Water towable tubes–banana

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    1. Passengers should know how to swim and must wear an individual buoyancy device of red, green, yellow, or orange color, smooth, soft, and free from additional components or materials that could cause injury in case of a fall.
    • The individual buoyancy device has the ability to keep the person wearing it on the surface of the sea. The use of inflatable life jackets is prohibited.
    • The vessel towing the water sled is a high-speed boat and has the necessary power to tow the sled with the passengers on board. The boat carries a fuel gauge or a spare suitable fuel container with a safety cap and a capacity of at least three liters or a spare tank of equivalent capacity.
    • The towing rope is of suitable diameter, length, and material for the safe towing of the water sled, and it has the ability to float in the sea.
    • The attachment point of the rope to the boat and the sled is in excellent condition and has the ability to withstand the pulling force generated by the speed of the boat, which must not exceed twenty-five (25) knots.
    • The towing of the water sled is prohibited under adverse weather conditions and before sunrise and after sunset.

    Unless otherwise specified in this Regulation and in the existing approvals granted in accordance with the procedure of Article 36 of the General Regulation of Ports No. 20 (Government Gazette B' 444/26-4-1999), as it was in force before the implementation of paragraph 3 of Article 74 of Law No. 4504/2017 or approved or to be approved by paragraph 3 of Article 74 of Law No. 4504/2017, the rental of recreational marine vessels is prohibited: a) when the wind blows at a speed greater than five Beaufort or over thirty-eight kilometers per hour, b) when visibility is limited. Additionally, the lessors must have a portable digital anemometer at their place of operation, and its indications are taken into account for the implementation of subparagraph a) of paragraph 1. The operator of the high-speed vessel used for towing recreational marine vessels monitors the weather conditions before and throughout the towing of the recreational marine vessels.

    The obligations of the operators, owners, and lessors of high-speed vessels stipulated in Article 4 apply similarly in the case of high-speed vessels used for conducting water skiing. Specifically:
    Operators of high-speed vessels: a) prohibit the boarding of individuals who do not know how to swim or individuals under the influence of alcohol or toxic substances, b) prohibit the boarding of individuals whose number exceeds the capacity stated in the prescribed certificate of seaworthiness, c) prohibit passengers from standing or sitting on the gunwale of the vessel, d) operate the vessel with great care, avoiding dangerous maneuvers, prioritizing navigational safety and preventing pollution of the sea and coasts, e) carry on board the original license for operating a high-speed vessel, the original certificate of seaworthiness, and a copy of the insurance policy, which must be presented whenever requested by an authorized official of the Port Authorities, f) carry the required equipment for their category, such as rescue and firefighting equipment. All equipment should be suitable for immediate use and not expired, g) in case the high-speed vessel does not have a fuel gauge, they carry a spare suitable fuel container with a safety cap and a capacity of at least three liters, or an auxiliary tank of equivalent capacity, h) comply with the specific port regulations, decisions, orders, and instructions of the Port Authorities in the area of their jurisdiction, including those concerning anchoring, navigation restrictions, or prohibitions for specific reasons, in specific maritime areas or during specific quiet hours, i) in the event of an accident involving another vessel or person, they are obliged to remain at the accident site and provide any possible assistance to the affected individuals. They also have an obligation to immediately report the accident to the Port Authority, j) it is prohibited to navigate: ja) at a distance less than one hundred meters from the outer part of floating buoys mentioned in Article 26, jb) at a distance less than two hundred meters from the usual point where swimmers reach in areas not marked by floating buoys, jc) at a speed exceeding five knots within a distance of less than two hundred meters from the shoreline in areas where there are no swimmers present, in any case, jd) when adverse weather conditions prevail.

