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ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER JUNE 2004 PENDER ISLAND
POWER & SAIL SQUADRON
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ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER JUNE 2004 PENDER ISLAND
POWER & SAIL SQUADRON
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EDITOR'S NOTES
Welcome to the ninth edition of our quarterly electronic newsletter. As usual, an e-mail version is available for members who lack or don’t use Internet browsers. E-mail addresses and URL’s for World Wide Web hot links in the text are also appended as footnotes.
Your contributions and suggestions for upcoming
issues would be much appreciated! Please send your ideas or articles to
the
editor.
IMPORTANT! RADIO STATION LICENCES STILL REQUIRED
May 31, 2004
To District and Squadron Commanders, Training Officers and VHF Registered Examiners
R/C Keith Roberts, SN, Course Director, Maritime Radio Seminar, has asked that the following information regarding radio licences be forwarded at the request of Industry Canada:
“In 1999 we de-licenced marine and aeronautical
and entered into negotiations with the United States for a reciprocal agreement
for aircraft and boaters crossing the border into the USA, the idea being
that we would not require a licence
in either country. Recently, in post 9/11
USA, other issues have taken the forefront and this issue was relegated
to the back burner for the time being and an agreement was not reached.
As you are all aware, our exemption only applies in Canadian and International waters. When a vessel or aircraft is in the sovereign territory of any foreign administration, the provisions of the ITU apply, which requires that all stations be licenced unless there is a treaty between the administrations involved.
Since we do not have a treaty at this point in time, from this day forward, we should advise our clients enquiring about travel into the USA (air or marine) that they will require a licence to fully comply with international law. It may save someone's holiday by explaining that in these post 9/11 days of increasing uncertainty, you never know when zero tolerance attitudes may surface and cause travellers grief if their paper work is not all in order. It is fairly inexpensive to obtain and maintain your Canadian licencing, and these days licencing, operators certificates and passports are all considered very good things to have.
If anyone has questions please contact Jim Laursen at Laursen dot Jim at ic dot gc dot ca or Michael Krenz at Industry Canada.”
Editor’s note: ITU stands for International Telecommunication Union (2.) Additional information was received on June 12, as follows:
How to obtain/renew a Station Licence
1) You can renew a lapsed radio licence provided
it just lapsed this year (April 2004) by contacting the local IC office.
(See Radiocom
Information Circular 66 (3.) to find a list of IC offices).
If a licence is unpaid / delinquent / cancelled, it is purged from the
system in the fall, and no record will remain. This likely means that lapsed
licences will be “renewable” for another few months before a new application
is required.
2) An application for a new licence may be obtained from your local IC office, a local supplier or via the web (4.) using a PDF document you can print out. It is titled IC-2378: Application for a Maritime Mobile Radio Station Licence for a Voluntarily Fitted Ship. You will need to send it to the nearest district office as listed in Radiocom Information Circular 66. (3.)
3) Short term licences are available but realistically, they are not really the way to go. They are only available monthly and after a couple of months cost the same as doing one yearly licence, (which is about $36), also with the yearly licence, you only do the paperwork once.
There is hope that we will have a reciprocal agreement
with the USA someday soon but more pressing matters are being dealt with
right now.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 6 - 8: VISD Rendezvous
The annual summer social weekend for CPS members
from South Vancouver Island District has become a popular tradition. This
year it will be held from Friday August 6 to Sunday August 8 at Otter Bay
Marina. The name of the event has been changed from Gathering to Rendezvous.
We Penderites don't need to have boats to participate in this convivial
event! July 23 is the deadline for registration. Please check the members
section of the VISD web site (5.)
for the schedule, cost and other information. An e-mail message containing
the details will also be sent to members soon.
August 28: Fall Fair
The Squadron will once again have a presence at
the Fall Fair. You will be able to sign up for courses at our booth. If
any family members or friends are novice boaters, or are experienced ones
lacking a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, please encourage them to take the
CPS boating course this fall.
2004/05 BRIDGE
The following list has also been sent to all members with e-mail. Telephone numbers were included in that message. Please note that an incorrect phone number was given for Tom Kieffer. Please contact the editor if you need Tom's new telephone number.
