More than 500 boats assessed in three years in Ceará

With charms the coast of Ceará is full. The beauties that come from the sea, however, counteract the imminent dangers of careless navigation, which should be a warning to authorities and, above all, seafaring users. Over the past three years, the Port Authority of Ceará (CPCE) has carried out 6,023 approaches to sailboats, catamarans, yachts and other vessels aimed at passenger transport. Of these, 900 assessed for irregularities, resulting in 582 assessments.

 

This year alone, the 112 naval inspections conducted by the agency resulted in 1,122 sea-based approaches. Of these vessels, 122 were charged. In 2017, five ended up being interdicted for the poor state of conservation.

 

Receiving authorization for this type of navigation in the state, however, goes far beyond finding the good physical condition of boats. According to explain Lieutenant Francisco does Horizonte, head of the support department of the Port Authority of Ceará, crew, and drivers need to be qualified directly by the agency. Also, owners need the Vessel Registration Title (TIE), also issued by the Captaincy, valid for five years.

 

In addition to the documents, the inspection teams verify in the approaches security items necessary for navigation, as he points out. “We see if the boat offers safe conditions, if it has a life jacket for everyone, if it is within easy reach, if there is a fire extinguisher within its validity, if the bilge pump is operating, if the horn the boat and the navigation lights are working, as well as lifebuoys. The boats that transport in the cove need to fill a passenger list so that, at the end of the tour, they have control, “explains Captain Horizon.

 

According to him, the work of inspection is intermittent and can happen at any time of day, but is intensified on weekends, when the flow of navigation increases. Also according to the captain, who hire the services of excursions or events at sea can be aware of the regularity of the vessel by contacting the Port Authority and providing the name. Already onboard, users should also be aware of the availability of life safety vests, and if the equipment has the TIE visible for consultation.

 

Late yesterday afternoon, the crew boarded a sailboat in Mucuripe Cove just as it was preparing to receive passengers. The boat was regular and the Captaincy took the opportunity to make passengers aware of safety standards.

 

For the merchant, Augusto Pereira da Silva, 50, a tourist from Rio de Janeiro, the main thing is the use of the life jacket with reflective material. “Especially because I don’t know how to swim. It’s not the first time I’ve done this tour, so I trust everything is regular,” he says.

 

For businessman Fernando Costa, who came with his wife and couple of small children to Ceará, checking all the items is indispensable. “The first thing I checked is if the boat containing all the safety items. Family travel we seek safety coupled with the pleasure of getting to know the city.”

 

“There are boats that sometimes don’t go out because they embark. They look at everything from salvage material to documentation,” he says, citing that during the last inspection, teams looked at whether the boats had “extinguishers, vests sew on reflective tape, lighting and the boat is in the day”. According to him, one of his vessels was even notified of problems with an item. “I was missing a light signal. Again, I was fined because my boat left here for Mucuripe with three fishermen and one of them was not qualified.”

 

Owning a boat requires the salvaged structure of the owner capable of not compromising the safety of crew and passengers. At the same time, supervision is necessary to identify irregularities. According to Nonato Silva, 56, who owns two fishing boats in Barra do Ceará, the inspection carried out by the Port Authority is “rigorous” and happens frequently.

 

Jorge Gomes, 50, has been working for 30 years as a fisherman from the Ceará River to distant seas, from where he earns his family. Despite decades of experience, he celebrates the fact that he was never notified. This is because, according to him, the used fishing boat is always under maintenance. Yesterday afternoon, the transport was undergoing repairs.

 

“The boat had to go to repair because when we were on the high seas, we noticed that water was getting out of control. We left and started to fix it, changing boards and nailing everything to avoid breakages,” describes the fisherman. , who will need to move away from the office for about 15 days, the deadline for the completion of the reform.

 

Although the period away from work is considered by him to belong, the fisherman understands that the absence of the sea is important given the vulnerable conditions of the boat. All to exercise what he calls “art” without inconvenience. “It has to be all right. We mainly win, because only then can we fish safely and free of fines.”

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