Liferaft return to UK via car ferry

Tradewinds

Tradewinds

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Might need to return a hired liferaft to the UK by car from France on a Ferry.

Any problems likely with that with the operators?

Plus, subsequently, outgoing (non-hired) liferaft by car ferry UK-France.

Practical experiences please - not theory or rools (which I can read about online) :encouragement:

TIA
 
Halcyon Yachts said:
Yes. No problem doing this, they might just think you are a very nervous passenger!
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I once seriously considered trying to fly from Edinburgh to Heathrow with a full oxygen set (for overhaul) and parachute (for repacking) as baggage. After a little consideration I decided that this would probably not be a good idea.
 
Tradewinds said:
Might need to return a hired liferaft to the UK by car from France on a Ferry.

Any problems likely with that with the operators?

Plus, subsequently, outgoing (non-hired) liferaft by car ferry UK-France.

Practical experiences please - not theory or rools (which I can read about online) :encouragement:

TIA
Click to expand...

Yes you can.
There is one snag

Life rafts are dangerous goods.

I can't recall the no of the top of my head.
They are permissible to transport on a conventional ferry. Not sure about high speed ferry.I would have to check.
Although they are permitted on a passenger ferry.an individual company may have its own restrictions.

You will be required to declare the life raft and provide a dangerous goods shipping document to the loading officer upon boarding.
Most ferry companies will have someone at the terminal who can help you fill out a shipping document and probably provide a blank generic format.
They will also have access to IMDG information.

Best to tell the company when booking. The girl taking reservations over phone might not have a clue. But should be able to refer you to some one who does.
Lots of the trucks have some DG as part of their load.

Show up just before sailing time with a life raft without having told them you may be waiting for the nextvsailing
 
JumbleDuck said:
I once seriously considered trying to fly from Edinburgh to Heathrow with a full oxygen set (for overhaul) and parachute (for repacking) as baggage. After a little consideration I decided that this would probably not be a good idea.
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Drift here:
Couple of friends were delivering a biplane, then came back via schedule air. They were slinging their parachutes in the overhead, when a horrified flight attendant came up and told them to hide the chutes as it would freek out the other pax. They ended up in the catering space.
 
Uricanejack said:
Yes you can.
There is one snag

Life rafts are dangerous goods.

I can't recall the no of the top of my head.
They are permissible to transport on a conventional ferry. Not sure about high speed ferry.I would have to check.
Although they are permitted on a passenger ferry.an individual company may have its own restrictions.

You will be required to declare the life raft and provide a dangerous goods shipping document to the loading officer upon boarding.
Most ferry companies will have someone at the terminal who can help you fill out a shipping document and probably provide a blank generic format.
They will also have access to IMDG information.

Best to tell the company when booking. The girl taking reservations over phone might not have a clue. But should be able to refer you to some one who does.
Lots of the trucks have some DG as part of their load.

Show up just before sailing time with a life raft without having told them you may be waiting for the nextvsailing
Click to expand...

After listening to the cross channel ferry traffic in & out of Portsmouth I always wondered what was involved when they mentioned that they had "hazardous" on board. Now I know!
 
Thread drift...

I usually get odd looks from other ferry passangers when carrying my lifejacked aboard, the crews are used to it. Was very, very tempted to take a picture of us in full wet weather gear last summer.
 
Declare it to the ferry operator, they can then let customs know you're carrying firearms/explosives and you should be able to pass through without trouble.

Well your liferaft does have flares in it...doesn't it? :)
 
Came out through Portsmouth earlier this year and we were pulled out of the queue (along with about 1 in 10 of all cars) for a security check. During the check the security lady noticed I had boaty gear in the car and I was specifically asked if I had a liferaft or flares to declare. Fortunately I didn't have any that trip but I had carried one over with me the previous trip. If I'd been caught I suspect it would have caused me some delays at the very least. I will definitely declare it at booking the next time I transport it for the DG by sea regs.
 
Tradewinds said:
Might need to return a hired liferaft to the UK by car from France on a Ferry.

Any problems likely with that with the operators?

Plus, subsequently, outgoing (non-hired) liferaft by car ferry UK-France.

Practical experiences please - not theory or rools (which I can read about online) :encouragement:

TIA
Click to expand...

Top Tip.

Some tides ago, I delivered a yacht from Pompey to LeHavre and took a liferaft plus two blokes with me. Was a Bumpy Trip.

Return ferry was a bit delayed so we had a glass or two whilst waiting. On boarding, pointed out we had our own liferaft , didn't everyone? Was made to stow it in ferry doctors office by stern crew. Ferry nurse had a very nice bottom but was not really receptive to compliments.

Went to ferry bar, lumpy sea, was only customers.

drank wine.

Arrived Pompey.

Wife waiting

'Underwhelmed ' kind of gets it.

Soo, tip is, take liferaft but avoid getting massively pi$$ed.
 
you've probably already done this by now, but in case not: I did this recently from UK to Holland. I told the ferry company, they said it was fine and made a note of it and asked me to notify the boarding staff on arrival. They then put it somewhere secure for me and I collected it just before arrival. The issue was the flares - if you carry a basic model raft without flares (e.g. not ORC pack etc) then there are no issues. If the raft has flares within it then in my experience, if you tell them there is no problem carrying it. On arrival the staff said to me" crikey, we provide those on board, you don't need to bring your own"(!)
 
No names no pack drill.

It's in the car. The worst it could do is inflate in the boot and that would be a laugh!

I have been stopped by customs with a van load of stuff getting off the ferry at Dover. 2 liferafts in the van at the time, one from a mates boat. They asked, I said it was personal stuff. They smiled and said either a big boat or a nervous sailor! No mention of flares / firearms / explosives / pyrotechnics. No licence is required for flares anyway.
 
We carried one on to a ferry at Holyhead a few years ago as foot passengers. Had just delivered a boat and were still wearing oillies. They didn't seem to mind but it was the overnight ferry so maybe they were just a bit more relaxed.
 
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