Registration of Tenders in Foreign Bureaucratically-Obsessed Lands

[Dockhead]

I'm soon to set off into the distant blue, to Finland via Belgium, Holland, Krautland, etc.

I'm trying to get myself ready for the increased amount of regulation in those parts.

It ocurred to me that an unregistered tender might raise a few eyebrows -- is there anything to it? Should I put my tender on the SSR?

Mine is a proper little motorboat with 25 horsepower and wheel steering. But no nav lights or registration!!

 

[AndrewB]

It used not to be possible to put a tender on the SSR as there was a minimum size requirement, but I think that is now gone. What was recommended by the RYA to us then, is to paint the yacht's registration number on the tender preceded by 'T/T'.

This satisfied the USA authorities, who are hot on such things. But they did say our tender could only be used for the sole purpose of ferrying people ashore by the most direct means, not for going exploring etc. With your much more powerful tender, it could be worthwhile to get it registered so you don't face that kind of hassle - it's very little trouble and the cost is tiny in relation to the craft. You can do it online from here: https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/ssr/ssr/.

Regardless of registration you still have to observe safety regs. For a small tender at night the Colregs require you to show an all-round white light (sidelights not strictly required). It need not be permanently fitted - a decent torch is generally considered acceptable for a low-speed tender, but you ought to do better.

 

[Seven Spades]

What good advice.

 

[duncan99210]

Never encountered a problem with our tender but I have heard that the Italians can be a bit pernickety: they require that the tender be clearly identified as being an adjunct to a registered vessel. This means it must be marked as T/T ***** . This goes against the wishes of some folks who don't like having the yacht name on the tender as when it is left ashore it indicates the yacht is unattended.
That said, we've never encountered any problems and the lack of any other response would suggest that most places don't really care so long as you've got the main vessel registered.

 

[Cardo]

We've not had any issues in Spain/Italy/Greece thus far, but our tender is an inflatable with a 2.5hp outboard, so not exactly a vessel in its own right! The snazzier tenders around here tend to have TT (or T/T) Boat Name printed on them.

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

I'm soon to set off into the distant blue, to Finland via Belgium, Holland, Krautland, etc. It ocurred to me that an unregistered tender might raise a few eyebrows -- is there anything to it? Should I put my tender on the SSR?

Many of the countries you visit may have organisations providing sailing information for tourists (equivalents of 'Sail Scotland' and/or our tourist board). Might be worth contacting them for any local rules their nations impose on foreign vessels including tenders [1]. (Do report back here.)

[1] I'd like to think the answer to this would be 'nothing beyond the requirements of the vessels flag state' but IIRC Ireland require visitors to wear lifejackets or somesuch so maybe other places do.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Bit of fred drift.

in NL now wearing of kill cords is mandatory, 50 euro fine if caught. Also the dutch have a registration system for speed boats, think it is greater than 17 kn payable at a post office. RYA will be able to advise accurately.

 

[Pinnacle]

It used not to be possible to put a tender on the SSR as there was a minimum size requirement, but I think that is now gone. What was recommended by the RYA to us then, is to paint the yacht's registration number on the tender preceded by 'T/T'.

This satisfied the USA authorities, who are hot on such things. But they did say our tender could only be used for the sole purpose of ferrying people ashore by the most direct means, not for going exploring etc. With your much more powerful tender, it could be worthwhile to get it registered so you don't face that kind of hassle - it's very little trouble and the cost is tiny in relation to the craft. You can do it online from here: https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/ssr/ssr/.

Regardless of registration you still have to observe safety regs. For a small tender at night the Colregs require you to show an all-round white light (sidelights not strictly required). It need not be permanently fitted - a decent torch is generally considered acceptable for a low-speed tender, but you ought to do better.

I am not sure the OP qualifies for the SSR.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Many countries which require boats to be registered use 2.4m as the small end cut-off, and also exclude "beach toys". Tenders over 2.4m can either be on the inventory of your own yacht (T/T xxxx) or can be registered independently - through SSR. France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece all require vessels over 2.4m to be registered.

Mostly those countries don't chase after small craft. But I've had fairly regular reports from S Portugal that tenders without T/T xxxx marks have been warned or fined.

However, if any incident occurs (typically, a complaint made against a tender motoring near swimming beaches) then officials of any country will check your registration and insurance before determining how much to fine you. If your tender is registered independently, make sure your boat's insurance cover notes its details!

 

[Dockhead]

So much good information -- thanks everyone!

No one has any concrete experience of NL, Germany, Sweden, Finland? So few Baltic sailors here?

 

[BabaYaga]

For Sweden – no need of registration (of vessel or tender).
Some info from customs:
http://www.tullverket.se/en/startpage/keywordsaz/az/pleasureboats.4.7735ec6c11a23e0e7fc8000145.html

 

[25931]

I'm soon to set off into the distant blue, to Finland via Belgium, Holland, Krautland, etc.

I'm trying to get myself ready for the increased amount of regulation in those parts.

It ocurred to me that an unregistered tender might raise a few eyebrows -- is there anything to it? Should I put my tender on the SSR
Mine is a proper little motorboat with 25 horsepower and wheel steering. But no nav lights or registration!!

