103
1 INTRODUCTION
The recreational craft industry covers boats of a
certain length designed for sports and leisure
purposes. These are high‐value and very movable
products, intended mainly for end consumers and
with a relatively long life‐cycle, which means that
they are often on the market for a long ti
me. The
recreationalcraftindustryhasattractedtheinterestof
theEuropeanUnion(EU)Commissionbecauseofits
impact on the environment and its economic
significance in the European Union. To implement
EU‐wideinitiativesinthissector,theCommissionhas
legislatedonrecreationalcraft,whichareboatsofany
type, regardless of their mea
ns of propulsion,
between 2.5 and 24 metres hull length. This EU
legislation (Directive 94/25/EC, as amended by
Directive 2003/44/EC) includes a number of
exceptionsandderogations.
Statistical data shows that a large number of
maritimeaccidentsarerelatedtorecreationalcraftFor
instance, in Spain, more tha
n fifty percent of the
emergencies are related to pleasure boats at sea
(Walliseretal.,2004).Inordertopromotesustainable
development and decrease the number of
emergencies at sea, the European legislation on
recreational craft also introduced standard
requirementsregardingusersafety,aswellasexhaust
andnoiseemissions.Asaresult,thi
sEuropeanlegal
framework has removed disparities among Member
Comparison of Survival and Safety Requirements in
European Union for Recreational Craft Inspections.
A Spanish Case Study
J
.Torralbo&M.Castells
DepartmentofNauticalSciencesandEngineering,UniversitatPolitècnicadeCatalunya(UPC),BarcelonaTech,Spain
ABSTRACT:Statisticaldatashowsthatalargenumberofmaritimeaccidentsarerelatedtorecreationalcraft.
For instance, in Spain, more than fifty percent of the emergencies are related to pleasure boats at sea.
Recreational craft marketed in the EU must comply with harmonized technical safety and environmental
requirementsdefinedbyDirective94/
25/EC,asamendedin2003.On28December2013,thenewrecreational
craftdirective2013/53/EUwaspublishedintheOfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion. EUMemberStateshave
until18January2016toamendtheirnationallegislat
ionandtransposethenewdirective.Thecurrentdirective
94/25/ECasamendedbydirective2003/44/ECwillberepealedon18January2016,afterthefullapplicationof
thenewtext.Althoughthisdirective,thereisnotaclearcoordinationandequivalenceamongtheEUcountries
accordingtothesurvivalandsafetyequipmentcompulsoryforrecreationalcrafts.Thema
inpurposeofthis
paper is to analyze and compare the types of survey / inspections to be carried in pleasure craft (non‐
commercialuse),periodicityandrequiredsafetyequipmentinsomememberstatesoftheEuropeanUnion. A
casestudyofSpainispresented.Fromtheresultsobtained,wecanma
keclearthatintheEuropeanUnionthere
is a lack of coordination in this area and indicate the need to unify a common pattern in inspections and
survivalandsafetyrequirementsofrecreationalboatsintheEU.
http://www.transnav.eu
the International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 8
Number 1
March 2014
DOI:10.12716/1001.08.01.12
104
States, while facilitating free competition across the
Unionandtradewithforeigncountries.
Although Directive 94/25/EC establishes safety
issues,thereisalackofcoordinationandequivalence
amongtheEUcountriesaccordingtothesurvivaland
safetyequipmentcompulsoryforrecreationalcrafts.
2 CASESTUDY:SPAIN
With the approval of
the Spanish legislation (Real
Decreto 1434/1999), the government authorizes
collaborating entities perform the inspections and
surveys that must be submitted in pleasure craft
registered in Spain, regardless of the means of
propulsion. These entities can survey recreational
crafts with ahull lengthbetween 2.5 and 24
meters, designed and
aimed for recreational and
sportspurposes(list/registersixthandseventh), and
notallowedtoboardmorethan12passengers.
The ship’s register in Spain is done by a lists,
whichwillberegisteredallships, boatsandfloating
structures. The sixth list is intended for sporting or
recreational craft that are
operated for commercial
gain.Theseventh list isfornon‐profitpleasure craft
orfishingboatsunprofessional.
