The Vancouver police marine unit will be stepping up its patrol of English Bay on Wednesday night to ensure boaters stay safe during the Celebration of Light fireworks show.

"We will be very aggressive at making sure that people don't go out and drink and boat," Sgt. Norm Webster of the marine unit said at a press conference Wednesday morning.

Police will be carrying alcohol screening devices and can recommend charges for impaired operation of a motor vessel. They can also give fines for drinking in public.

"If you're in a small open vessel, you are in a public place. No different than (if) you're in a motor vehicle, you cannot have alcohol on a boat," Webster said.

With the help of several RCMP detachments and the Coast Guard, the VPD marine unit will also be checking that boaters comply with other safety regulations. There must be enough life jackets for everyone on board, proper lighting, flares and rescue lines.

"If you don't have your lifejackets on board, if you don't have one for every person that's going out, we will turn you back," Webster said.

A 300-metre restricted zone marked by orange buoys will be set up around the fireworks barge.

"We are going to try to keep this area clear throughout the night and during the fireworks show. Half an hour before and half an hour after you won't be permitted to transit this area in case one of the fireworks detonates," Webster said.

Webster also warns boaters who aren't familiar with English Bay that it's a working harbour. People piloting small boats need to give way to vessels and freights that can be up to 100,000 times larger than what they're operating.

"Even though you believe you may have the right of way, you lack the right of weight," he said.

"Always expect one to be coming when you transit the narrows. Travel down the right side -- that's the right, not the left, the right side of the channel -- and if you have to cut across the channel do so at a 90-degree angle, but do not interfere with any of the commercial vessels."

Earlier this month, a 53-year-old man was killed and several people were injured when a speedboat rammed into a houseboat on B.C.'s Shuswap Lake. Both boats were making their way home after watching the Canada Day fireworks.

With a report form CTV British Columbia's Leah Hendry