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Code of Practice
ANNEX 7
THE MANNING OF SMALL VESSELS
THE MANNING OF SMALL SAILING VESSELS
IN COMMERCIAL USE
This Annex give information relating to the manning and operation of small sailing vessels in commercial use as follows:-
Section 1 - Areas of Application
Section 2 - Minimum Qualification of the person in charge of the vessel and the additional person when required
Section 3 - Revalidation of Certificates
Section 4 - Responsibility of the Owner/Managing Agent for the Safe Manning of the vessel
Section 5 - Keeping a Safe Navigational Watch
Section 6 - Withdrawal of Certificate
Section 7 - Phasing-in Arrangements
General
Vessels of less than 80 tons gross or under 24 metres in length carrying not more than 12 passengers, being commercially operated sailing vessels as defined in section 1.4 of the Code, and which comply with the requirements of the Code will be exempt from the need to comply fully with the Merchant Shipping (Certification of Deck Officers) Regulations 1985 and the Merchant Shipping (Certificate of Marine Engineer Officers and Licensing of Marine Engine Operators) Regulations 1986 provided the manning of the vessel, when operating in the areas described in 1 below, is in accordance with the standards given in 2 below.
1 Areas of Application
Commercially operated sailing vessels operating within the following areas should carry at least the qualified personnel shown in 2 below:-
Area category 3 or 4 Up to 20 miles from a safe haven
Area category 2 Up to 60 miles from a safe haven
Area category 1 Up to 150 miles from a safe haven
Area category 0 Unrestricted service
2 Minimum Qualifications of the Person in Charge of the Vessel (Skipper) and of the Additional Persons Required to be Carried on Board
2.1 Endorsement of Certificates
All certificates of competency and/or service should carry the endorsement - "valid for pleasure vehicles of up to 24 metres in length used for commercial purposes".
2.2 Qualifications Required
2.2.1 Voyages up to 20 miles from a safe haven - operating area category 3 or 4
The skipper should hold at least an RYA/DTp Certificate of Competency as Coastal Skipper (Sailing)
2.2.2 Voyages of up to 60 miles from a safe haven - operating area category 2
The skipper should hold at least an RYA/DTp Certificate of Competency as Yachtmaster Offshore (Sailing).
There should also be on board a second person deemed by the skipper to be experienced.
2.2.3 Voyages of up to 150 miles from a safe have - operating area category 1
The skipper should hold at least an RYA/DTp Certificate in Competency as Yachtmaster Offshore (Sailing).
There should also be on board a second person holding an RYA/DTp Certificate of Competency as Coastal Skipper (Sailing).
One of the persons referred to above should be familiar with the operation and maintenance of the main propulsion machinery of the boat, and should have attended a suitable engine course.
2.2.4 Unrestricted Service - operating area category 0
The skipper should hold at least an RYA/DTp Certificate in Competency as Yachtmaster Ocean (Sailing).
There should also be on board another person holding at least an RYA/DTp Certificate of Competency as Yachtmaster Ocean or Yachtmaster Offshore (Sailing).
One of the persons referred to above, or another person, should be familiar with the operation and maintenance of the main propulsion and associated machinery of the vessel and should have attended as suitable course.
2.2.5 Radio Qualification
Every vessel should carry at least one person holding a Radio Operator's Certificate suitable for the radio equipment on board.
2.2.6 Medical Fitness Certificates
The skipper should hold a Medical Fitness Certificate issued by the DTp or an equivalent certificate. A DTp Medical Report on an applicant for a Boatmaster's Licence or a Health and Safety Executive Medical report for a sea diver will be considered to be equivalent to a DTp Medical Fitness Certificate.
2.2.7 Basic Sea Survival Course
Skippers of vessels to which the Code applies should hold an approved Basic Sea Survival Course Certificate.
2.2.8 First Aid Courses
Skippers or another member of the crew of vessels which operate in area category 2, 3 or 4 should hold a DTp First Aid at Sea Certificate or a certificate issued by a voluntary society following the successful completion of a first aid course approved by the Health and Safety Executive. Such courses should have extra emphases on the treatment of hypothermia and casualty evacuation.
Skippers of vessels operating in area category 0 or 1 should hold a DTp Ship Captain's Medical Training Certificate unless another member of the crew hold a medical or nursing qualification of an equivalent or a higher standard.
3 Revalidation of Certificates
All RYA/DTp Yachtmaster Certificates, whether of competency or service should be revalidated every five years, at which time a valid Medical Fitness Certificate should be produced.
4 Responsibility of the Owner/Managing Agent for Safe Manning of the Vessel
It is the responsibility of the owner/managing agent to ensure that the skipper and where necessary the crew of the vessel have, in addition to any qualifications required in 2 above, recent and relevant experience of the type and size of vessel and the type of operation in which the vessel is engaged. The owner/managing agent should also ensure that there are sufficient additional crew on board having regard to the type and duration of voyage being undertaken.
5 Keeping a Safe Navigational Watch
It is the responsibility of the skipper to ensure that there is, at all times, a person with adequate experience in charge of the navigational watch. In taking this decision the skipper should take into account all factors affecting the safety of the boat, including:-
.1 the present and forecast state of the water, visibility and sea;
.2 the proximity of navigational hazards;
.3 the density of traffic in the area.
6 Withdrawal of Certificate of Competency or Service
The Yachtsmaster Qualifications Panel reserves the right to withdraw a RYA/DTp Certificate of Competency or Certificate of Service at any time if due cause is shown.
7 Phasing-in Arrangements
7.1 When the Code comes into operation and until 31 March 1996, existing skippers who do not already hold the Certificates of Competency required by the Code, will be eligible to be issued with a Certificate of Service appropriate to their previous experience.
The Certificates of Services will be issued by the RYA to the applicant upon satisfactory proof of sea service.
Applicants for Certificates of Service should also obtain the appropriate qualification in First Aid.
7.2 Applicants for RYA Certificate of Service (COS)
.1 Applicants for Coastal Skipper COS should have a total of at least two years experience of which at least 100 days should have been spent actually at sea. Included in this two years at least one year, which includes at least 50 days actually at sea, should have been served as skipper of a small commercial sailing vessel.
.2 Applicants for Yachtmaster Offshore COS should have a total of at least five years experience of which 250 days should have been spend actually at sea. Included in this five years at least two years, which includes at least 100 days actually at sea, should have been served as skipper of a small commercial sailing vessel. Additionally, the required sea service should include at least 12 voyages of over 60 miles and at least 6 of these voyages should have been served in the capacity of skipper.