Allyachtshaveacertificateofseaworthiness.This
certificateisadocumentattestingthatthecraftisfitto
sail and in which is shown information such as the
name and port of
register of thevessel,its technical
featuresandnavigationarea.
Table1. Navigation areas based on distance of operation.
Source:OwnbasedonFOM/1144/2003
_______________________________________________
AreaDistanceofoperation
_______________________________________________
Area1 Unlimited
Area2 Upto60miles
Area3 Upto25miles
Area4 Upto12miles
Area5 Upto5miles
Area6 Upto2miles
Area7 Protectedwatersingeneral
_______________________________________________
2.1 TechnicalInspections
Certificateofseaworthinesshaveexpiry dateandits
validityisdeterminedbytheregistrationlist(sixthor
seventh), the length and the material of the hull.
Tables 2 and 3 detail the types of inspections to be
carried out in recreational boats according to the
registrationlist
andmaterialofthehull:
Table2.TypeoftechnicalinspectionsforList7
th
depending
onthelengthandhullmaterial.Source: Own,basedonRD
1434/1999
_______________________________________________
Inspection FrequencyList7
_______________________________________________
RegularEvery5years6‐24m
Intermediate Between2
nd
and3
rd
year 15‐24m
6‐24m/
woodenhall
Additional Incaseofrepairsormodifications
Extraordinary UnderrequestoftheMaritime
Administration
_______________________________________________
Table3.TypeoftechnicalinspectionsforList6
th
depending
on the length and hull material. Source: Own, based on
FOM/1144/2003
_______________________________________________
Inspection FrequencyList6
_______________________________________________
RegularEvery5years2.5‐24m
Intermediate Between2
nd
and3
rd
year6‐24m
Additional Incaseofrepairsormodifications
Extraordinary UnderrequestoftheMaritime
administration
_______________________________________________
It is important to note that boats that have less
than 6 metersinlength and registeredin the 7
th
list
should not perform periodic inspections and
certificate of seaworthiness will include the phrase
ʺNoExpiration.ʺ
Thecollaboratingentitiesofinspection(approved
by the Spanish government) can carry out periodic,
intermediate, additional and extraordinary
inspections.
Figure1.Hullinspectioninashipyard.Source:own
The periodic and intermediate inspection of the
boat must be performed in a shipyard (dry) and
floating.Theinspectionforboatslessthan7metersin
length can be only performed in a shipyard (dry),
provided that it’s possible to start the engine of the
boat.
According to the type of
boat (motor / sail), all
surveys are made considering the following points:
hullandequipment,engineandauxiliarymachinery,
mast and rigging, electrical installation, radio
communication equipment, survival and safety
equipment, fire extinguishing equipment, nautical
material, and navigation lights and anchoring
equipment.
Theownersand/oruserofrecreational
craftare
responsible for keeping up to date surveys and
inspections. Emphasize that the inspection aims to
ensure personal safety and preventing marine
pollutionaccidents.Therefore,itisofvitalimportance
tonavigatewithvalidcertificateofseaworthiness.In
additionto thesecurityissuesindicated, to have the
current certificate can
avoid the possibility of being
finedbytheadministration.
2.2 Compulsorysurvivalandsafetyequipment
Compulsory survival and safety equipment will be
determined by the navigation area of the boat. The
105
equipment for area “1” is most complete and is
reduced to lower areas being the minimum
equipment for the area ʺ7ʺ. Table 4 shows the
compulsorysurvivalandsafetyequipmentaccording
tothenavigationarea:
Table4.Compulsorysafetyequipment.Source:Own,based
onFOM/1144/2003
_______________________________________________
EquipmentNavigationarea
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
_______________________________________________
LiferaftX X X
LifejacketX X X X X X X
Lifebuoy2 1 1 1
Parachuteflare 6 6 6 6
Handflare6 6 6 6 3 3
Buoyantsmoke 2 2 1 1
_______________________________________________
Table 4 shows that in areasʺ1ʺ,ʺ2ʺ andʺ3ʺ is
compulsory boarding a liferaft. All liferafts must be
reviewed annually by an authorized station. In the
caseofanewliferaftrevision,itmustbemadebefore
twoyearsfromthedateofmanufacture.