    2. Owners of speedboats: a) Take care of the proper maintenance and decent appearance of their vessels. b) Fulfill their obligations regarding the inspection of their vessels. c) Have written on the sides of their vessels the name, port, and registration number in the Small Vessel Register (B.E.M.S.) or the logbook. d) Ensure that their vessel is equipped with the required seaworthiness certificate and insurance. The seaworthiness certificate and a copy of the insurance policy of the vessel are valid, kept on board, and presented whenever requested by a Port Authority official. e) Prohibit the use of their vessels by individuals who do not possess a speedboat operator's license, according to Article 3, as well as by individuals under the influence of alcohol or toxic substances. f) Equip their vessels with the necessary supplies suitable for their category, such as life-saving and fire-fighting equipment. All supplies are ready for immediate use, and the expiry date of perishable supplies has not passed.
    Issue B' 6543/21.12.2022 Government Gazette 68343
    3.In the case of leasing a speedboat, the lessor fulfills the obligations of paragraph 2, and the lessee fulfills the obligations of paragraph 1.
    4.The leasing of a speedboat is prohibited: a) During adverse weather conditions. b) Before sunrise and after sunset. c) When there are damages or malfunctions in the engine.
    5.The departure and return from and to the coast of the leased speedboat are permitted only within the designated corridor of Article 27 and at the lowest possible speed, according to the construction type of the speedboat, with the aim of ensuring the safety of swimmers, until that specific point at sea where the provisions of paragraph 1, subclause i, do not apply.

    6. Passengers on the sea sled must be at least sixteen (16) years old and not exceed the number of seats with their respective pairs of handles. For younger individuals, boarding is allowed only with the consent of the person exercising parental care or guardianship, along with confirmation that the minor is proficient in swimming. In any case, the maximum number of passengers should not exceed eight (8) on a sled with one (1) central float and not exceed sixteen (16) on a sled with two (2) central floats.
    7. The route of the boat pulling the sea sled must be free from shallows, rocky islets, anchored or passing boats to ensure accident prevention.
    8. Each speedboat is allowed to tow only one sea sled.
    9. The towing of a sea sled is prohibited at a distance less than: a) One hundred meters (100 m) from the outer part of the floating buoys described in Article 26. In cases of peculiarities of the area, such as small coves, the distance may be determined, after a decision by the committee of Article 35, to be less than one hundred meters but not less than fifty meters, and the relevant decision shall be indicated on the body of the lease approval. b) Two hundred meters (200 m) from the usual point where swimmers reach in unmarked sea areas. c) Two hundred meters (200 m) from the coastline in sea areas where there are no swimmers, in any case. In cases of peculiarities of the area, such as small coves, the distance may be determined, after a decision by the committee of Article 35, to be less than two hundred meters, and the relevant decision shall be indicated on the body of the lease approval.

    10. the departure and return, to and from the shore, of the speedboat used by the lessor, when it is towing a sea sled, are allowed only within the defined channel of Article 27 and at the lowest possible speed according to the construction type of the speedboat, with the aim of ensuring the safety of swimmers, up to that specific point in the sea where the provisions of paragraph 11 do not apply.

    11. Every fast boat used for towing rented water sports equipment, except for water parachutes, must have a minimum overall length of five meters, a minimum weight with engine and equipment of six hundred kilograms, and the engine must have the following minimum power in horsepower, depending on its type: a) Outboard engine: 100 HP b) Inboard engine: 140 HP c) Inboard-outboard engine: 160 HP.
    12.Fast boats used for towing water sports equipment must have the required seaworthiness certificates in force for their category, and their details are indicated in the approval for the rental of water sports equipment, along with the water sports equipment being towed. Owners of more than one approval for the rental of water sports equipment are allowed to use the same fast boats for towing water sports equipment, provided that the committee mentioned in Article 35 has previously approved this use. Allowed to holders of more than one approval for the lease of recreational vessels to use the same vessels for towing recreational vessels, provided that the committee of Article 35 has previously ruled positively on this use.
    13. A mirror of sufficient dimensions is placed in every high-speed vessel that tows a recreational vessel, forward of the main helm position. The exact position of the mirror is determined by the vessel's operator in order to have a complete and continuous visual image of the towed vessel's stern, the recreational vessel being towed, and the persons being towed.
    14. The operator of a high-speed vessel used for towing recreational vessels must, in any case, comply with the manufacturer's instructions for the safe use of the towed recreational vessels.
    15. At least two persons are on board the high-speed vessel towing a rented recreational vessel. The operator of the high-speed vessel must be knowledgeable in swimming, hold a license for operating high-speed vessels, and meet the qualifications specified in subparagraph (aa) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 of the joint decision numbered 2131.4/64444/2021 of the Ministers of Finance, Development and Investments, Environment and Energy, and Shipping and Insular Policy, "Determining the procedure, terms and conditions, supporting documents, fees, and sanctions for the approval of the activity of leasing recreational vessels" (Government Gazette 4174). The second person must be at least eighteen years old and be knowledgeable in swimming. Specifically, in the case of exclusively conducting water skiing, the responsibility for verifying the age of the second person on board rests with the operator of the high-speed vessel towing the water ski. If there are more than two persons on board, all occupants must be knowledgeable in swimming. The operator of the high-speed vessel must be knowledgeable in swimming, hold a license for operating high-speed vessels, and meet the qualifications specified in subparagraph (aa) of paragraph 1 of Article 3 of the joint decision numbered 2131.4/64444/2021 of the Ministers of Finance, Development and Investments, Environment and Energy, and Shipping and Insular Policy, "Determining the procedure, terms and conditions, supporting documents, fees, and sanctions for the approval of the activity of leasing recreational vessels." Specifically, the qualifications specified in Article 23, paragraph II of General Port Regulation No. 20. Specifically, present that he must have:
    • A license as a water ski instructor of any category issued by the General Secretariat of Sports (GSS), or a degree from the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science with a specialization in water skiing, or
    • A valid license as a water ski trainer, certified for its validity under the provisions of General Port Regulation No. 37 (B' 101/2004), with the holder having previously practiced the profession of a lessor with the permission of the Port Authority, or provided services to another lessor on towing water recreational vessels. The validity of the instructor license is determined by the issuer. Finally he must have:
    • A license as a high-speed boat operator.

