Boat and Skipper Regulations for Use on Work Sites on Waterways
If you’re planning a project on an inland waterway where a safety boat is required, for example, a bridge repair job or a river inspection, there are several health and safety requirements which must be met by both the skipper and the vessel itself.
Regulations for vessels on inland waterways can be extremely specific and complicated, which is why most surveyors hire a professional safety boat company like Ocean Sports to provide peace of mind that statutory requirements are being met.
Our knowledgeable team has outlined the main safety standards applicable to safety boats on inland waterways in the UK, to help answer your questions.
What is an inland waterway?
All skippers helming safety boats on inland waterway work sites must adhere to the local rules of the waterway and local byelaws in accordance with the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act 1907, Section 94; or Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, Section 38, as applicable.
Defined by MSN 1837 (M), inland waterways are categorised into four types of waters which are not regarded as ‘sea’.
- Category A: Narrow rivers and canals where the depth of water is generally less than 1.5 metres.
- Category B: Wider rivers and canals where the depth of water is generally 1.5 metres or more and where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 0.6 metres at any time.
- Category C: Tidal rivers and estuaries and large, deep lakes and lochs where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 1.2 metres at any time.
- Category D: Tidal rivers and estuaries where the significant wave height could not be expected to exceed 2.0 metres at any time.
You must meet the standards of MGN 469 (M)
According to the Marine Guidance Note 469 (M) defined by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, a non-passenger vessel on any inland waterway as outlined above must adhere to a set of standards to ensure that safety measures are upheld. Safety boats, workboats, tugs, pushers and other specialist vehicles are included in this category, meaning that to work on site on an inland waterway, there are different coding requirements to be met.
Standards for safety equipment
It is considered that the majority of inland waterway workboats in the UK carry out low-risk operations, which means that these vessels are only subject to limited statutory technical requirements, most of which relate to the carriage of life saving appliances and fire fighting equipment.
While a workboat certified in accordance with the ‘Safety of Small Workboats and Pilot Boats – A Code of Practice’ is operating in categorised waters, it is considered to be a Class IX(A) vessel – ‘freight vessels and all other non-passenger vessels that do not go to sea’, and is referred to as such in the below legislative documents.
Life Saving Appliances (LSA)
The life saving appliances carried under these regulations should meet the standards set out in Merchant Shipping Notice (MSN) 1676.
Class IX(A) requirements for Life Saving Appliances, and Fire Fighting Equipment
Notes
Also, in addition to the above, every tug and tender shall carry buoyant apparatus sufficient to support the total of persons on board.
- Unless non SOLAS type used then one per persons on board member.
- One with buoyant line (18m) and one with smoke signal and light (on tankers light to be battery type).
- Two with buoyant line (18m) and two with smoke signal and light (on tankers light to be battery type); one of each on each side.
- With light.
- With associated lighting, posters and training manual.
Health and safety requirements on board vessels
Safety boats and other vessels on inland waterways are covered by legislation outlined in Annex 4 of the MGN 469 (M), which can be viewed by clicking here.
Fighting Equipment (FFE)
The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998 – (SI 1011/1998)
Fire Fighting Equipment for Class IX(A) vessels of up to 500 GT
Notes
- Can be manually operated.
- Two in each space containing any part of any oil fuel installation.
- As per reg. 37 of SI 1998/1011, i.e. including fire axe, torch etc.
- Up to a max of seven.
- Power may be off main engine.
- Alternatively an additional portable extinguisher suitable for oil fires.
- May be power or hand operated.
- Able to produce a jet 6m of water which can be directed at any part of the ship, with a 10mm and spray nozzle. Although in any ship <9m and any open ship <21.34m this requirement may be substituted with two fire buckets, one of which must have a lanyard. These fire buckets need not be additional to those mentioned in note 9.
- May be substituted with buckets, one of which must have a lanyard.
- With regard to wooden boats see regs. 20 (5) and 21 (2) of SI 1998/1011.
It is worth noting that the above LSA and FFE guidance has been retained as the MCA Alternative Standards to the former MCA Fitness for Purpose (FFP) scheme which was withdrawn in 2012, however, Navigation Authorities and Statutory Harbour Authorities are free to adopt the former FFP standards under their own local powers, if and as they see fit.
Skipper qualification requirements
To work as a skipper on a commercial boat such as a safety boat, the individual must hold a valid MCA Boatmaster’s Licence or an equivalent (or higher) qualification, including commercially endorsed RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification. You must also have 3 months of relevant experience.
Further equivalent qualifications to the MCA Boatmaster’s Licence can be found in Annex 3 of MSN 1853 (M) Amendment 1, which can be viewed here.
You may need a BSS certificate
If you are operating a safety boat on inland waterways, you may need to get a Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate in order to charter rivers and canals in the UK. Owned jointly by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) and the Environment Agency (EA), the BSS applies to most boats including small commercial vessels such as safety boats, and stipulates the requirements boats must usually meet before they can be issued with a licence.
If you are looking for a professional and experienced safety boat company to help with your next project on UK inland waterways, Ocean Sports can help. Providing reliable and compliant workboat services including tugging, surveying, and safety boat services, you can rely on our knowledgeable and qualified team to help keep your site safe.
Ocean Sports is a Southampton-based company offering UK-wide safety boat and pontoon hire services. Complete our contact form today or give us a call on 02381 242 159 for a quote.