ASOLAS(International
ConventionfortheSafety
ofLifeatSea,1974)liferaftmeansthatcomplieswith
therequirementssetbytheInternationalConvention
and also indicates that manufacturing has been
approved by the Spanish government. The SOLAS
liferaft in area “1ʺ must carry inside an emergency
packagetypeA SOLASandinthe
caseofaliferaft
forareasʺ2ʺandʺ3ʺtheemergencypackagemustbe
type B SOLAS. Both packages contain emergency
suppliestosurviveatsea,asfirstaid,foodandwater
amongothers.
Figure2.Containerliferaftwithhydrostaticrelease.Source:
own
Regard to thecompulsory pyrotechnics on board
(parachute flare, hand flare and buoyant smoke),
pointedouttheneedtocontroltheirexpirationdate.
Duetoitsdanger,itisrecommendedstowthemina
dryandsafeplace. Allthepyrotechnics,accordingto
SOLAS, must be stored in a hydroresistant box
and
must indicate brief instructions or clearly diagrams
explaininghowtousethem.
Table 5 provides details of the means of fire
extinguishingandbilgedrainageequipment:
Table5. Compulsoryfire extinguishing and bilge drainage
equipment.Source:Own,basedonFOM/1144/2003
_______________________________________________
EquipmentNavigationarea
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
_______________________________________________
PortableextinguishersX X X X X X X
(dependingonlength)
PortableextinguishersX X X X X X X
(dependingonpower)
Firebuckets2 2 1 1
Scoop2 2 2 1 1 1
ExtractorfanX X X X X X X
Bilgepump2 2 2
1 1 1 1
FixedinstallationX X X X X X X
GasdetectorX X X X X X X
_______________________________________________
Engines that use gasoline as fuel must install an
extractor fan that works for suction and discharge
directlyfromthe outside. This extractor must renew
completely the air of the engine compartment and
fuel tanks in less than four minutes. Before starting
theengine,theextractormustbeswitch
ontoensure
therenewaloftheairandavoidapossibleexplosive
atmosphere.
Theenginesthatusegasolineareequippedwitha
fixed fire extinguishing installation. This installation
has to be activated manually from outside of the
enginecompartment.Automaticfireextinguishersare
only allowed when the engine compartment is
not
accessible.
Table6showsothersurvivalandsafetyequipment
compulsoryaccordingtothenavigationarea:
Table6. Other survival and safety compulsory equipment
compulsory equipment Source: Own, based on
FOM/1144/2003
_______________________________________________
EquipmentNavigationarea
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
_______________________________________________
Rudderemergency X X X X X X X
Mooringline2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Boathock1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Oar1 1 1 1 1 1 1
InflatorX X X X X X X
RepairingsetX X X X X X
X
FirstaidoutfitX X X X X X X
_______________________________________________
Table 7 provides details of the navigation
equipment required depending on the navigation
area:
106
Table7. Navigation compulsory equipment compulsory
equipment.Source:Own,basedonFOM/1144/2003
_______________________________________________
EquipmentNavigationarea
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
_______________________________________________
AnchorlinesX X X X X X X
Navigationlights X X X X X X X
andshapes
Compass2 2 1 1
Speedometer1 1
Sextant1
Chronometer1
Dividers1 1
Courseprotractor 1 1
Ruleof40cm1 1
Binoculars1 1 1 1
Nautical
charts 1 1 1 1
Foghorn1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Bell1 1 1 1
Nationalflag1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Flagcode1 1
Waterprooftorch2 2 1 1
Ship’slog‐book 1
Heliograph1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Radarreflector 1 1 1 1
Signalscode1 1 1 1 1 1 1
_______________________________________________
Finally, radio and navigation equipment is
requiredinallareanavigationasfollows:
Area1:
VHFwithDSCclassA(SOLAS)
MF / HF with DSC or LES(Land Earth Station‐
SOLAS)
RLB(Manualandautomatic)
NAVTEX(SOLAS)
PortableVHFadaptedtoGMDSSM
SART 9 GHz (Search And Rescue radar
Transponder‐SOLAS)
Area2:
VHFwithDSC
RLB(Manualandautomatic)
PortableVHF(GMDSSMorsubmersible IPX7)or
SART 9 GHz (Search And Rescue radar
Transponder)
Figure3.RLB406MhzwithGPS.Source:own
Area3:
VHFwithDSC
RLB (Radio Locator Beacon‐Manual and
automaticormanualonly)
Area4:
FixedVHF
Area5:
FixedorportableVHF
Figure4.PortableVHFSOLASwiththeemergencybattery.
