Yacht Names

[capnsensible]

There's nothing worse than trying rescue some one from the wrong boat. OK there's quite a lot of things in life that a worse than this. But it's a shame to have a thing of beauty and to not name it. A call sign identifies it as a vessel but is soulless and a mouthful on the radio. Beside it makes you sound like a delapidated old Soviet trawler

AGI?

 

[Mark-1]

A case was reported this year in which the owner of a traditional wooden boat was fined for not having a displayed name.

I doubt doubt your memory, but I missed that report. Linky?

 

[Mark-1]

in the case of one Dutchman, a complete loss of sense of humour.

He must have wet himself when they held the Laser World championships in the Netherlands this year!

 

[sarabande]

Gwommit

On the forum there's a chap with the ID "petem". His business is making smart boat names. I am sure he would give you chapter and verse on the rules, if any, for the naming of boats.

 

[boomerangben]

AGI?

I have no idea what AGI means, so probably not��

 

[sarabande]

Auxiliary, General Intelligence. Soviet "trawler" with the habit of following NATO surface vessels and listening to their radio chat and radar/elint activity.

 

[prv]

From memory it is a requirement for the name to be on either side of the bow and on the transom. Surely you are proud of your boat and want it to be recognised.

I could believe that as a requirement for Part 1, where the name is the official identifier for the boat. Otherwise, no.

If registered on the SSR then you need to display the SSR number. You don't need to display the name; I don't know if you have to have one to put on the certificate and otherwise ignore.

If not registered on the SSR I can't see anything that would require a name. I don't have a name for my car or my refrigerator or any other possessions I own.

There are plenty of boats out there with "names" like Sunsail 47 or Workboat 2.

I used to use a boat which we identified on the VHF as "GreyRib" because it was ... a grey RIB. It didn't have any name, and still wouldn't have done if it had had a mast and cabin instead of a 60hp outboard.

Being proud of your boat and wanting to put the name in big letters on the dodgers is a completely different question.

Pete

 

[pvb]

I could believe that as a requirement for Part 1, where the name is the official identifier for the boat. Otherwise, no.

You'd be wrong, Part 1 only requires you to put the name and port of registry on the stern.

 

[prv]

Many harbours/marinas though ask for insurance for long-term mooring.

I think many or most also technically require it for visitors, though it's not practical to check and enforce it.

Pete

 

[Skylark]

........I have occasionally been asked why my port of origin is not recorded, to which I reply that, in line with UK law, my boat is not registered (SSR only) and therefore I am not required to show my port. This usually occasions some surprise, and in the case of one Dutchman, a complete loss of sense of humour.

Sorry for thread drift.

Albeit I've yet to leave UK waters in my current boat I do have some concerns over this.

Did the Authorities look at your stern or just question the SSR certificate? Regardless of UK law, I can't imagine those nice port police in Croatia, for example, giving two hoots. "My country, my laws, your fine" seems to be their approach to visiting yachtsmen.

Did you try claiming "Cardiff" as the port of registry as it's shown on the SSR?

 

[James_Calvert]

When appropriate I put SSR in the box for Port of Registry. This thus identifies the relevant register, which was all that was intended when registers were identified by ports. And the number goes in the box for the number.

Simples...

 

[vyv_cox]

I doubt doubt your memory, but I missed that report. Linky?

Sorry, don't remember. May have been a CA member.

 

[Daydream believer]

I have twice been threatened with fines in ostend for not having my name of the boat on the stern of the boat. I have explained that it is not a UK requirement. The first time was just a warning but the second time i came very close - & I mean very close- to a 2000 euro fine. The name is on the bow, both sides

 

[Mark-1]

Part 1 only requires you to put the name and port of registry on the stern.