Commander: Frank Weniger
Past Commander: Sara Steil
Exec. Officer: Nick Samson
Training Officer: Marti Tilley
Secretary: Helen Lemon-Moore
Treasurer: Dick Steil
P.R.O: Carol Budnyk
Assist. PRO & Historian: Pim Manning
Membership: Nancy Coutts
Socials Officer: TBA
A.T.O: (Galiano): Jack Paine
A.T.O: (Pender): Sid Nightingale
A.T.O: (Pender): Ken Coutts
Chief Proctor: Bob Rose
Supply Officer: Ken Coutts
Environment Officer: John Cowan
Programs/Events: Steve Fisher & Rich Fox
Editor (email newsletter): Fran Rose
Communications: Fran Rose
Officer at Large: Tony Merry
Port Captain: Chuck Spence
Auditor: Tom Kieffer
REMINDER FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
Many thanks to those Squadron members who have
paid their current membership fees. They are in the majority. However there
are still quite a few people who have either forgotten to renew for 2004/05
or have been putting it off. Renewing has become very convenient now that
there is a secure online membership renewal page on the Canadian
Power Squadron (1.) web site. You will need to have
your membership renewal invoice and a credit card handy.
TRAINING NEWS
At the Vancouver Island South District AGM on May 8, our Squadron received two District awards.
For the third time and the second year in a row, we were awarded the Marc van Hasselt Trophy for the squadron with the highest average mark in Piloting. Students Sid Nightingale and Roger Pilkington under the tutelage of Gerry Moore obtained an average mark of 95.5%!
Also for the third time, Pender Island has been awarded the Boatwise Memorial Trophy for the VISD squadron most active in Boatwise or youth training programs. The trophy was donated by James and Sylvia Horvath of Oak Bay Squadron in memory of all Canadian Power and Sail Squadron members who have passed into a time where The seas are calm, the sky is blue and the wind always light.
The week of May 31-June 04 was a busy one for some
members of our Squadron as they taught the Boat Pro boating safety course
to the Pender Island Elementary Secondary School Grade 8 class. Through
the generosity of Chuck Spense, we were once again able to use the facilities
at Otter Bay Marina. Squadron members Bob Rose, Denis Budnyk, Tony Merry,
and Jess Willows (who was also the teacher from the school) were joined
by Ian Elliott from Search and Rescue, and Cst. Greg Hepner of the RCMP
to offer instruction and practical work on boating safety. Sue Kronen of
Kayak Pender Island along with volunteer guides gave kayaking skills instruction
each afternoon. All the students passed the CCG exam—the class average
was 92.5%—and will be receiving their Pleasure Craft Operators Card. Thanks
everyone for another special week! This year marked the seventh time we
have provided this course.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S REPORT
It is with mixed emotions that I tender my last report to you as your Executive Officer. However I know that I am leaving the position in good hands. On April 29 I attended the Regional Boating Advisory Council, Coast Guard Pacific meeting in Vancouver. Here are some of the highlights.
The Canadian Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety, which is responsible for recreational vessels, has been transferred to Transport Canada. (6.) Mr. Jim Lawson is the Regional Director of Transport Canada-Marine in Vancouver. The Regional Boating Advisory Council will continue to operate so recreational boaters still have a vehicle for airing opinions and offering advice.
Anchoring restrictions for False Creek are still being developed.
Vessel licencing has been handed over to Transport
Canada, but until such time as they can come up with a decision re licencing
it will be run in the interim by Canada
Border Services Agency. (7.) (On December 12, 2003, the
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) became the Canada
Revenue Agency (CRA). (8.) The customs program is now part
of the new Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Senate Bill S-8 An Act concerning personal watercraft in navigable waters, received third reading (9.) on March 11 but did not reach the House of Commons before the election call. The bill would have required the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, upon the request of a local authority which had consulted widely in the relevant community, to make regulations forbidding or restricting the use of personal watercraft in designated waterways in that local area. It is possible that the same or a similar piece of legislation could succeed the next time around, given that Senator Mira Spivak, an independent from Manitoba who sponsored the bill, will remain in the Senate until 2009.