Source:own.
3 COMPARISONSTUDYWITHOTHERMEMBER
STATES
In the European Union, a variety in technical
inspectionforRecreationalCraftcanbefound,aswell
asnon‐uniformityinminimumandmaximumlength
ofthetechnicalinspectionsandrangeandnumberof
navigation areas. Moreover, survival and safety
requirements for Recreational Craft
Inspections can
varygreatlyfromcountrytocountry.
From27membercountriesofEuropeanUnion,in
this section these diversities will be compared
considering the following six countries: France,
United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Spain
(explainedintheabovesection).
3.1 France
InFrance,fromApril15,2008is
inforceDivision240
and this normative applies to all ships less than 24
metersinlength(FrenchDivision240,2008).
This legislation establishes safety and rescue
equipment that is compulsory according the
navigations distance allowed. So this can be basic‐
basique(navigationtotwomilesfromashelter),coast
‐
côtier (up to 6 miles from a shelter) or ocean
navigation‐hauturier (navigation over 6 miles from
thecoast).
107
Table8. Mandatory equipment in France. Source: Own,
basedonFrenchDivision241.
_______________________________________________
EquipmentNavigationarea
Basique CôtierHauturier
_______________________________________________
X(>50N)X(>100N) X
(>150N)
Navig
ationlightsX X X
ManualbilgepumpX X X
Ladder X X X
MOBdevice(>4.5kW) X X X
FirefightingdeviceX X X
Towingdevice X X X
Seaanchor X X X
Lifebuoylight X X X
Lifeline X X X
Nationalflag X X X
3Handflare X X
1Lifebu
oy X X
Foghorn X X
Heliograph X X
MOBsystem X X
Steeringcompass X X
RIPA X X
Signalcode X X
Navigationalcharts X X
HarnessandH.line X
Liferaft X
3parachuteflare X
orVHFwithDSC
2Buoyantsm
oke X
orVHFwithDSC
WeatherDeviceaboard X
Dividers X
SextantorGPS X
Rulefornavigation
BearingcompassorGPS X
Lighthousenotebook X
Firstaidoutfit X
Ship’slog‐book X
Tidebook
(notinMediterranean)X
_______________________________________________
Some of the notable aspects of the French
legislationwouldbethattheVHFisnotrequiredfor
recreational craft. But is highly recommended to
equip the boatwith VHF. In the caseof installing a
VHF,theskippermusthavearestrictedcertificateof
GMDSSM. It is also not compulsory to inst
all a
beaconneitheranelectricbilgepump.
RegardinginspectionsfortheFrenchcase,thefirst
inspection must be performed three years after the
purchaseoftheboat.Thenextinspectionshouldtake
place in a period not exceeding 36 months, and at
leasttwo inspections should be carriedout within a
periodoffiveyears.Forboa
tsboardingmorethan12
people in addition to the crew, the maximum time
betweeninspectionsis12months.
3.2 UnitedKingdom
Pleasure craft of less than 13.7 metres in length are
not covered by any statutory requirements as far as
lifesavingorfirefight
ingequipmentisconcerned.
At 13.7 metres in length and over they are,
however, obliged to comply with the Merchant
Shipping(Life‐SavingAppliancesforshipsotherthan
ships of Classes III to VI (A)) Regulations 1999 and
theMerchantShipping(FireProtection:Small Ships)
Regulations 1998 respectively. According UK non‐
passenger ship classification, these vessels are
classifiedasbeingCla
ssXIIintheseRegulations.Itis
compulsoryforClassXIIvesselstocarryLife‐Saving
AppliancesandFireProtectionequipment.
Table9.MandatoryequipmentinUnitedKingdom.Source:
Own,basedonwww.rya.org.uk
_______________________________________________
EquipmentForvesselsof13.7minlengthandover
>3’3‐20’20‐150’ >150’
_______________________________________________
LifejacketXXXX
Lifejacketlights XXX
Liferaft X(B) X(B) X(A)
Lifebuoysandlines 2222
Flares
Trainingmanual Containinginstructionsand
informationonthelife‐saving
appliancesprovideinthevesseland
theirmaintenance
Lifesavingsignals Acopyofthetable“Life‐saving
signalsandRescu
emethods,SOLAS
1”or“Life‐savingsignalsandrescue
methods,SOLAS2”.
