The following short articles have been prepared by Josty Consulting for use as indices to be in included in our surveys as appropriate. They are included here for the interest of first time visitors to our website. If you have any comments on the site, either in general or on these notes, please feel free to use our ‘discussion room’

The Safety Culture
At this time privately owned leisure craft less than 13.7 metres in length in UK and Irish coastal waters are not covered by any statutory requirements as far as life saving or fire fighting equipment is concerned. However Solas V regulations came into force in July 2002 (leaflet in back pocket of this report) and the COLREGS (see Glossary, p.12) legally apply to all vessels on the high seas and all connected navigable waters.
The current non-legislative state is defended by the sailing and cruising community represented by the RYA and other user organisations. That the whole situation has not resulted in anarchy is down to three basics –
1. organisations such as RORC, RYA, MCA, trade organisations and the press within the leisure marine industry, most sailing/cruising clubs and class organisations have supported and heavily promoted a strong safety culture, particularly over the last 20 years, and continue to do so –
2. the rapid and continuing development and availability of marine electronic equipment for the consumer market and consequent reduction in prices and –
3. pressure from insurance underwriters and finance houses in an attempt to define more closely the risks covered, reduce the claims rate and control premiums in a competitive market.
Most underwriters these days expect vessels that they cover to carry appropriate safety and firefighting equipment, suitable ground tackle, flares and signals and to have fuel and gas systems that conform to ‘best practice’. The following items are some of the basics –

1. Safety Equipment
– lifelines – safety lines – life jackets – liferaft/inflatable/tender – lifebuoy – lifering – danbuoy – floating line – radar reflector – signal ball and cone – fog horn.
2. Firefighting equipment
– should include standard marine extinguisher equipment for engine compartment and accommodation areas and a fire blanket for galley area.

4. Ground tackle
– suitable anchor(s), chain and mooring lines for the size of vessel and proposed usage.
5. Flares
a. Inshore pack (up to 3 miles off shore)
2 x Red hand flares + 2 x Orange hand smokes
b. Coastal pack (up to 7 miles off shore)
2 x Red hand flares + 2 x Orange hand smokes
+ 2 x Parachute rockets
c. Offshore pack (over 7 miles off shore)
4 x Red hand flares + 2 x Floating smokes
+ 4 x Parachute rockets
d. RORC pack
4 x Red hand flares + 2 x Floating smokes
+ 4 x Parachute rockets + 4 White hand flares
6. Medical Stores
First aid kit - contained in damp proof strong canvas bag or box with carrying handle.
4 x triangular bandages - 90cm sides, 127cm base
6 x standard dressings no 8 or 13 BPC
2 x standard dressings no 9 or 14 BPC
2 x extra large sterile unmedicated dressings 28cm x 17.7cm
6 medium size safety pins, rustless
20 assorted adhesive dressing strips medicated BPC
2 sterile pads with attachments
2 x packages each containing 15g cotton wool
5 pairs of disposable polythene gloves.
Paracetomol - 500mg, 50 tabs.
Seasickness remedy - 50 tabs (hyoscine hydrobromide 0.3mg recommended).
Butterfly closures - adhesive skin closures, length about 5cm individually sealed sterile, box of 20.
Forceps - 12.5 cms, epilation type with oblique ends, 1 pair.
Scissors - 18cm conforming to BSI standard BS3646.
Thermometer - standard clinical thermometer.
First aid manual.
All crew members should be made aware of the location of the First Aid kit before leaving port. Any medical stores that are used should be replaced at the earliest possible opportunity.