Yellowknife (Sep 06/06) - With nine confirmed deaths so far in the Northwest Territories, this has been the deadliest boating season on record, according to search and rescue officials.

The drowning deaths are more than double the 2005 total of four. A tenth man, Peter Drygeese from the Yellowknife area, is still unaccounted for. He went missing while boating from Ndilo to Dettah in mid-June.

"It's probably the worst season since I've been here," said search and rescue co-ordinator Jack Kruger, who is based in Hay River. He has lived in the NWT for 27 years.

Kruger said there have been so many deaths because people aren't planning for emergencies.

"It's total unpreparedness. People are taking unnecessary risks and dying," he said.

According to Cathy Menard, NWT deputy chief coroner, three of the deaths involved alcohol and only one person was found wearing a life jacket or flotation device.

Life jackets do not have to be worn by law, but boaters can be fined if they do not have one for every person on board.

"We just want people to use their common sense and be prepared," Menard said.

She suggested planning your route and telling someone where you are going. Menard said in some cases this year, searchers didn't know where to start looking for missing boaters.

Next month may prove no better for boaters, said RCMP Sgt. Randy McBride, member of the criminal operations unit in Yellowknife.

"I think the number one concern for September is the weather changing," said McBride.

The darkening days and sometimes choppy and windy waters can be a challenge for boaters.

McBride agrees this season has been the worst he's seen.

"This is unusually high, we're not really happy about it," he said.

The one person who died while wearing a life jacket had a heart attack, said McBride. He said the man was on the southern end of the Nahanni River.

In response to the deadly season for boaters, McBride said a program is being developed with Transport Canada and the territorial government to teach boating safety to members of the community. This is in addition to similar programs implemented in the last few years.