Clear guidance on MCA coding requirements and marine safety compliance for your vessel, and everything you need to understand about your obligations.
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The MCA coding guidance list will provide you with the information you will need regarding safety equipment for a vessel coding. The list is tailored by vessel type and coding category to make it specific to your requirements. You can also indicate the equipment you do or do not need to purchase.
Your boat must be coded if:
You operate a boat for skippered or bareboat use, usually for commercial gain.
You take people afloat who pay more than a reasonable contribution towards the trip.
Suffolk Marine Safety recommends you contact an MCA certifying authority such as the RYA for the relevant information. The distance you’re allowed to operate depends on the boat’s stability. The first stage of coding is to fill out an application examination and an application for stability category allocation to be sent to the RYA. Your category will then be allocated.
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Category 4:Â Up to 20 miles from a safe haven, in favourable weather and daylight.
Category 5: To sea, within 20 miles from a nominated departure point named in the certificate in favourable weather and daylight.
Category 6:Â To sea, within 3 miles from a nominated departure point named in the certificate and never more than 3 miles from land, in favourable weather and daylight.
Once you know your category…
You can then decipher what equipment you will need to meet MCA standards. The equipment necessary is stated in MGN 280.
Once you meet the rules and regulations, a certifying authority surveyor will arrange to inspect the boat.
If the inspection is a success, a certificate will be issued to the owner.
Suffolk Marine Safety recommends that copies of this should be kept on board. The certificates are valid for five years, with annual, intermediate and renewal surveys being required to maintain the vessel’s compliance.
You will need operating procedures in place to ensure the vessel operates within your guidelines, and that safety and maintenance checks are carried out frequently.
Commercial vessels also have a manning requirement, and individual certificates of competence are required to operate the boat. Certificates need to be commercially endorsed which entails a sea survival certificate, medical, and completion of the RYA PPR course.
If you need further support with regulations then please visit the RYA Website where they give guidance on coding for all sailing vessels, commercial and leisure.
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