Maritimeradio Capableoftransmittingand
receiving,appropriatetotheareaof
operation.
Ladder XXXX
Fireextinguisher XXXX
FirebucketsNotlessthan2withlany
ards
_______________________________________________
According to the Survey and Certification Policy
Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors by the
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), for
Pleasure Vessels (Non‐Commercial) arerequired the
followingcertification:Ifcertifiedfor>15personsand
on international voyages, an International Sewage
Pollution Prevention Certificate, if registered:
Certificateof Regist
ry, which will normallybe valid
foraperiodnotexceeding5yearsandtheCertificate
ofMeasurement.
SmallerboatsmayberegisteredontheSmallShips
Register(SSR)iftheyaretobeusedabroadandthey
should display a number preceded by the letters
‘SSR’.
Forcommercialboat,theSmallCommercia
lVessel
and Pilot Boat (SCV) Code, also known as the
harmonised code, states that the hull, shell fittings,
external steering and propulsion components of the
vessel should be examined out of the water at
intervals not exceeding 5 years. The Certifying
Authority may stipulate a lesser interval in
considerat
ionofhullconstructionmaterialortheage
orthetypeandserviceofthevessel.Acertificateisto
bevalidfornotmorethanfiveyears.Everyboathas
tobeinspectedbyanRYA(RoyalYachtingAssociation)
Inspector at least once duringits first three yearsof
operation, and be complet
ely resurveyed and
certificatedeveryfiveyears
Fornon‐commercialrecreationalcraft,BoatSafety
Certificate (BSC) will be issued for a 4‐year period,
afterwhichitmustberenewed.
108
Table10.MandatoryequipmentinItaly.Source:Own,based onCapitaneriediporto‐GuardiaCostiera
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
NoLessthan Lessthan Lessthan Lessthan Lessthan Lessthan Inlandwaters
limitation 50miles 12miles 6miles 3miles 1mile 300meters
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Liferaft X XX
LifejacketXXXXXXX
Lifebuoy 1 11111 1
Lightbuoy 1 111
Buoyantsmoke3 2221
Compassand X XX
deviationstable
Watch X X
Barometer X X
Binoculars X X
Nauticalcharts
In
strumentsforcharts: X X
dividers,course
protractor,rules,etc.
Handflare 4 3222
Parachuteflare4 322
FirstaidoutfitX X
Navigationlights X XXXX
Foghorn/BellX XXXX
Navigationequipment X X
(LORAN,GPS)
VHF X X
X
RadarreflectorX X
EPIRB X
Bilgepump/Scoop X XXXXX
FireextinguisherXXXXXX
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.3 Italy
In Italy the Capitanerie di Porto – Guardia Costiera
according to the Decreto 5 ottobre 1999 n. 478
ʺRegolamento recante norme di sicurezza per la
navigazione da diportoʺ (G.U. del 17.12.1999) establish
the survival and safety equipment compulsory in
recreationalcrafts.Thesurvivalandsafetyequipment
isrelated withthedistance oftheboa
tis allowedto
navigate.
InItalythefirstinspectionoftherecreationalcraft
mustbeperformedbetweentheeighthandtenthyear
(depending on the design andconstruction category
A,B,CorD).Afterthefirstinspection,thesecurity
certificate‐Certificato di sicurezza‐ has an expiration
dateoffiveyears,sothenextinspect
ionshouldtake
placeinaperiodoffiveyears.
3.4 Portugal
InPortugaltheDecreto‐Leinº124/2004,de25deMaio
– Regulamento da Náutica de Recreio, Portaria n.º
689/2001, de 10 de Julho – Seguro obrigatório de
ResponsabilidadeCivilandPortarian.º1491/
2002,de
5 de Dezembro – Requisitos de segurança,
classificação evistorias das embarcações de recreio
establish the rules for inspections and survival and
safetyequipmentsforrecreationalcrafts.
This legislation establishes safety and rescue
equipment that is compulsory according the
navigationsdistanceallowed.Sothiscanbe:
Type1‐oceanicsailing,navigationwithoutlimit
s.