The Small Vessel Regulations are being reviewed. A revised version should be available by early 2006.
Negotiations with the provincial government regarding implementation of provisions of the federal Contraventions Act have recommenced. Current procedure is that the RCMP has to be called to issue a summons to take the accused to court. A simpler solution such as a ticket would be preferable.
Operator competency reform is still being worked on so there is still no report to bring back to PCOC providers. Following the recent government reorganization, Transport Canada will have to provide the tests.
NDI (the provider of electronic charts for the Canadian Hydrographic Service) has increased their royalties by 50% so many Canadian boat supply retailers are not renewing their stocks. As of June 15, NDI products are still available at discount prices from the Canadian Power Squadron Stores via the web site (10). However none of the products offered there are dated, although the site is Copyright 2004. If you need up to date electronic charts you might want to contact CPS stores by telephone or consider perhaps purchasing them in the USA. The following phone numbers on the bottom of the Ship’s Stores welcome page, are for CPS as a whole: 416-293-2438 Fax 416-293-2445 Toll Free 1-888-277-2628.
Disposal of derelict vessels is more of a problem
than ever. The Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson's former vessel, is one of the
long standing concerns.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
From John's May Pender Post report
Seal pup season is here and some of us will be in the position of observing a baby seal apparently abandoned on a beach somewhere. A normal infant gains about half a kilo a day, weighing around 20 kilos at two weeks. It should display a healthy fear of humans. What do we do when we observe a pup in trouble?
Local seals, almost without exception, are harbour seals (Phoca vitulina). Normal healthy infant harbour seals are able to swim within an hour or two after birth and will not be widely separated from the mother. The mother may leave her pup alone while she makes a short feeding trip, although she is well able to go without food for the entire nursing period. More than two or three hours though, and you are very likely observing an abandoned pup in distress. A seal pup will dehydrate quickly with decreasing chances of survival unless you act quickly by calling the Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre (11.) on Salt Spring at (250) 537-0777 for advice.
The Care Centre is unique on the west coast, being the only facility of its kind open year round. It is well equipped to provide treatment and rehabilitation to the wild for seals, caring for a record ninety in 2003. The Centre also has extensive units for the rehabilitation of injured raptors, deer and beaver. It’s director, Jeff Lederman, makes no judgement on an animal’s endangered status. He and his staff of volunteers and interns will treat just about any animal in need.
A network of volunteers transports animals from the outer islands to Salt Spring, usually by private boat. The only islands not well served are the Penders, Jeff states. So here is a valuable cause for Pender boat owners. If you are willing to transport an orphaned or injured animal to Salt Spring please give Jeff a call so he can add some Pender names to the network. Although the Centre is at the north end of Salt Spring, Jeff says transport to the government dock in Ganges is all that is required as the Centre’s Salt Spring volunteers will take over from there.
The Centre urges dog owners to keep a close eye or leash on their pets while at the beach. An infant seal is no match for a dog and will end up the loser. And it’s no use repeatedly pushing an exhausted seal pup into the water, as Jeff says people sometimes do—just give the Centre a call.
The Island Wildlife Natural Care Centre is a registered
charity whose provincial support has been axed. Donations to the Centre
are more vital and welcome than ever.
CANPASS Programme, from John's July Pender Post report
With fuel prices at a peak, this is an ideal time for boaters crossing the border frequently to consider joining Canada Border Services Agency's CANPASS programme. (12.) The introduction of new reporting sites for CANPASS members can save both fuel and time.
CANPASS was drastically curtailed after the September 2001 tightening of border security, but has been reintroduced this spring in a meaningful way on the west coast. The new programme allows approved boaters to report inwards to Canada not only at “designated” ports of entry such as Bedwell Harbour, Sidney and Victoria, but also at “permit only” sites.
These sites now include Cabbage Island, Ganges, Montague Harbour, Horton Bay, Miner’s Bay and Port Browning. Permit-only sites facilitate reporting and allow one to avoid possibly lengthy detours to a designated port of entry open to all boaters.
