Flares

Have you read how your flares work?

• Within Tasmania, flares are not required for vessels operating in smooth waters. MAST however recommends that flares be carried;
• Flares should be stored where they are accessible and remain dry. The storage area should be clearly marked;
• Read the instructions on distress flares carefully to ensure familiarity with the method of operation. Different brands of signals have different methods of ignition;
•  Ensure passengers also know how to ignite them;
• Check the expiry date and to replace any out-of-date product;
• Out of date flares must not be placed into general municipality rubbish collections. This can cause fires at collection points and cause injury to workers;
• Flares must be approved to Australian Standard AS2092.

Red Handflare

These can be seen from a range of up to 10km at sea level on a clear, dark night and up to 20km from the air. It burns for over 60 seconds with an intense 15,000-candela red light. They can be seen in daylight over a shorter range.

Boat owners should note that some companies have changed the design of the red hand flare.  If you have purchased new flares recently, it would be worthwhile taking them out of the package and reading the instructions or checking the company’s website for up to date firing instructions.

Orange Handsmoke Signal

The smoke flare is for day use only. It provides a vivid and expanding cloud of dense orange smoke visible for more than 60 seconds and can be seen from 4km away at sea level and even further from and aircraft. Always hold the flare to leeward when using it.

The attached information sheet has been supplied by Pains Wessex

Parachute Rocket Flare

This is a handheld, self-contained distress rocket, ejecting a parachute with a suspended red flare at 300 metres altitude. It burns for 40 seconds at a brilliant 30,000 candela. It can be seen for 15km by day and 40km or more by night.

Laser Flares

These do not currently meet Australian Standards and consequently cannot be used to replace pyrotechnic flares. 

Disposal of Flares

Collection points for out-of-date flares are now provided by the following municipal waste stations:

North West

• Circular Head Council – White Hills Transfer Station, Bass Highway Smithton
• Devonport City Council  – Waste Transfer Station, Bay Drive, Spreyton
• Waratah–Wynyard Council –  Waste Transfer Station, Goldie Street, Wynyard
• West Coast Council – Strahan Works Depot, Harvey Street, Strahan
• Burnie City Council –  Waste Management Centre, Mooreville Road, Mooreville
• Central Coast Council – Ulverstone Resource Recovery Centre, Lobster Creek Road, West Ulverstone

North / North East

• Dorset Council – Scottsdale Waste Transfer Station, Bridport Road, Jetsonville
• Break O Day Council – Waste Transfer Station, Eagle Street, St Helens
• Launceston City Council – Waste Transfer Station, Cavalry Road, Mowbray
• West Tamar Council – Waste Transfer Station, Biloo Street, Exeter
• Georgetown Council – Georgetown Waste Transfer Station, Mount George Road, Georgetown
• Latrobe Council – Port Sorell Waste Transfer Station, Hawke Hill Road, Shearwater
• Kentish Council – Sheffield Waste Transfer Station, East Victoria Street, Sheffield

South / East

• Clarence City Council – Mornington Park Waste Transfer Station  – Mornington Road, Mornington
• Glenorchy City Council – Jackson Street Waste Management Centre
• Hobart City Council– McRobies Gully Waste Management Centre – McRobies Road, South Hobart
• Huon Valley Council – Southbridge Waste Transfer Station – Huon Highway, Huonville
• Kingborough Council – Kingborough Waste Services – Channel Highway, Baretta
• Glamorgan Spring Bay Council – Orford Waste Transfer Station – Tasman Highway Orford
• Tasman Council – 1713 Main Road, Nubeena, TAS, 7184

Hand flares and Parachute flares only. No EPIRBs or PLBs will be collected.

• EPIRBS and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)

If additional Councils elect to provide collection points, these will be displayed on the MAST website and Facebook Page.