Flares disposal day at Sovereign Harbour this weekend

Premier Marinas, in collaboration with Sovereign Harbour Berth Holders’ Association, will be holding a Safety Day at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne, on Saturday 26 March from 10am to 2pm.

In conjunction with disposal expert, Seago Yachting, it will be a chance for boat owners to bring along out of date flares, have them checked and disposed of safely. Members of the Berth Holders’ Association will be charged £1, and visitors will be charged £2 per flare disposal.

“This event is a good reminder for boat owners to check expiry dates on safety equipment regularly and replace them before they expire – so that they can be sure to be properly equipped in an emergency,” says Sovereign Harbour’s marina manager, Daniel Heckford.

There will also be the opportunity for boat owners to have their lifejackets checked and meet the local RNLI Water Safety Team, with all profits being donated to this charity.

For those who intend to dispose of a large number of flares, please call the marina on 01323 470099 or email eastbourne@premiermarinas.com.

Pains Wessex is also holding a series of flare amnesty days this spring

Meanwhile, pyrotechnic marine flare manufacturer Pains Wessex has also announced a new series of flare amnesty days for spring 2022.

Giving the public a safe and convenient route to dispose of out-of-date flares, Pains Wessex says its amnesty days are open for all boaters to hand over their old pyrotechnics, regardless of the brand, age or condition. The sessions will be held at accessible locations along the South Coast, kicking off next month.

Each of the days will run from 10am to 3pm, and customers will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. Readers can find details below:

2 April – Sea Safety Day at Macsalvores, The Boathouse, Commercial Road, Penryn, TR10 8AE
23 April – Sea Safety Day at Universal Marina, Crableck Lane, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, SO31 7ZN
14 May – Pains Wessex Flare Amnesty at Poole Yacht Club, The Yacht Haven, New Harbour Road West, Hamworthy, Poole, BH15 4AQ

Anyone using the service is invited to make a cash donation for the flare disposal, which will go towards a series of charities. For Penryn, the donations will go to the local RNLI station, Cornwall Air Ambulance and Southwest First Responders. For Poole and Southampton, the charities are the Jubilee Sailing Trust, the local RNLI stations, Wetwheels Foundation and Sail2Help.

Pains Wessex Sales Executive, Ally Ogg, says: “Having a working flare onboard can be lifesaving in an emergency situation. Marine flares are the most globally recognised method of signalling distress and it is vital that everyone keeps their kit up to date. We are making it easy for boaters to bring their out-of-date flares to us to dispose of, safely and responsibly, and to replace them at a discounted price.”