MagicalArmchair
Well-Known Member
Thanks, any thoughts on the life raft being out of date by a year? Do we need to hire one? Anyone have theirs checked?
Off to the Netherlands we go...
- Thread starter MagicalArmchair
- Start date
Alicatt
Well-Known Member
Normally you don't get bothered, we have been checked once in 2 years of cruising in Belgium and The Netherlands, and that was in Belgium, plus I think the water police were put up to it by someone, we had noticed that the individual was pointing the police in our direction, the only thing they pulled us up on was we had a 1kg fire extinguisher within 1m of the helm and the regulations had just changed to require a 2kg.
One other guy we know get's checked almost every time he goes out, even though he is a strictly by the rules type (he can rub you up the wrong way
) Just don't call them Hollanders ... that is a colloquial term for a type of sausage
Alicatt
Well-Known Member
There is a bridge U/S on the Willamina Kanaal just now until 30th July, hydraulic ram failed.
In Belgium:
For info on coastal waters and chart updates Maritime and Coastal Services
For the inland waterways De Vlaamse Waterweg and specifically VisuRIS - Portal for inland waterway messages to mariners for both commercial and pleasure boaters
These are the official sites in Belgium, usually pretty much up to date.
st599
Well-Known Member
UK hasn't implemented VDES yet, so if you want a VDES compliant VHF, you'll need a notice of variation from Ofcom, then you can get the correct frequencies added. But you can't use them in the UK.
Alicatt
Well-Known Member
My radio has a nice big sticker on it saying VDES compliant, with DSC for coastal and ATIS for inland waters, plus it has the UK channels on it if you boot it up in international mode rather than Belgian.
France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands all have different channel allocations, Belgium was an early adopter of VDES and I think The Netherlands is following on next year.
Next year from 1/1/26 Vlaamsewaterweg want you to use either AIS + VHF or their new App that will be released in time for 1/1//26 giving your location and ID to operate the locks, this will become compulsory on 1/4/2026
France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands all have different channel allocations, Belgium was an early adopter of VDES and I think The Netherlands is following on next year.
Next year from 1/1/26 Vlaamsewaterweg want you to use either AIS + VHF or their new App that will be released in time for 1/1//26 giving your location and ID to operate the locks, this will become compulsory on 1/4/2026
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
The bridge at Spaarndam, near Haarlem is now back in action but the Coenecoopbrug in Gouda has been shut from 14th July, supposed to re-open on 28th. July. Let's hope that's OK.
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
The Coenecoopbrug also has a notice to mariners about Recreational Thrust Inhibition, so watch out for that. All the times I've visited Netherlands no one has shown the least interest on official paperwork.
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
I don't generally carry a liferaft, but nobody has ever been remotely interested in what is on my boat, home or abroad, apart from insurance surveyors.
It is unlikely that it is just my VHF which has the feature of different available groups - it can be switched over for Europe and is then compliant with their requirements, including ATIS.
MagicalArmchair
Well-Known Member
I have my own license in the file, but completely forgot my OfCom ships license - hoops, thanks for the reminder, printing it out now.
Yup, got one (EchoMax, I'd love an active reflector - a future project!)
Interesting. Thanks Pye_End - I am at risk of overthinking it (which is pretty usual when you have four kids on board).
st599
Well-Known Member
Including the VDES digital channels?
The new Netherlands and Belgium marina channel is not legal to have on a radio in the UK, so without a NoV, it shouldn't be programmed in to it.
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
st599
Well-Known Member
The Dutch and Belgian marina channel is an RNLI only channel in the UK, you need a NOV from Ofcom to legally have it programmed in to your radio.
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
In 2 weeks the Veersemeer is the best option unless you're happy to spend your holiday mile crunching. No charge for using the jetties. Try to get a spot at the NW end by the dam , gives options for using the meer or a lovely beach. Beach bars, fast food, windsurf school and flyboard, ( if you're brave enough)
If conditions suit, try for the Grevellingen. You do have to buy a ticket to use the island jetties, buy at any marina.
If conditions suit, try for the Grevellingen. You do have to buy a ticket to use the island jetties, buy at any marina.
Pye_End
Well-Known Member
Did you read the link?
The VHF can be set to UK only channels only, and to Europe/ATIS only. You can switch between the two groups (or more) with a few button presses somewhere across the North Sea. There is no fear of using the wrong channels. ICOM program their sets that way, as the link demonstrates. If you think they are acting illegally in their design perhaps you should take it up with them?
st599
Well-Known Member
They aren't doing anything illegal - having it installed without the NoV is illegal. All new licences have the NoV applied, if your licence is older than about 6 months, go back on to the Ofcom website, amend the licence, tick the box asking for permission to use Ch 31, re-download the licence and the installation becomes legal.
Then when your paperwork is checked, it has the correct frequencies on it.
Concerto
Well-Known Member
From memory the Dutch used to be hot on using a motoring cone. You should have one onboard already.
MK101
Well-Known Member
Definitely worth doing in the bits where you’re dicing with lots of commercial traffic ie Maas entrance or Scheldt, Zeebrugge etc. Belgian boats certainly seem to use it more regularly.
DanTribe
Well-Known Member
Something worth remembering is watch out for bikes. Electric and small 2 stroke "broom fiets" are everywhere and often whizz through crowded shopping centres. The one that looks like mini Harley Davidsons often 3 up seem suicidal to me but haven't seen an accident yet.
Alicatt
Well-Known Member
And none of them follow the speed limits, think once, think twice... you have just been runover by a 50km/h silent pedelec
WFA
Well-Known Member
ATIS is used on European INLAND Waterways so no need to switch over until you are in a canal system.
If using standard VHF once in canals remember to switch your transmission to Low Power - Brits are renowned for using the High Power setting as default and are referred to being irritating "Deep Sea Boomers". Given the high concentration of vessels in your close vicinity you only need low power to contact nearby vessels and waterway control centers thereby reducing unrelated radio traffic being broadcast to all and sundry in the adjacent 25 miles.
Motor\sailing Cone - Belgium officials are far more vigilant on this point than in the Netherlands BUT if you are officially picked out in the Netherlands for any reason, you can face a polite but thorough, inspection against every regulation that applies.
If using standard VHF once in canals remember to switch your transmission to Low Power - Brits are renowned for using the High Power setting as default and are referred to being irritating "Deep Sea Boomers". Given the high concentration of vessels in your close vicinity you only need low power to contact nearby vessels and waterway control centers thereby reducing unrelated radio traffic being broadcast to all and sundry in the adjacent 25 miles.
Motor\sailing Cone - Belgium officials are far more vigilant on this point than in the Netherlands BUT if you are officially picked out in the Netherlands for any reason, you can face a polite but thorough, inspection against every regulation that applies.