CANPASS works like this—boaters using CANPASS permit-only sites must comply with the following rules:
All on board must be approved CANPASS members. One non-CANPASS person on board means you revert to using a regular, designated port of entry.
A telephone report 2 to 4 hours prior to arrival in Canada must be made to Canada Border Services Agency. You must arrive at your estimated time. Any changes must be made by telephone before actual arrival.
A CANPASS arrival does not mean your vessel will not be examined. CBSA agents may be on site expecting you. As usual, documentary proof of citizenship must be available for examination, as well as the vessel's registry or licence.
The catch is, of course, CANPASS is not free.
A 5 year membership is currently priced at $40.00 per adult, with 18 and
under family members at no additional charge. The fee is payable
on application and is not refundable, so there’s not much point in applying
if you have a criminal conviction or a string of customs and immigration
violations under your belt. Further information and applications
are available online(13.)
or you could call toll-free at 1-800-461-9999. You'll reach a living CANPASS
representative at (604) 535-9346.
About harassment of whales, also from John's July Pender Post report
Speaking of convictions (!), there have been two this year relating to harassment of whales. Both resulted in fines of $6,500.00 against the guilty parties. Remember that regulations in both Canada and the U.S. prohibit the harassment or disturbance of marine mammals and more people are observing and reporting boaters’ behaviour that is just not “on”.
These common sense regulations apply to whales, dolphins and porpoises:
Speed is to be reduced to 7 knots or less within 400 metres of the pod.
No approach closer than 100 metres is to be made intentionally. If a boater finds himself “unexpectedly” within 100m the vessel is to be stopped immediately until the animals clear.
Avoid approaching from in front or from behind. Approach and depart from the side and keep clear of the whale's path.
Avoid approaching if the mammal is close to shore.
As a general rule you should move on after about 30 minutes.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has a 24 hour hotline to report harassment or distress of cetaceans. The number is 1-800-465-4336. Their motto is Observe, Record and Report so try and record as many details as you can of the objectionable (and illegal) behaviour you may be observing. These would include time; location and relative positions of whale(s) and vessel(s), and; names or licence numbers of vessels involved. The more witnesses the better, of course.
(Editor’s note:)
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is proposing to amend
the existing Marine Mammal Regulations of the Fisheries Act. The first
round of consultations occurred during the winter of 2003 to receive input
and feedback on proposed areas of change. A second round of consultations
is planned for the fall/winter of 2004/05. See the Marine
Mammal Regulation Consultations (14.) web site if you are
curious or wish to comment or participate.
PHOTO GALLERY
Thanks to Executive Officer Lt/C Nick Samsom for
these digital memories taken at the Change of Watch event on Friday, May
14 at the home of Keith Lacey.
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and Bob looks on. |
CPS CRUISE
Member’s Moorings on the CPS
web site includes information about a 7 day Celebrity cruise to the Caribbean
February 13 - 20, 2005 aboard the Millennium. Ports of call will
include Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte
Amalie, St. Thomas and Nassau, Bahamas. To sign on to Member's Moorings,
you will need your membership number and postal code. The cruise details
are just under the Toronto conference icon, near the top of the page.
RECENT BACK ISSUES OF THE ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
April, 2004
December, 2003
September, 2003
June, 2003
FOOTNOTES
1. http://www.cps-ecp.ca/english/index.html
2. http://www.itu.int/home/
3. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf01742e.html
4. http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf06053e.html
5. http://www.visd.org/
6. http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/transfer.htm
7. http://www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSafety/Ships-and-operations-standards/faq.htm#11
8. http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/agency/namechange-e.html
9. http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/3/parlbus/chambus/senate/bills/public/pdf/s-8_3.pdf
10. http://www.cps-ecp.ca/shipstore/english/ndi_products.htm
11. http://www.sealrescue.org/
12. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel/canpass/canpassprivateboat-e.html
13. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4074/README.html
14. http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pages/consultations/marinemammals/default_e.htm
Editor: Lt Fran Rose (S)
Phone: 629-2060 E-Mail: frose at cablelan dot net
URL: http://www.cablelan.net/frose/PIPS.html