Disposal of out of date flares 

Statement: Stuart Carruthers, RYA Cruising Manager, 13 April 2011

“The RYA welcomes the provision by the MCA through HM Coastguard of free, lawful and safe reception facilities for out of date flares across the country. However, the RYA believes that suppliers of new flares should take greater responsibility for the disposal of old out of date ones.  

“If the MCA’s reception facilities are not convenient then the RYA strongly recommends that when boaters need to buy new flares they do so from a supplier that will also take their out of dates ones back in return.  

“The RYA does not believe that the relatively minor inconvenience of having to deliver out of date flares to a reception facility, to choose a supplier who will take them or to arrange for them to be collected will encourage responsible yachtsmen to behave illegally by dumping them at sea. We have received a high volume of calls from yachtsmen seeking advice on the disposal of out of date flares, which suggests to us that boaters wish to ensure that they dispose of their flares responsibly.  

“In addition the RYA provides advice that has been endorsed by the MCA and RNLI on alternatives for those who choose not to carry Pyrotechnics on their craft.”