Type 2‐navigation offshore; designed and
suitableforsailingupto200milesfromasafehaven.
Table11. Mandatory equipment in Portugal. Source:
Decreto‐Lei nº 124‐2004, de 25 de Maio‐ Regulamento da
NáuticadeRecreio.
_______________________________________________
Type1 Type2 Type3 Type4 Type5
_______________________________________________
LiferaftX X X Xor
Inflatable
device
CompassX X X X X
Lifejacket(100% X X X X X
peopleonboard)
Lifebuoy
5‐9mlength 1 1 1 1 1
9‐15mlength 1 1 1 1 1
15‐24mlength 3 3 3 3 3
Lifebu
oywithlight
5‐9mlength 0 0 0 0 0
9‐15mlength 1 1 1 1 1
15‐24mlength 1 1 1 1 1
Handflare4 4 3 2 2
Parachuteflare 6 4 3 2 0
Buoyantsmoke 2 1 1 1 0
Safetyharness3 3 3 0 0
Bilg
epump/Scoop1 1 1 1 1
(manualandelectrical)
Thermalprotective3 3 0 0 0
aids
Accessladderon 1 1 1 1 1
board
Fireextinguisher 1 1 1 1 1
ofchemicalpowder
(oneinthesalon,kitchen,
annexttotheengine)
Sextant 1 1 1 1 0
Radarreflector 1 1 1 1 0
Hornorbell 1 1 1 1 1
Anchor 2 2 2 2 1
VHFwithDSC 1 1 1 1 0
PortableVHF 1 1 1 0 0
EPIRB 1 1 0 0 0
INMARSAT 1 1 0 0 0
NAVTEX
1 1 0 0 0
HF1 1 0 0 0
_______________________________________________
109
Type 3‐inshore,coastal navigation at a distance
not exceeding 60 miles from a safe harbor and 25
milesoffshore.
Type 4‐inshore,coastal navigation at a distance
notexceeding20milesfromasafeshelterand6miles
fromthecoast.
Type 5‐sheltered and suitable for navigation in
areasoflowwavewatersalongthecoastandinland.
Technical inspections must be performed every
fiveyears from the init
ialregistrationand itaimsto
verify the equipment and maintenance of the
recreational craft and includes a dry and afloat
inspection.
3.5 Ireland
RecreationalboatsinIrelandareregulatedindifferent
waysdependingontheirsizeandwhattheyareused
for.
Recreat
ional craft with a length of 13.7m or
greater,areclassedasClass XIIvessels.Thelifesaving
appliances requirements applicable to Class XII
vessels under these Rules differ depending on the
length and area of operation of the vessel, but
basicallyitalreadydependsonthetypeofequipment,
for inst
ance, mandatory lifesaving equipment
dependsonlengthandnavigationarea(seeTable12
and13),butfirefightingequipmentonlydependson
length(seeTable14)
Table 12. Mandatory lifesaving equipment for Class XII
RecreationalCraft Constructedafter1986 andgreater than
13.7m but less than 21.5m in length (Ireland). Source:
Merchant Shipping(pleasure craft‐safety)Regulations, 2004.
S.I.No259of2004.
_______________________________________________
LivesavingNavigationarea
EquipmentRestrictedoperations Seagoing
_______________________________________________
Lifebuoypereach2personsX
carriedonboard(Minof2)
OnelifebuoyfittedwithselfX
activatingsmokeandlight
signal
OnelifebuoyfittedwithXX
buoyantline(18m)
2lifebuoys,onfittedwithX
smoke/lightsignal
LifejacketforeachpersonX
onboard
Lifejacketforeachpersonon
X
boardwithlightfitted
SixparachuteflaresorredXX
starrockets
Waterproofcontainerforflares X X
Rescuesignaltable X X
Liferaftofsufficientcapacity X
forallpersononboard
Launchinginstructions/postersX
forliferaftondisplay
TrainingmanualforonboardX
safetyequipment
Maintenanceinstru
ctionsforX
safetyequipment
_______________________________________________
Table13.MandatorylifesavingequipmentforClassXII
RecreationalCraftConstructedafter1986andgreaterthan
21.5mutlessthan21.5minIrelan
d.Source:Merchant
Shipping(pleasurecraft‐safety)Regulations,2004.S.I.No259
of2004.