You might need separate insurance if on the SSR

 

[Talbot]

..................................... For a small tender at night the Colregs require you to show an all-round white light (sidelights not strictly required). It need not be permanently fitted - a decent torch is generally considered acceptable for a low-speed tender, but you ought to do better.

That solution will get you fined in some parts with a tender and an engine that can propel the boat above 7 knots.

I have just bought some battery driven led emergency nav lights from http://www.boatlamps.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d187.html

My 2.8m RIB only has a 10hp, but it can easily exceed that 7 kts.

 

[AndrewB]

That solution will get you fined in some parts with a tender and an engine that can propel the boat above 7 knots.

Yes, that is correct, IRPCS rule 23 allows a fixed white light only to vessels under 7m which do not exceed 7 kts. If you go faster you must show an all-round white light plus sidelights. Showing a torch for a low-powered tender, or omitting the sidelights for a slightly faster tender, may not be strictly legal but I am most surprised that you know of a case where it has been challenged, unless perhaps if the tender has strayed into a busy shipping lane.

 

[A1Sailor]

So much good information -- thanks everyone!

No one has any concrete experience of NL, Germany, Sweden, Finland? So few Baltic sailors here?

It gets a bit Baltic where I sail sometimes!

 

[Talbot]

Yes, that is correct, IRPCS rule 23 allows a fixed white light only to vessels under 7m which do not exceed 7 kts. If you go faster you must show a masthead light forward, sidelights and stern light. Showing a torch for a low-powered tender may not be strictly legal but I am most surprised that you know of a case where it has been challenged, unless perhaps if the tender has strayed into a busy shipping lane.

I have read of a couple of people in the states who were fined.

Your statement that you must show a masthead light forward, sidelights and stern light, is not strictly 100% true.

Rule 23 (d) (i) allows sidelights and a single all round white light for boats below 12m


In fact this is the set-up on my 11m Catamaran.

 

[AndrewB]

I have read of a couple of people in the states who were fined.

I was surprised to find that in the USA they are remarkably relaxed about international rules. We have been boarded on entry each time and checked for our safety equipment: one time the BPA guy seemed bothered we didn't have a ship's bell (though banging a frying pan with a spoon eventually satisfied him). I pointed out to him that practically every US yacht in the marina was illegal: they didn't have a radar reflector (SOLAS reg. 19). "That's not an American law", he insisted. So, the USA feels free to ignore international law to which it is a signatory ... surprise, surprise. A great many American yachts still only show a single all-round mast-head white light: that rule was rescinded by IRPCS about 30 years ago. No problem, apparently.

One catchall though is that they can arrest you for "Manifestly Unsafe Passage". This rule allows for pretty much any kind of detention and has been invoked in very controversial circumstances, for example the order to abandon the yacht Satori in 1989, against the wishes of the very experienced skipper, which I think lead to the death of a coastguard. Satori was later recovered undamaged from a nearby beach.

 

[st599]

It used not to be possible to put a tender on the SSR as there was a minimum size requirement, but I think that is now gone. What was recommended by the RYA to us then, is to paint the yacht's registration number on the tender preceded by 'T/T'.

This satisfied the USA authorities, who are hot on such things. But they did say our tender could only be used for the sole purpose of ferrying people ashore by the most direct means, not for going exploring etc. With your much more powerful tender, it could be worthwhile to get it registered so you don't face that kind of hassle - it's very little trouble and the cost is tiny in relation to the craft. You can do it online from here: https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/ssr/ssr/.

Regardless of registration you still have to observe safety regs. For a small tender at night the Colregs require you to show an all-round white light (sidelights not strictly required). It need not be permanently fitted - a decent torch is generally considered acceptable for a low-speed tender, but you ought to do better.

presumably wih 25hp you'd be able to exceed 7 knots and need sidelights?

 

[AndrewB]

presumably wih 25hp you'd be able to exceed 7 knots and need sidelights?

St599, I'm aware that in my replies I have been treading the fine line between what is strictly legal and what is generally considered acceptable: always a risky position to take on this forum as it tends to pull the pedants out of the woodwork. Dockhead's original post did seem to imply he didn't appreciate the distinction between registration and the need to comply with safety rules (apologies, Dockhead, if I misunderstood), which is why I took that line.

Yes, if you are lucky enough to have a high-speed tender, follow the letter of the rules but most important of all, make sure you are very visible at night.

A summary of IRPCS, including the whole of rule 23, is available on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Regulations_for_Preventing_Collisions_at_Sea

 

[Talbot]

.............. So, the USA feels free to ignore international law to which it is a signatory ... surprise, surprise. A great many American yachts still only show a single all-round mast-head white light: that rule was rescinded by IRPCS about 30 years ago.............

Another example of wrong reading of the rules. The latest version of IRPCS is published by MCA at http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/msn_1781-2.pdf. It is very clear that Rule 23 (d) (i) allows sidelights and a single all round white light for boats below 12m.

St599, I'm aware that in my replies to Talbot I have been treading the fine line between what is strictly legal and what is generally considered acceptable: .................

I don't have any problem with the torch approach, or whatever that allows people to know you are there, but I do have a problem with an answer representing as the rules, but is really what you use when actually skirting close to the edge of those rules - without telling the other posters what is the correct answer.