Looks that way:

A pleasure vessel which is under 24 metres in length is to be marked as follows:—

(a)the official number and registered tonnage are:—

(i)to be marked on the main beam or, if there is no main beam, on a readily accessible visible permanent part of the structure of the pleasure vessel either by cutting in, centre punching or raised lettering, or

(ii)to be engraved on plates of metal, wood or plastic, secured to the main beam (or, if there is no main beam, to a readily accessible visible permanent part of the structure) with rivets, through bolts with the ends clenched), or screws with the slots removed;

(b)the name and port of choice (unless an exempted ship), are to be marked on a conspicuous and permanent part of the stern on a dark ground in white or yellow letters, or on a light ground in black letters, the letters being not less than 5 centimetres high and of proportionate breadth, or, where this is not possible by the alternative methods given below:—

(i)by engraving on plates of metal or of plastic or by cutting in on a shaped wooden chock.Where a shaped wooden chock is used it should be secured to the hull through bolts, the ends being clenched, or

(ii)by individual glass reinforced plastic letters and numbers approximately 2mm in thickness.These to be fixed to the hull with epoxy adhesive, and painted with suitable paint and coated with translucent epoxy resin;

(iii)where metal or plastic plates have been used these must be fixed by the use of epoxy adhesives.Metal or plastic plates secured by adhesives should be coated with translucent epoxy resin after they have been fixed in position.

...and it is an offence with a fine:

(2) It shall be an offence on the part of the owner or master of a registered ship if any of the marks required by these Regulations to be marked on a ship is effaced, altered, allowed to become illegible, covered or concealed.

(8) An offence under paragraph (2) shall be punishable as follows:—
(i)on conviction on indictment to a fine,
(ii)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/3138/made

Intriguingly, although it's an offence to remove markings or make them illegible, I can't see any offence of failing to put them on in the first place, and for vessels under 24m nobody checks.

Anyone able to confirm the MSA 1993 is the right one? There seem to regular Merchant Shipping Acts all the time but this is the latest I can see that includes markings.

 

[macd]

I have twice been threatened with fines in ostend for not having my name of the boat on the stern of the boat. I have explained that it is not a UK requirement.

My understanding (and no more than that) is that this is a requirement under international maritime law/treaty. If so, it's perhaps understandable why a country might require it of a foreign vessel.

 

[ProDave]

From memory it is a requirement for the name to be on either side of the bow and on the transom. Surely you are proud of your boat and want it to be recognised.

My boat name is on either side of the bow, but not on the transom. Are the boat name police on their way?

 

[Mark-1]

My boat name is on either side of the bow, but not on the transom. Are the boat name police on their way?

Given this question was asked at 11am and as yet nobody has found a requirement for a name except for Part 1 Registered vessels I predict you get a quiet nights sleep without the helicopters of the Boat Name Police hovering overhead...

Regardless of UK law, I can't imagine those nice port police in Croatia, for example, giving two hoots. "My country, my laws, your fine" seems to be their approach to visiting yachtsmen.

In which case Boats and Ships need to research and conform to the boat requirements of every individual country they visit. Doesn't happen in practice, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't need to happen in theory.

 

[Yellow Ballad]

Why don't you just "name" your boat after your call sign if that's what you want to do. I can't see why not, just fill in the name with it on your SSR and stick a couple of decals of call sign the either side of the bow and on the stern to keep people happy.

I'm sure someone mentioned the other day war ships fly their call sign on entering port for radio comms.

 

[LittleSister]

I have twice been threatened with fines in ostend for not having my name of the boat on the stern of the boat. I have explained that it is not a UK requirement. The first time was just a warning but the second time i came very close - & I mean very close- to a 2000 euro fine. The name is on the bow, both sides

Next time you visit you could just write it on with a soft pencil (upside down if you really want to annoy them!) and wipe to off afterwards.

 

[duncan99210]

I seem to recall when applying for my ships radio licence there was a requirement to provide the name of the ship..... so, calling your boat by the call sign can't happen as you need a name to generate a call sign. Bit chicken and egg.
As for a home port for an SSR boat, I simply made up a sticker which I put on the lower part of the SSR card reading "Home Port Falmouth": keeps all and sundry quiet as stops me have to spell Falmouth to various marina clerks. Marked on the stern as it stops any fuss from self important officials in the Med.
That reminds me, must get a new set of SSR numbers made up as the old ones have just about had it because of th UV in the Med.