Safety

We carry the most precious cargo there is, so we pay careful attention to safety on board. There are three parts to safety in sail training: the ships, the crew, & the program.

SALTS Ships

The SALTS ships are inspected and approved annually by Transport Canada to ensure they meet stringent regulatory requirements and a Certificate of Inspection is issued. Our ships have received several awards from the Victoria Classic Boat Festival over the years for their excellent maintenance and upkeep.

These traditionally designed ships include modern safety equipment such as: life jackets, two types of PFDs, harnesses, strobe lights, Search and Recovery Transponders (SART), Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), satellite phone, man overboard pole, life rafts, dories, VHF/DSC radio, radar, GPS, paper and electronic charts, and AIS receivers. Each ship has a collision bulkhead, watertight compartments, steel bulkhead doors, and complies with stringent stability standards.		   Select Image to view

SALTS Crews

The Captains and First Mates of our ships have gained “sea time” over many years aboard SALTS vessels and have taken formal instruction at nautical training institutes approved by Transport Canada. Captains must hold at least a 150 Ton Master’s Ticket or higher, with a Sailing Ship Endorsement, though all current SALTS Captains have exceeded that by earning 500 Ton Master's Tickets. This certification is by written and oral examinations conducted by Transport Canada. Certification complies with the International Convention on Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers (STCW). The ship’s Bosun must hold a Small Vessel Machinery Operator certificate, and the cook must complete a Food Safe course. All crew-members submit to a criminal record check and sign a code of conduct.

Crew-members also complete the following training:
  • Marine Emergency Duties
  • Marine Advanced First Aid or Wilderness First Aid
  • Restricted (Radio) Operator’s Certificate (Maritime)
  • Prevention of harassment, abuse, and suicide

SALTS Program

Safety orientations are conducted prior to each voyage, prior to the first shore trip, prior to setting sail, prior to anchor watch, and prior to a “night run.” Safety drills (i.e. man overboard, fire response) are conducted on a regular basis. Safety harnesses are mandatory when climbing aloft or near the bowsprit. Inflatable PFDs with a built-in safety harness and strobe light are mandatory while underway at night or in heavy weather.

SALTS has provided sail training programs since 1974, and in a typical year, 1700 young people go to sea with us. Our experience includes six offshore voyages to ports around the world. Our ships have safely travelled over 365,000 nautical miles (17 times the earth’s circumference). In the spring and fall we offer quality programs to 50 school groups, mainly from British Columbia and Alberta. Our sail training safety record is second to none in the industry. SALTS is a member of Tall Ships Canada and has been the recipient of the “Sail Training Program of the Year” award from Tall Ships America, the S.S. Beaver Medal for Maritime Excellence from the Maritime Museum of BC, and the Premier's Award: Promoting Innovation and Excellence from the BC Government.