The Department for Transport (DfT), together with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), have opened a new consultation inviting comments on the disposal of pleasure vessel marine flares. As disposal of flares is one of the most common issues discussed by leisure boaters we hope you will take the time to submit your opinion, and hopefully help them to improve leisure flare disposal in the future.

There are four options for how they should handle this difficult situation going forward:

1.   Allowing the current contract to expire with no further action.
2.   Continuation of the existing disposal service.
3.   Creation of a fully regulated framework for disposal of flares.
4.   Creation of similar existing disposal arrangements by the pleasure vessel industry.

The consultation period will run until 11:45pm on 15 March 2021 and you can respond to the consultation by clicking to download a consultation form HERE, then emailing it once completed to TEPconsultation@dft.gov.uk.

The form is in Microsoft Word format, and the questions are fairly straightforward, however further information and guidance can be found at the following link if required: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/disposal-of-pleasure-vessel-marine-flares/future-arrangements-for-the-disposal-of-maritime-pyrotechnics

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