Plymouth UK based DJ Marine Services, specialists in boat handling safety training, are now producing a product which would have been most valuable on board the Evans boat at the time of the incident. Their personalised 'Boat Safety Manuals' are specifically designed for each individual boat and explain clearly and concisely where all the safety equipment is stored.

Clear, simple instructions are given for operation of the equipment and a step by step guide describes how to proceed in an emergency. Each manual is presented in a waterproof folder.

DJ Marine Services photograph both the equipment and its location on the boat. Written explanations alongside the photographs as they appear in the manual guide the crew as to its use.

These include critical items such as the VHF radio, flares and lights. New crew members and guests boarding the boat should be given the manual to familiarise themselves with its safety equipment, location and operating procedures.

The manual should be stored in an easily accessible designated location known to all on board.

Dave Morrish, founder and owner of DJ Marine Services, told MJ that while the structure of a vessel type may be consistent, equipment storage locations are not, hence the need for Boat Safety Manuals.

Preparation of the manual gives the owner/skipper an opportunity to question their own safety procedures, check if items such as flares are functional, lights are in working order, and first aid kits are properly stocked. It is not unusual for serious shortcomings in safety planning to come to light during preparation of the manual.

MJ Information No: 17619