A Bermuda ship captain is to host a water safety seminar this Saturday,

Anthoni Lightbourne, a ship pilot of 11 years who earned his merchant mariner’s licence through the Maritime Coastguard Agency in the UK, will speak on boat navigation, boat handling, rules of the road, operating a motor vessel and best practices during a two-hour water safety seminar.

The seminar is mainly aimed at newcomer recreational boaters covering beginner information, but can also act as a refresher course for experienced boaters.

Mr Lightbourne said: “I recently launched Waypoint Marine Consulting and through that I am hosting a seminar for the novice boaters geared to safety on Bermuda’s waters.

“I have always had a passion for being on the water, I have been around the water all my life.

“In light of recent activities and some unfortunate deaths on the water, I am trying to educate people on water safety.

“There are a lot of incidents on the water, some go reported, some do not. I have been a captain for 11 years and have seen near misses and crashes.”

Mr Lightbourne said that in the absence of mandatory licences for recreational boaters in Bermuda, water safety knowledge is paramount.

He added: “I have seen people cut across the ship’s bow when the ship is doing a good speed and they have misjudged the speed of the ship — common sense things that people should be aware of.

“There is no mandatory licence for the recreational boats right now in Bermuda; there is only a licence for charter boats and people who are carrying paid passengers.

“There should be a mandatory recreational licence.”

The seminar will be followed by a question-and-answer session. It takes place from 9am to 11am, at the Bermuda Sailors Home at 22 Richmond Road, Pembroke. Tickets are $20 and are available at the door or at ptix.bm