is made of how many people they can carry, if they carry lifebelts, lifeboats, etc.
AKEL Pafos MP Valentinos Fakontis complained that many families dressed in black due to accidents with sea boats due to irresponsible behaviour. Some drink alcohol and drive them drunk, snorkelers have been hit, the situation has gotten out of hand, he said.
Assistant Police Chief Yiannakis Georgiou said that these vessels are regularly checked by the Port Police but are random. He also said that where tourists embark, checks are carried out so that we know how many people there are and whether there is appropriate rescue equipment.
Since 1994, electronic means of monitoring jet skis have been introduced, said the president of the Pancyprian Association of Water Sports – Entertainment Media Owners, Dimitris Hadjidemetriou. As he said through GPS these boats are monitored, he can adjust the speed, interrupt the engine if it violates the bathers' area or if two boats are too close. Mr. Demetriou asked for a state subsidy so that all businesses can upgrade their services.
