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Boating Safety remains understaffed
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Posted on Dec 06 2006
The Department of Public Safety’s Boating Safety Section on Saipan is understaffed as it has only eight officers, including the commander.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune, BSS commander Sgt. Juan D. Diaz said they should have 15 staff members to be more efficient in providing services to the community.
“But I know I’m not going to get the 15 manpower because the patrol [section] is also really hurting,” he said.
Diaz assured, though, that, despite having only eight personnel, they are still managing to perform their duties.
“But in reality it’s not enough,” he pointed out.
With respect to their equipment, the BSS commander said they don’t have any problem.
“Our rescue boats [and] the equipment on the boats are new. Our one rescue boat was repaired after the fire [incident at their facility] and we had it repaired. So everything now is in working condition,” he said.
Diaz said the only minor problem is that one of their jet skis has an engine trouble.
The administration proclaimed Dec. 4 to 8 as Boating Safety Week.
Last year, Boating Safety officers responded to three jet ski accidents, one jet ski-vessel accident, three capsized jet ski, two sunken jet ski, three vessels that ran aground, four capsized vessels, four sunken vessels, two stranded kayaks, and two banana boat accidents.
The officers also responded to three open water drowning cases, one stranded fisherman, one stranded diver, and two stranded surfers.
BSS noted that there were less distress boat reports, fewer vessel accidents, and no boat accident-related fatality so far this year, compared to the previous two years.