     

     

  • 1. They fall into the category of surface towable objects.
     
    Article 2 (Interpretation) of the Speedboat Laws from 1992 to 2001 - Law 56 (I) / 1992):
    "towable object" means any object that does not have its own independent mechanical power but it is hauled by a high-speed vessel, and for the purposes of this Law it also refers to any person who is hauled by the vessel.
     
    2. Any person who is towed by the towable object must wear a life jacket or have a kind of buoyancy aid device.
    Article 2 (Interpretation) of the Cruiser Laws from 1992 to 2001 - Law 56 (I) / 1992):
     
    "Lifejacket" means a type of personal clothing that can be easily worn and securely fastened to the body of an adult person or a child, has buoyancy of at least fifteen (15) kilograms, without having to be filled with air, carries a whistle , has a distinct color and finally it is capable of holding the head of a user who does not keep his senses out of the water.
     
    'buoyancy device' means a type of individual attachment which can be easily and securely worn and secured to the body of an adult person or a child, its buoyancy has to be equal to at least 10% of the weight of the person who wears it, without having to be filled with air and finally it has a distinct color.
    Section 5 (1) (Speedboat Operator Obligations) of the High Speed Boats Laws from 1992 to 2001; L. 56 (I) / 1992):
    The boat operator, must ensure that any person who is carried or towed by a vessel must wear a lifejacket or has or a buoyancy aid device.
     
    Provisions for the safe use and operation of the surface trailer objects.
    3. Regulation 27 (Surface Trailers) of the Speed Boats Regulations 1999 - CP 121/1999:
    27. (1) Α surface trailer is any trailer towed on the sea surface.
     
    (2) It is prohibited the use of towing rope and any machinery and articles that are used in order to tow a trailing surface object violating the manufacturer's specifications or, in the absence thereof the practice gained by the marine experience. 
     
    (3) Rope fastening points which should not exceed 50 meters in length, or any other towing means to the high-speed boat and to the surface towable object, and all the mechanisms and materials must be in excellent condition and must be controlled by the owner and the boat’s operator too.
     
    (4) Whenever a towed surface object is used, the owner and the operator of the high-speed boat must ensure that a second person is on board the boat who supervises the towing procedure, given the fact that the boat's construction  requires so.
     
    (5) The owner and the operator of a high-speed boat must never tow a towable object in a surface less than 200 meters from the nearest shore, and less than 100 meters away from the signaled area of the bathing area adjacent to the shore.
     
    (6) The owner and the boat operator must ensure that any person who is towed by a seawater towing boat, wears a life-jacket or has a buoyancy device and complies with the provisions of these Regulations.
     

  • Tow sports include a range of diverse activities that require different skill levels. Surprisingly, tow sports that require the least amount of skill, such as water tubing and banana boating can actually be more dangerous due to the lack of control riders have.

    Water skiing, which includes wakeboarding, barefooting, trick skiing and other similar forms, requires responsible co-operation between several people: a boat driver, a spotter, and the skier or rider. Many elements are at play in safety: the skier, other nearby water users, safe handling of the tow boat and tow rope, and safety of other passengers who may be aboard the boat.

