Monday, January 18 – The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry (VISR) is making efforts to clarify safety compliance requirements for commercial vessels, particularly as they relate to the areas of liferafts, stability and skipper’s qualifications.
After the VISR received several inquiries pertaining to the three aforementioned areas, a marine circular was recently released by the department to clarify the significance of compliance.
“Safety requirements are more stringent on the sea, than they are on land,” said the Director of the VISR, Captain Baboucar Sallah. He added, “The VISR is very much interested in having operators carry out their business, but we are equally interested in overall safety.”
According to the marine circular, liferafts are a requirement and a blanket waiver cannot be given. Short range yachts operating up to 20 miles from a safe haven may be considered for the granting of a waiver from the requirement for carrying liferafts, provided there are on board such vessels, appropriate life-saving appliances like buoyant apparatus. The adequacy of the alternative equipment would be assessed during the compliance inspection, which has to be done for the vessel to be declared safe.
Captain Sallah said operators should note, “The VISR has been understanding, and in some cases, we have given alternatives; but in some areas, we cannot compromise for want of safety.”
The marine circular stated that commercial vessels must also be in compliance with stability requirements as described in the commercial vessel code. Stability information, provided by the manufacturer, references the conditions under which a sailing vessel may capsize. It also should include instructions on how the vessel is to be maneuvered in different wind strengths.
“Why we are requiring them to have information regarding the stability of the boat is to not only safeguard the boating company, but to secure the safety of passengers,” said Captain Sallah.
The owners of vessels certified to European Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) 94/25/EC will already have had their stability assessed to a standard recognised by VISR and as such, can simply apply for a VISR stability letter by submitting proof of EC-Type approval with relevant documents. It should be noted, however, that multi-hull sailing vessels, in addition to being EC-Type approved, will also require an approved Stability Information Booklet.
In instances where a motor vessel does not have the requisite stability document, one can be produced after carrying out a simple inclining test. This can be performed by a person, company or organisation approved by VISR, and is available in the Territory.
A temporary waiver of up to six months may be obtained by applying to VISR at the time of initial compliance examination, in cases where a stability letter or stability particulars cannot be produced for the vessel.
With regards to skipper’s qualifications, the skipper must hold a valid commercial vessel operator’s licence, according to the commercial vessels safety regulations. Holders of qualifications other than the BVI Boatmaster Licence may apply to the VISR with the relevant supporting documents for verification of their qualifications, and issuance of an equivalent BVI licence.
For further information, or for a copy of the marine circular, the public is asked to contact VISR at 468-3701 extension 2903/4/5.
The Virgin Islands Shipping Registry is the government department responsible for implementing maritime policies on shipping operations, safety of life at sea, security and the prevention of, and response to, pollution from ships.
British Virgin Islands News