_______________________________________________
LivesavingRecreational Recreational
EquipmentCraft21.5‐25.90 Craft21.5‐25.90
mlength mlength
_______________________________________________
2lifebuoyfittedXX
withBuoyantline(18m)
2lifebuoys,onfittedwithXX
smoke/lightsignal
LifejacketforeachpersononXX
boardwithlightfitted
Sixparachuteflaresorred XX
starrockets
Waterproofcontainerforflares X X
Rescuesignaltable X X
Liferaftofsu
fficientcapacityX X
forallpersononboard
Launchinginstructions/posters XX
Forliferaftondisplay
Trainingmanualforonboard XX
safetyequipment
Maintenanceinstructionsfor XX
safetyequipment
LinethrowingapplianceX X
Rescueboatandlaunching X
davit
_______________________________________________
Table14. Mandatory firefighting equipment for Class XII
Recreational Craft in Ireland. Source: Merchant
Shipping(pleasurecraft‐safety)Regulations,2004. S.I.No259
of2004.
_______________________________________________
FireFighting Boats13.7m‐ Boat15m‐ Boats
Equipment 15.00mlength 21.34mlessgreaterthan
150t.21.34m
_______________________________________________
2fireextinguisher XX
offirebuckets(one
withlanyard)
3fireextinguishersorX
Firebuckets(one
withlanyard)
2fireextinguisher XXX
suitableforuseon
oilfires,forboatswith
internalcombustions
enginesfitted.
Manualfirepump X X
Dedicatedfirepump XXX
Seasu
ction
FireHose X X
FireHosenozzleX X
withjetandwater
spray
PowerdrivenfireX
pump
FireMainandhydrant X
2fireshoses X
Firehosespraynozzle X
formachineryspaces
_______________________________________________
There are no statutory lifesaving appliance
requirements for recreational craft less than 13.70m,
apart from the Merchant Shipping (pleasure craft)
(lifejacketsand operation) (safety) Regulations, 2004,
S.I. No 259 of 2004. However, it is strongly
recommended that such vessels carry at least a
minimum standard of life saving equipment and
guidanceonthi
sisgiveninpartBofthisCode.
110
A technical inspection of recreational craft is
mandatory every five years from the initial
registration. However, under themerchant Shipping
Act 1992, passenger ships that are licensed to carry
morethan12peoplearerequired to pass anannual
safety inspection carried out by the Department of
Transport,Tourismand
Sport.
4 RESULTS
Fromthecomparisonoftheinformationobtainedin
the above section, following comparative tables can
bedrawn:
Table15. Minimum and maximum length and Areas of
Navigation.Source:Own
_______________________________________________
Country Length(m)NavigationalArea
_______________________________________________
Spain 2.5‐24Unlimited
Upto60miles
Upto25miles
Upto12miles
Upto5miles
Upto2miles
Protectedwaters
_______________________________________________
France <24Overto6miles
Upto6miles
Upto2miles
_______________________________________________
UK >13.7Overto150miles
Overto20milesto150miles
Over3milesupto20miles
Up3miles
_______________________________________________
Italy Norequirement Unlimited
Upto50miles
Upto12miles
Upto6miles
Upto3miles
Upto1mile
Upto300meters
Inlandwaters
_______________________________________________
Portugal Norequirement Unlimited
Upto200miles
Upto60milesfromasafe
harborand25milesoffshore
Upto20milesfromasafe
shelterand6milesfromthe
coast
Protectedwaters
_______________________________________________
Ireland >13.7Registeredoperation
Seagoing
_______________________________________________
FromTable15wecanobserve thatthereisalack
of uniformity about the minimum and maximum
requiredlength.Maximumlengthofpleasurecraftsin
Spain and France is 24 meters. However, in United
Kingdom and Ireland the minimum length is 13.7m
andthereisnorequirementabout
lengthinItalyand
Portugal.
