1.2.2 SOLAS Chapter V - safety of navigation

1.2 Legislation applicable to all recreational craft

▪Recreational craft must as far as

practicable be fitted with a radar reflector (i.e. if it can reasonably be fitted, it should be fitted with one).

Legislation

1.2.1 Collision Regulations

▪Regulation 29 of Chapter V

Applicable Legislation:

requires a boat to have access to an illustrated table of the recognised life saving signals, so that it can communicate with search and rescue services or other boats if it gets into trouble. This is also a legal requirement under the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Nautical Charts and Publications) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 149 of 2021). An illustrated Table of Life Saving Signals must be carried on board. A copy is available on page 195 in Appendix 1 and can also be found in various nautical publications.

▪Merchant Shipping (Collision

Regulations) (Ships and Water Craft on the Water) Order 2012, S.I. No. 507 of 2012.

▪Signals of Distress (Ships) Rules

2012, S.I. No. 170 of 2012.

All recreational craft must comply with the International regulations for preventing collisions at sea.

All owners, skippers or persons in charge of a recreational craft should be fully familiar with the collision regulations. Some of the main requirements are included in Appendix 1.

▪There is an obligation on the

skipper of a recreational craft to report any dangers to navigation and respond to distress messages. This can be done by calling the Irish Coast Guard on VHF radio, if on board, or by contacting the Irish Coast Guard at 112 or 999 and reporting directly to them. Information on the Irish Coast Guard VHF channels can be found in Marine Notice No. 61 of 2020 and on page 163.

1.2.2 SOLAS Chapter V - safety of navigation

A number of regulations in Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) dealing with safety of navigation apply to all recreational craft. Marine Notice No. 30 of 2023 outlines the relevant provisions, which are summarised as follows:

▪It is a requirement that any voyage

▪It is a requirement that distress

is properly planned prior to being undertaken. See Appendix 8 for an example of a Passage Planning Template.

signals are not misused.