MaltaToday campaign safety at sea

Ensuring everyone can enjoy the sea

Inspector Alexander Miruzzi of the ALE tells MIRIAM DUNN how the police are trying to educate people in a bid to make our waters safe

They Will admit their resources are limited and that their seacraft are not as fast as some of those they need to chase to apprehend, but nobody can accuse the Administrative Law Enforcement of not taking their sea patrols seriously.

Inspector Alexander Miruzzi, who heads this arm of the Police Force, tells MaltaToday that although he and his colleagues only began their patrols at the end of June, they have already booked over 70 individuals for offences related to abuse of the maritime regulations.

"Yes, we have problems, we could always do with more manpower, for example. The unit should have a complement of 30 and is currently operating with only 24 members. An extra six people would make a great difference," the inspector says. "But I am confident that people are aware of our presence around the coastline in a way that acts as a deterrent to abuse."

He explains that it can also be difficult for the ALE to give chase to very sophisticated seacraft.

"Although our speedboats and dinghy are good, there are some very powerful boats and jet skis around, and it can be difficult for us to catch these," he says.

The ALE operates a boat containing a complement of three policemen on a daily basis. On Sunday – the busiest day around Malta’s coastline – a second boat and dinghy also carry out patrols, with the unit dividing itself to undertake inspections around different parts of the island.

"We would be paying particular attention to the times at which people take their seacraft in and out of the harbour areas, in the morning and then again in the early evening," Insp. Miruzzi explains.

The offences for which people are booked range from operating seacraft without insurance or the necessary licence, to speeding and entering swimming zones.

I ask the inspector why he thinks such a high number of people operate their seacraft so irresponsibly.

"From what I’ve seen, I’ve formed the view that the problems and dangers we experience on our roads are, to an extent, translated to the water during the summer," he answers. "And I think we need to approach the problem in the same way that we do on the roads; not only enforcing the laws, but also by trying to change people’s mentality and educating them."

In line with this, although the ALE gives importance to enforcement, it also works hand in hand with owners and operators of seacraft in a bid to raise awareness about the dangers of irresponsible behaviour out at sea.

"Of course we apprehend offenders and we book them, but we also try to make people realise that if they are using seacraft in a hazardous way, they are putting themselves and others at risk," the inspector says.

He admits that one common problem the ALE is faced with stems from boat owners taking jet skis or dinghies out to sea, which they then permit their children to illegally operate.

"The ‘bona fide’ water sport operators are very strict about not hiring seacraft to under-18-year olds, but it is much more difficult to keep track of people who own jet-skis, for example, privately," the inspector says.

Other difficulties are caused by seacraft hire operators working without the necessary licences – a problem highlighted in this series by Paul Ebejer, the Chairman of the Water Sports’ Association.

Insp. Miruzzi told MaltaToday that the ALE tries to work alongside illegal operators, persuading them to get themselves registered and insured for their own sake and also their clients, rather than risk the possibility of a major civil suit if, God forbid, there is an accident.

"We believe this is the most sensible way to work," he says. "But I must also admit that we do sometimes have problems because the fines for illegal operators are insufficient, silly even. It is better for us to keep pressurising operators to get themselves licensed properly by making return visits to their premises, since this is probably far more effective than a Lm50 fine."

The ALE faces a number of challenges in its work.

Like most arms of the Police Force, its members have to fit court commitments into their busy schedule, while also getting roped in for extra duties such as fixed point guarding, which can take them away from their routine duties.

One specific problem that the ALE faces is that it has a very diverse portfolio of responsibilities, some of which, like its sea patrols and enforcement of the hunting regulations, are seasonal.

"This means that when the hunting season gets underway at the beginning of September, we are unable to maintain our sea patrols at the level we would like, even though it is still a busy time of year," the inspector admits.

On the plus side, the ALE is not alone in its sea patrols; it works hand in hand with the Armed Forces and the Civil Protection Unit.

However, Insp. Miruzzi believes that better co-ordination between the parties would produce a much better, more effective operation.

"The resources that are available are not that well co-ordinated," he explains. "It would make much more sense if plans were drawn up, for example, detailing which areas each service would patrol, or who would stay closer to the shore and who would stay further out to sea."

It is a busy time of year for the ALE, but generally speaking, Insp. Miruzzi is pleased with the progress he is witnessing out at sea.