    Why tow sports can be risky for children and youth?
    Water skiing is an exciting pastime that families can enjoy together. Yet poor technique and lower body weight can contribute to a higher incidence of water skiing injuries to children. The most common accident scenarios include falls into water, collisions with other skiers or objects, being struck by a boat propeller, or becoming entangled in tow
    lines. Common injuries include rectal, vaginal, and tympanic membrane (eardrum) injuries. Inflatables pose a particular risk precisely because no skill is required, which (a) leads caregivers to falsely think young children can ride safely despite inexperience, and (b) prevents the riders from being able to practice any self-protective
    measures. Many injuries are caused by tow boat drivers misjudging distances, causing the inflatable and its riders to swing uncontrollably into boats, piers, and other objects. Multiple rider inflatables also pose a risk because the riders strike against each other when the inflatable jumps or turns, which can cause serious head injuries.

    Recommendations for water ski equipment rental and operation
    Skiers/Riders
    ● All skiers and riders must be able to swim well.
    ● All skiers and riders must understand and be able to use the common hand signals.
    ● Use of a personal flotation device (PFD) should be required for children and youth at all times.
    ● Beginners should only ski in enclosed, calmer waters without other users nearby.
    ● In cool waters, a wetsuit should be worn, and even in warmer waters a half body suit is recommended to help minimise abrasion injuries.
    ● Girls should be advised to always wear at least a half suit to prevent injury through water enema.
    ● Renters should have previous adequate training which they can demonstrate by answering questions regarding techniques and rules.
    ● Water recreation helmets and grip gloves are recommended for children and youth by instructors when nessecary.
    ● Inflatable riders should never attempt to grab the tow rope.
    Tow boat drivers
    ● Tow boat drivers must have the proper license according to the Greek legislation (Article 22 paragraph 2i of the General Regulation of the Port Authority No. 20). Specifically they should have:

    Coach licence of any category on waterskiing issued by the General Secretariat of Sports and at least 2 years speedboat driver license or
    Coach licence on waterskiing issued by the University of Physical Education and Sport Science and at least 1 year speedboat driver license or
    a valid license of trainer in waterskiing, which had been certified based on the provisions General Regulation of Port authority. No. 37 (FEK 101 / 2004) and the owner of the license must have previously exercised, with the permission of the Port Authority, this profession (speedboat driver for tow sports). The validity of the instructor license is determined by the issuer.
    ● Drivers should team with a spotter, whose duty is to at all times monitor the skier, the tow rope, and the area for dangers.
    ● Motor propeller strikes are the leading cause of serious injury to water-skiers.
    ● The driver should not allow other passengers to sit on the sides of the boat.
    ● Water should be a minimum of 1 metre deep, and the skier should never be released in shallow waters.
    ● Drivers should observe more conservative speed limits when towing children, not in excess of 25 knots.
    ● Drivers towing inflatables should maintain conservative speeds to take slow wide turns.
    ●Drivers should never attempt to let an inflatable wake jump or to “whip” the riders with sharp turns.

    What safety factors to look for in choosing and maintaining equipment for your operation?
    Equipment (including boat, tow rope, skis, bindings and medical and communications equipment) should be checked daily. Tow lines should be washed down with clean water daily to prevent wear from sea or lake water elements. Wet suits should be cleaned and disinfected with a nonallergenic cleanser between users.

    Staff Preparedness
    ● Always have at least 2 staff member present – one to speak with clients and handle training, and the other to assist in launch and landing activity and to monitor the water at all the times.
    ● Be sure that your staff members are trained in CPR and first aid.
    ● Have a rescue boat or PWC available so that skiers and riders in danger can be reached quickly if no water rescue service is in the immeidate vicinity.
    ● Be sure all staff members, whether on shore or in water, can communicate with each other via VHF radios or a similiar device.
    ● All staff members should be able to clearly communicate the risks and safety rules to clients. A language barrier could pose a problem should an accident occur, both in terms of immediate medical care and liability for having failed to properly communicate the rules.
    ● Staff should very regularly check reliable sources regarding wind and surf conditions.

    *Source : European Child Safety Alliance, Eurosafe; 2008.- With the support of the European Commission

      
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