We can detect similar results about the number
andlimitsoftheareasofNavigation:SpainandItaly
have many areas of navigation (seven or eight) and
othercountrieslikeFranceandIrelandhasonlytwo
or three. In viewof this, isquitedifficult to
reach a
harmonized technical survival and safety
requirements for different recreational vessels and
diversity of navigation areas. If we compare, for
instance,thenumberofhandflaresinsimilararea(up
to6miles):inSpainandFranceitisrequired3andin
Italy 2 (we cannot compare with
other countries
becausethereisnotsimilarnavigationarea).
On the other hand, Table 16 shows information
aboutmandatorytechnicalinspectionscarriedoutto
recreationalboatsconsideringcountriesanalyzed:
Table16. Comparison of Mandatory Technical Inspection.
Source:Own
_______________________________________________
CountryTechnicalInspections
_______________________________________________
Spain Firstinspection Initialregistration
RegularEvery5years
Intermediate Between2ndand3rdyear
_______________________________________________
France FirstinspectionDuring3yearsafterpurchase
RegularDuring36monthsfrom1st
Intermediate Atleast2inaperiod5years
_______________________________________________
UK Firstinspection Duringitsfirstthreeyears
RegularEvery5years
_______________________________________________
Italy FirstinspectionDuringEighthandtenthyear
RegularEvery5years
_______________________________________________
Portugal Firstinspection Initialregistration
RegularEvery5years
_______________________________________________
Ireland Firstinspection Initialregistration
RegularEvery5years
_______________________________________________
Ingeneralterms,itcanbeobservedthatthereisa
uniformity related on periodicity of technical
inspections.Thereisafirstinspection(fromtheinitial
registrationtotenth year depending on the country)
and, after the first inspection, there is a regular
inspectionevery5years(exceptFrance).
5 CONCLUSIONS
SinceJune1998,ithasbeenarequirementthatallnew
boatsofferedforsalewithintheEUcomplywiththe
RecreationalCraftDirective(RCD).Thisindicatesthat
the craft fulfils certain essential criteria concerning
safety and other associated matters. The boat must
displayaCEmarktogetherwitha
platedetailingthe
maximum payload and operational limits. Local
Authority Trading Standards officers have the
responsibilitytoensurethatCE‐markedcraftcomply
with theRCD circulation of recreational craft in the
EU.
Recreational craft marketed in the EU must
comply with harmonised technical safety and
environmental requirements and meet a
number of
administrative obligations defined by Directive
94/25/EC,asamendedin2003.On28December2013,
the new recreational craft directive 2013/53/EU was
published in the Official Journal of the European
Union.EUMemberStateshaveuntil18January2016
toamendtheirnationallegislationandtransposethe
new directive.
The current directive 94/25/EC as
amendedbydirective2003/44/ECwillberepealedon
18January2016,afterthefullapplicationofthenew
text.
These safety and environmental requirements
addressthedesignandconstructionofthecraft,and
setlimitvaluesfortheirexhaustandnoiseemissions.
111
Although new Directive 2013/53/EU establishes
safety issues, from the results obtained inthe above
sections, we can state that there is no coordination
andequivalenceamongtheEUcountriesaccordingto
the survival and safety equipment compulsory for
recreationalcrafts.
Inthecaseofthecountriesanalysed,wenotethat
eachcountry establishes its classification of pleasure
boats,requireddifferentsafety equipmentandtypes
andfrequencyofthemandatoryinspectionsarealso
different.
The diversity of criteria of the topics discussed
states that it would be necessary to establish
mechanisms to unify some aspects among countries
oftheEuropeanUnion
like:
Classificationofpleasureboats.
List of mandatory safety andsurvivalequipment
accordingtoclassificationofpleasureboat.
Periodicity of inspections and items to be
inspected.
To conclude, we can state that there is a lack of
coordination in this area and further research is
necessary to unify a common pattern in
inspections/surveys and survival and safety
equipmentofrecreationalboatsintheEU.
REFERENCES
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novembre1987relatifàlasécuritédesnavires ‐Division
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[2]Decreto 5 ottobre 1999 n. 478ʺRegolamento recante
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[3]Decreto‐Lein.º124/2004, de
25deMaio –Regulamento
daNáuticadeRecreio,Portugal
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[10]Orden FOM/1144/2003, se regulan los equipos de
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2003,Spain
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[13]Real Decreto 1434/1999, se establecen los
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[14]RoyalYachtingAssociation.
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[16]Directive 2013/53/EU of the European Parliament and
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