Prison it is then!!

[clyst]

New government regulations apparently makes it a criminal offence if skippers fail to report any accident or incident at sea.These regulations,introduced earlier this year,make it a criminal offence punishable by up to 2 years in prison AND a fine up to £5000 if skippers do not comply with strict reporting requirements when a craft is involved in an incident or accident.
Definitions of "accident" and "incident"in the regulations are not clear but it is thought that such things as collision with a race mark,a dinghy capsize, two vessels coming into even the slightest contact when berthing are all included .
Apparently the RYAs view is that the regulations will contribute nothing to safety and impose an unnecessary burden on the boating community.!!! (Not to mention the loss of sailing during time spent in jail .)
Anyone else heard of these regs?? SOLAS?? I might be already going to prison if they ask too many questions about the scratches down my port side!!

Cheers all

Terry

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[l'escargot]

Have a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=pbo&Number=611882&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&part=>this</A> thread.

It's a bit like when "passage planning" et al came in - ignore it.

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[Rob_Webb]

Reminds me of a quaint sign I saw in a BP service station the other day that was a notice for the counter staff - it said words to effect that..... "ALL accidents or injuries must be reported to management even inlcuding paper cuts." For real.

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[TheBoatman]

Terry
It's got nothing to do with SOLAS and the topic has been debated here at length. What it is in fact are the new The Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2004. Someone above has already posted the link and if you want to read through all 22 pages be my guest.
IMHO if you thought it necessary to report somethimng to the CG before the 20th Sept then you should still report it. If you didn't think a report necessary before then, don't now.

Peter.

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[BlueSkyNick]

That's a bit like the staff restuarant in the office complex where I am currently based.

Yesterday, one of the options was trout with almonds. The pretty little fishes were lying on a tray, with a good sprinkling of almonds all over them - accompanied by a sign saying " Caution - this dish may contain nuts." WHen I made fun of it, as I am prone to do, the lady told me it was a compulsory sign and they even have to put one on the peanut butter jar !!

Once again, regulation gone mad, nanny state and all that stuff.

<hr width=100% size=1>I can't be bothered with a footnote - it's usually rubbish anyway.

 

[Birdseye]

The problem here is that the regs imply you have to report everything, but the MCA gives a much more sensible interpretation. Which is fine until you have an argument with an MCA official and he starts to use the regs to beat you about the head with.

To my mind, the only answer to this sort of legalistic stupidity is strict compliance. Bombard the bureaucrats with reports of every incident including (since it is pollution) eveytime you use the sea toilet!

However, people wont do that, so be prepared to have the regs used against you.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.

 

[mickshep]

Paranoid? Not sure, but will be interesting to see if the inevitable jump in maritime 'incidents' is thrown at us when the powers that be next start ranting about the need for compulsary registration/licencing, Oh! and of course the fees that will be inevitably be part and parcel of any such initiative. Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>My Mum say's I'm not a fat b@st@rd, just heavy boned.

 

[Stork_III]

Don't get paranoid.

For recreational craft of a length less than 45m,ie most of us, only regulation 12 applies ie incident reporting.

Under regulation 17 "Offences" reg 12 is only mentioned in 17(3) and on conviction for contravention of reg 12, punishment is by a fine, no mention of prison.

Only reg 9 contraventions are punishable by fine and/or maximum 2 years at Her Majesty's pleasure.

Happy Sailing.

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[bob_tyler]

"To my mind, the only answer to this sort of legalistic stupidity is strict compliance"

Every time I miss picking up my mooring singlehanded under sail I will report it.

That probably means that the MCA will be swamped by my efforts alone and sood drop the whole idea!

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[sailorman]

Or they may report you to your Ins co who will raise your premium due to your own incompetence.
happy sailing Bob
roger

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