Following precautionary sea measures are mandatory in Kuwait

The Ministry of Interior's Assistant Undersecretary for Border Security Affairs, Major General Sheikh Mohammad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, stressed on Wednesday the need to adhere to rules and regulations when riding boats and driving jet-skis for the safety of the sea-goers. The Interior Ministry has launched a security campaign in order to provide the sea-goers with maximum security and safety, and to put an end to any violations in this regard, following the directives by the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, said Maj. Gen. Sheikh Mohammad. The campaign, supervised by the ministry's undersecretary Lieutenant General Ghazi Al-Omar and implemented by the Directorate-General of the Kuwait Coast Guard, included all marine areas in order to maintain safety of sea-goers and eliminate violations of law, he added. The campaign resulted in inspecting numerous violations, banning vehicles involved in reckless vehicular acts, as well as renting and driving jet-skis without the possession of licenses, he added. Sheikh Mohammad noted that the boats and jet-skis must be registered with the Department of Maritime Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation in accordance with the law procedures that meet the marine surveys and safety and security requirements. The drivers of the jet-skis and boats must be at least of 18 years old, know how to swim, use life jackets, drive slowly from the start and return points of a 200 meter distance from the beach, in addition to following starting points set by the Maritime Affairs Department with the Directorate-General of the Coast Guard, he noted. Drivers also must not go near entrances of harbors and marinas as the jet-skis should be two nautical miles away off of shore and at a distance from ships and boats. Sheikh Mohammad noted that drivers must not operate their jet-skis after sunset. The drivers must have the registration number placed on their jet-skis and boats clearly on both sides, he said, adding that the fine of having an unregistered mechanism can reach up to KD 1,000 as the fine of non-compliance with the regulations can reach KD 500. Maj. Gen. Sheikh Mohammad called on the drivers to take into account the safety and security measures as well as maintaining their vehicles, in addition to being aware of weather conditions prior to taking any trips, refueling when needed, and taking necessary food and drink.