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ESSENTIAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RECREATIONAL CRAFT – for all European built boats

07
Jan

ESSENTIAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF RECREATIONAL CRAFT

1. BOAT DESIGN CATEGORIES

Definitions:

A. OCEAN: Designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 (Beaufort scale) scale) and significant wave heights of 4 m and above, and vessels largely self-sufficient.

B. OFFSHORE: Designed for offshore voyages where conditions up to and including wind force eight and significant wave heights up to and including 4 m may be experienced.

C. INSHORE: Designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes and rivers where conditions up to and including wind force six and significant wave heights up to 2 m may be experienced.

D. SHELTERED WATERS: Designed for voyages on small lakes, rivers, and canals where conditions up to and including wind force four and significant wave heights up to and including 0,5 m may be experienced. Boats in each category must be designed and constructed to withstand these parameters regarding stability, buoyancy, and other relevant essential requirements listed in Annex I and have good handling characteristics.

2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Recreational craft and components, as referred to in Annex II, shall comply with the essential requirements as they apply to them.

2.1. Hull identification: Each craft shall be marked with a hull identification number, including the following information: –

  • manufacturer’s code, –
  • country of manufacture, –
  • unique serial number, –
  • year of production, –
  • model year.

The relevant harmonized standard gives details of these requirements.

2.2. Builder’s plate Each craft shall carry a permanently affixed plate mounted separately from the boat hull identification number, containing the following information: –

  • manufacturer’s name, –
  • CE marking (see Annex IV), –
  • boat design category according to sections 1, –
  • manufacturer’s maximum recommended load according to section 3.6, –
  • a number of persons recommended by the manufacturer for which the boat was designed to carry when underway.

2.3. Protection from falling overboard and means of reboarding: Depending on the design category, the craft shall be designed to minimize the risks of falling overboard and to facilitate reboarding.

2.4. Visibility from the main steering position For motorboats, the main steering position shall give the operator good all-around visibility under normal conditions of use (speed and load).