Out of Date Flares and MRCC Response

[FishyInverness]

Is anyone else experiencing a reluctance on behalf of an MRCC to assist in the disposal of flares?

The following document : http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelA...ingbywater/Usingpleasurecraftsafely/DG_185790
indicates that the MRCC should be contacted and infers that an appointment will be made at a sector base for flares to be disposed of, or that advice will be given of how to dispose of them safely.

I'm seeing a worrying increase (and perhaps this is more to the commercial operators than leisure, but i'm not sure it is exclusive), in customers who have contacted their MRCC and been told to return the flares to the place where they bought them.

All very well if that place is a licensed disposal centre, but if it's a chandlery only licensed to carry a certain quantity of explosive material (the amount for sale) it's just impossible. If the retailer doesn't operate this "take back" scheme, then it falls back to the MRCC to arrange this, and as I say, the feedback i'm getting is that there seems to be a reluctance...

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this phenomenon?

 

[Searush]

That isn't going to get any better when you have to drive 100 miles to the CG call centre & find that there is no access for the public - is it?

I have heard of people who walk into a Police sations with a supermarket plastic bag full of old flares & say "I found this dumped outside my house" . . .

 

[EdWingfield]

celebrate Guy Fawkes's failure

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I've never bothered.

I know that some will throw their arms up in horror but the few out of date flares which I have had to dispose of I've used, well inland, open countryside etc etc, around November 5th or New Year.

From the lack of helicopters, police, fire service rushing to my aid I'm confident that it's never caused a problem.

Good practice so that I know what I'm in for should the time come.
I wonder how many people have never set off a flare?

 

[prv]

celebrate Guy Fawkes's failure

Someone did that at my New Year's party last year (not with my prior knowledge). The red hand-flares didn't cause too much bother (he just looked like a fat Statue of Liberty) but letting off a smoke in a crowded garden was a) pointless, in the dark and b) somewhat anti-social.

He had some parachute rockets as well, but sanity prevailed on that one.

Pete

 

[Talbot]

celebrate Guy Fawkes's failure

Celebrate or commiserate?

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Celebrate or commiserate?

Good point!!!

 

[Avocet]

I live in a fairly rural location and have let off hand-held flares on November 5th. As Rigger says, good practice. I do, however, have a couple of parachute flares and a floating smoke flare that I haven't had the bottle to try that with, and I really ought to dispose of them as they're well past their expiry dates now.

 

[FishyInverness]

Having just read this month's PBO article on this matter it seems it's: "Round and Round the TEP goes, where it stops, nobody....cares...(except when it's an offence if you dump it or let it off)"

The MCA or Government have no legal responsibility to take them, the suppliers have no legal licence to hold them, and the user has no legal right to fire them except in a life-threatening emergency

Fantastic paradox! No wonder the "common sense" approach seems to be to fire them as far inland as possible at a time when the sky is already full of lights, smoke and sparks...

 

[Ubergeekian]

I only have handhelds. I am giving some thought to a brick-built enclosure about 2' x 2' x 2' with a paving slab lid, a flare sized hole in the side, a clamp and a mallet.

 

[Juggler7823]

TEPs

I phoned Liverpool MRCC located at Crosby and arranged a date and time. Arrived at time and date, used intercom, waited no more than 3 mins. Man inspected flares for condition and locked them away. No cost. EASY

 

[FishyInverness]

Excellent, good to hear a positive regarding one centre at least!

 

[rickym]

Had no problem last year at Brixham CG with some 25 year old ones.

Hants police I believe take em in also.

 

[KellysEye]

We take ours to a large police station - large because they all have a lead lined container for explosives. I didn't claim to find them in a plastic bag I just told them they were from our boat. It took quite a while because they wanted to list every flare. Other than that no issues and they were very pleasant. Highly recommended.

 

[FishyInverness]

Ok, seems to be that on the face of it, it's only seemed to happen regional to us! That's answered my question, cheers!

 

[PilotWolf]

Not so good down south if you're commercial. Lee on Solent wouldn't take them and the supplier with whom we spend a lot of money wanted to charge up to £10 (each item!) for disposal as that was what they had to pay.

W.

 

[Bilgediver]

That isn't going to get any better when you have to drive 100 miles to the CG call centre & find that there is no access for the public - is it?

I have heard of people who walk into a Police sations with a supermarket plastic bag full of old flares & say "I found this dumped outside my house" . . .

Are you surprised??? Seems the police are finding them all over the place now the Mrcc are playing hard to get. You can only deliver to the MRCC if you have made an appointment which is supposed to coordinate with a visit from the disposal agent. He can only carry so much so as to be within the Dangerous Goods act or whatever as out of date flares are very much restricted in how much and how they may be carried by road.Seems to be a story of sloping shoulders now though some chandlers will take them for a nominal charge if you buy new ones.

 

[rhumlady]

I believe your nearest collection point is Cruden Bay! Followed by Stornoway and then Girvan. All Coastguard and all need to be contacted first to arrange times. This was published at te begining of last year I believe and was a hot topic here abouts for a while. I remember nobody being certain if there was any CG presents in Cruden Bay. There are 17 collection points around the coast and all are equally obscure i think.

 

[Rowana]

Phoned Aberdeen to arrange time at Cruden Bay. Asked the usual questions - Name, Address, Number and type of TEPS Etc,Etc. When I arrived at the appointed time, the guy just took them from me and added to his pile already sitting on his bench. Didn't even ask my name, or even if I had made an appointment, just took them.

No hassle whatsoever.

 

[Doghousekeeper]

Had a problem once at Girvan because their storage was full and they asked me to try again 2 weeks later, following the collection from them. When I phoned back it all went very smoothly, and very pleasant and helpful to deal with