MARINE
INSURANCE SERVICES
62 Commonwealth Road, Barrie, Ontario, L4M OC9, (705) 728-7437, FAX
(705) 730-0518
NEWSFLASH
Proof of
Competency...
Are you aware that you need a licence to operate any boat (including jet-skis)
less than 4 metres (13.2 feet) in length? Most people are now aware of
the boat licence, but many small vessel operators have not yet fulfilled this
requirement.
The new boat operator’s regulations came into effect on April 1, 1999.
From that date, additional regulations were placed on persons operating
pleasure craft fitted with a motor. What are these regulations?
1) If you were born after March 31, 1983, you must have proof of operator
competency from September 15, 1999. You need your 'boat licence' in order
to operate any vessel with a motor, regardless of size.
2) If you operate a power boat of less than 4 metres (13.2 feet) at the
waterline (including personal watercraft), you must have proof of competency
from September 15, 2002, regardless of your age.
3) All other power boat operators must have proof of competency by September
15, 2009.
4) From April 1, 1999, a person under 12 years of age must be directly
supervised (by a person 16 years old or older) to operate a vessel over 10
horsepower. Also, a person over age 12 but under 16 must be directly
supervised (by a person 16 years old or older) to operate a vessel over 40
horsepower.
5) In addition, you must be at least 16 years of age to operate a Personal
Watercraft.
Penalties
What happens to you if you fail to have this proof of competency? Police
are busy checking for operator competency on the waterways, and issuing hefty
fines of up to $250.00. Police can also impound the vessel until proof of
competency is provided. Perhaps more importantly, insurance companies
have the right to deny any claim that you may have while operating a vessel
without proof of competency, if required. The Competency of Operators of
Pleasure Craft Regulations are legal regulations. Operating a boat
without a licence (if required) is much like driving a car without a
licence. The Regulations also state that no owner of a pleasure craft
shall allow a person to operate the vessel unless that person has proof of
competency and proof of age on board--so clearly there are increased duties of
boat owners as well as operators.
In November 2009, Michael Downer became a
member of the International Association of
Marine Investigators, Inc. (IAMI).
The IAMI is a volunteer-based organization based in Oregon USA,
dedicated to reducing marine insurance fraud. This organization provides marine-based seminars, as well as
a means for members (marine surveyors and appraisers, insurance adjusters, law
enforcement professionals and others) for share information on many marine
topics.
In June
2008, Michael Downer was re-elected Chair of the Insurance Institute of
Canada—Georgian Bay Chapter, for a one-year term position. He held this position from June
2006. From June 1999 through June
2006, Michael Downer served as Education Co-ordinator and Vice Chair Academic
for the Georgian Bay Chapter of the Insurance Institute of Ontario, having
previously served the Chapter as Treasurer.
Since 1994, Michael has
instructed many Insurance Institute of Canada Associateship/CIP courses, including
C11 Principles and Practice of Insurance, C13 Insurance Against Liability, C43
Specialty Lines and C35 Insurance Against Crime. Michael is active in teaching
IIC courses throughout the year and proctoring IIC exams. In 2004, the
Insurance Institute of Ontario presented Michael with an 'Outstanding
Instructor' award. Periodically, Marine Insurance Services puts on Marine Seminars at
our offices and other locations.
Michael Downer is the current Past-Chairman of the Insurance Institute
of Ontario, Georgian Bay Chapter.
Marine Insurance Services
has copies of Michael Downer's Summary Notes for Insurance Institute of Canada
Associateship courses--available at no charge! These courses include C11
Principles and Practice of Insurance, C13 Insurance Against Liability, C35
Insurance Against Crime, C42 Principles and Practice of Marine Insurance, C43
Specialty Lines, C39 Fraud Awareness and Prevention, and C32 Property Damage
Appraisal. These notes are now also posted on the Internet in their
entirety in internet (HTML) format, and are available to anyone who wishes to
use them. You can download these notes by going to our Courses section.
Copies of The Associate
Board Game, developed by our offices, are currently available for IIC
Instructors for loan, with questions for several IIC courses! The Insurance
Institute of Canada produced this game, and sent copies to every Institute
chapter across Canada. Please contact
us for more information about any of these free offers.
A prototype of The Associate Board Game
Michael B. Downer, A.A., B.Sc.,
C.I.P., President
Marine
Insurance Services E-Mail
downer@marineinsureservices.com
HOME
MEMBERS: IIC, OMSA, ABYC, IAMI
A Division of 1134935 Ontario Limited