2. Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Commercially Operated Pleasure Craft Used from a Beach or Harbour
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - MCA Publications - MGN 280 - Small Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure, Workboats and Pilot Boats - Alternative Construction Standards - Annex 4 - Equivalence for Variations and Beachcraft - 2. Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Commercially Operated Pleasure Craft Used from a Beach or Harbour

2. Guidelines for the Safe Operation of Commercially Operated Pleasure Craft Used from a Beach or Harbour

  2.1 This section is intended as guidelines for all parties involved in the administration of beach hired craft, including those issued with a Certificate of Compliance for Category 6 operations limited to a maximum of 1 nautical mile from the beach/harbour for vessels operated by a qualified skipper, or 1000m from the beach/harbour for self drive vessels, as defined in section 1, and Local Authorities' own licensing schemes.

  2.2 This is not considered an exhaustive list, nor are they relevant to all situations.

  • .1 All boats operating at sea should adopt appropriate safety standards or equivalencies set out in this Code for Category 6 requirements, and section 1 above. The carriage of liferafts need not be a requirement for the vessel, but suitable equivalencies from the section above must be employed.

  • .2 All tows to be considered part of the towing vessel, and are to be fit for purpose.

  • .3 Personal watercraft (jet-skis and wet bikes) or PWC, may be subject to these guidelines, as appropriate, and additional advice is given in section 3. It should be noted that at present PWC are not considered as vessels, and as such may not be issued with a Small Commercial Vessel certificate. Their use may be addressed however, by Local Authority licensing schemes, hence their inclusion in this annex.

  • .4 Boats are to be capable of accommodating all persons for which they are licensed, including those contained on board the tow, if applicable. Methods of assessing the number of persons suitable to be carried are contained in the text of this Code of Practice. In general, hired self-drive craft should not carry more than 4 persons.

  • .5 Towing craft should have a minimum crew of two at all times - one to drive, and navigate, the other to watch the tow.

  • .6 Craft should be fitted with an engine stop cord, to be used at all times.

  • .7 Operating procedures, and equipment where applicable, are to be in place for recovery of persons from the water, including measures to avoid injury from the boat and machinery. For vessels fitted with conventional propellers, consideration should be given to the fitting of a propeller guard, especially where recovery of persons is commonplace.

  • .8 Children under the age of 8 should be accompanied by an adult at all times, including when on a tow.

  • .9 Inflatable tows should be capable of supporting 110% of the maximum manufacturer's weight limit, with any one separate inflatable compartment punctured or deflated.

  • .10 Lifejackets are to be worn at all times. For operations where buoyancy aids may be considered more practical, their use may be accepted based on equivalencies stated in section 1 above.

  • .11 Towlines should be approximately 25 to 30 metres long. A method of quick release in the event of an emergency is to be available.

  • .12 Parascending lines, harnesses and parachutes are to be inspected daily by the operator, and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.

  • .13 Operating areas and any associated channels for slow speed transit to and from the shore, should be clearly marked.

  • .14 Operating areas, trading dates and daily hours for operation are to be defined.

  2.3 Additionally the hire operator will:

  • .1 hold a nationally recognised qualification for the hiring activity concerned, i.e. water sports instructors certificate.

  • .2 hold a Local Authority licence/concession to operate, where applicable.

  • .3 maintain visual contact with the hired vessels at all times, and provide a means of immediate rescue in the event of an accident.

  • .4 ensure that vessels and associated equipment are maintained in proper state for the beginning of each hire.

  • .5 report and record to the Local or Certifying Authority, all incidents which have, or could have led to injury.

  • .6 ensure that hirers are provided with sufficient information about the vessel and its equipment to enable it to be used safely, and that hirers are competent for the intended operation.

  • .7 ensure a procedure is in place for immediate contact with the Coastguard, or other relevant emergency service, in the event of an accident or incident.

Parent topic: Annex 4 - Equivalence for Variations and Beachcraft
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.