Managing a marina is quite a task, and you need help ensuring the safety of everyone in and around the facility. There are a few tips you can use to make your marina safer, and you can also reach out to our team if you need guidance. We’re happy to help in any way we can, and we also offer insurance solutions that will safeguard your biggest investment.
Non-Slip Shoes on the Dock
Boat shoes. Non-slip shoes. Non-marking outsoles. No matter how you put it, everyone should be wearing non-slip footwear. This is the most important part of working anywhere near the water. In effect, the ground is wet all the time. Even if the sky is clear and it hasn’t rained for days, you can be sure that water is pooling in different parts of the marina.
Post signage requiring non-marking outsoles or non-slip footwear. You might also want to keep a collection of non-slip shoes on-hand for visitors to use. Preventing incidents now is much cheaper in the long run.
Properly Handle Fuel and Oil Stored at the Marina
The fuel and oil stored around your facility must be handled properly. Fuel and oil could leak and cause an environmental disaster, which could include citations from local, state, or federal agencies. Moreover, it’s dangerous to have leaking oil and fuel in the vicinity because it could lead to illness, cause a fire, or even explode.
If you don’t have protocols for handling fuel and oil, you should set up those protocols immediately.You may also want to invest in better storage tanks, improved fueling devices, and/or even hire someone to oversee fuel safety or the management of on-site chemicals.
Should You Swim at the Marina?
Swimming at a marina is the biggest no-no of them all. First, boats are meant to transit the marina throughout the day and night. Second, the marina is not designed for swimming. There’s no way for the marina owner or management to ensure that every section of the marina is free of debris that would be harmless to a boat but harmful for swimmers.
Require Life Jackets at the Marina
Requiring everyone to wear a life jacket while at the marina is a good way to protect all your guests, owners, and visitors. This is the safest thing to do because don’t know who can swim and who cannot. Plus, there’s no way to know what state someone might be in when they arrive.
Boats are a fun place to party, and if a partier falls off a boat, you want to demonstrate that you required basic safety precautions, showing that you are doing everything in your power to protect guests or boat owners.
Sell Personal Locator Beacons
Selling personal locator beacons is a good way to protect all boat owners and guests. Personal locator beacons are a unique form of technology that allows the local authorities to track someone who is lost. This is far safer than simply hoping nothing bad happens. Plus, you can mix locator beacons with life jackets and non-slip shoes to keep everyone as safe as possible.
Offer Weather Updates to Marina Guests
You can offer weather updates to boat owners and guests in the same way an airport would. Post weather reports at the entrance of the marina. Plus, you might offer a standing frequency all boat owners can call that lists the current weather conditions and prevailing forecast.
Some marinas might even create a mobile app that allows owners or guests to check the weather at any time.
Require a Designated Skipper
Post signage around the property that requires the use of a designated skipper when boats leave the marina. While it’s difficult to force your owners to use a designated skipper, posting this rule is better than nothing. You want everyone to know that you’re running a business based on safety, a place where rampant partying and drunk piloting simply are not allowed.
Require a Designated Skipper
Finally, ask all your boat owners for a float plan before they set off. This is a basic safety measure that helps you know where boats are going, meaning that you can share with the authorities what the pilot said they were doing before they set off. Without this information, your business could be accused of negligence because you simply let boats come and go as they please.
Contact Us for More Information on Marina Insurance
Reach out to our seasoned insurance team at Cormarc when you want to learn more about marina insurance or other forms of marine coverage. We have decades of experience in the industry, and we can help you mitigate risk, reduce costs, and create a safer environment for your team.