SOLAS V REGULATIONS 

Regulation V/34 'Safe Navigation and avoidance of dangerous situations', is a new regulation. It concerns prior-planning for your boating trip, more commonly known as voyage or passage planning. Voyage planning is basically common sense. As a pleasure boat user, you should particularly take into account the following points when planning a boating trip: 

 

weather: before you go boating, check the weather forecast and get regular updates if you are planning to be out for any length of time. 

tides: check the tidal predictions for your trip and ensure that they fit with what you are planning to do. 

limitations of the vessel: consider whether your boat is up to the proposed trip and that you have sufficient safety equipment and stores with you. 

crew: take into account the experience and physical ability of your crew. Crews suffering from cold, tiredness and seasickness won’t be able to do their job properly and could even result in an overburdened skipper. 

navigational dangers: make sure you are familiar with any navigational dangers you may encounter during your boating trip. This generally means checking an up to date chart and a current pilot book or almanac. 

contingency plan: always have a contingency plan should anything go wrong. Before you go, consider bolt holes and places where you can take refuge should conditions deteriorate or if you suffer an incident or injury. Bear in mind that your GPS set is vulnerable and could fail at the most inconvenient time. It is sensible and good practice to make sure you are not overreliant on your GPS set and that you can navigate yourself to safety without it, should it fail you. 

information ashore: make sure that someone ashore knows your plans and knows what to do should they become concerned for your well being. The Coastguard Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme (commonly known as CG66) is also free and easy to join. The scheme aims to help the Coastguard to help you quickly should you get into trouble while boating. It could save your life. 

 

Regulation V/29 requires you to have access to an illustrated table of the recognised life saving signals, so that you can communicate with the search and rescue services or other boats if you get into trouble. You can get a free copy of this table in a leaflet produced by the MCA. You can also find it in various nautical publications. If your boat is not suitable for carrying a copy of the table on board (because it’s small or very exposed), make sure you’ve studied the table before you go boating. Larger boats should keep a copy on board 

 

Regulations V/31, V/32 and V/33 require you: 

 

to let the Coastguard and any other vessels in the vicinity know if you encounter anything that could cause a serious hazard to navigation, if it has not already been reported. You can do this by calling the Coastguard on VHF, if you have it on board, or by telephoning them at the earliest opportunity. The Coastguard will then warn other vessels in the area. (Does this imply you must have a VHF License) 

to respond to any distress signal that you see or hear and help anyone or any boat in distress as best you can. 

 

Regulation V/35 prohibits misuse of any distress signals. These are critical to safety at sea and by misusing them you could put your or someone else’s life at risk. 

 

 

 

You can download your copy of the regulations from the MCA HERE