Minister of State at the Department of Transport, James Lawless, has launched a revised and updated edition of the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft.
The publication of the new Code of Practice follows an extensive review of the existing Code by the Department of Transport, which included public and stakeholder consultations in 2022 and 2023. The Code of Practice is a public service initiative containing safety information, advice and best practice operational guidance for owners, operators and users of a range of recreational craft operating in Irish coastal and inland waters. These include sailing craft, jet skis, rowing boats, kayaks, canoes, motor boats, recreational angling boats and stand-up paddleboards.
Launching the new Code of Practice, Minister Lawless said: “Safety is at the heart of our transport policies and services. The Code of Practice has been a helpful and popular educational resource for many years for members of the public and for training providers.
“This updated edition includes new and expanded content in response to suggestions made by those who participated in the review and consultation processes. I am sure it will become a trusted and essential guide for all those who enjoy leisure time on our waters. I thank all those individuals and organisations who took the time to contribute to the review process.”
A new feature of the Code of Practice is a set of “Think and Prepare” Safety Checklists, covering issues such as hazards and risks, fatigue,
and the importance of letting the Coast Guard know about each proposed trip. There is also a template for shore-based contact persons. These checklists encourage recreational craft users to think and prepare before going on the water.
Minister Lawless commented: “Much of this is common sense, but by taking simple basic steps you can improve your situation and be better prepared in the event of changing circumstances.”
In addition to providing updated information on the legislation that applies to recreational craft, the Code of Practice contains new and revised content on topics such as Traffic Report messages to the Irish Coast Guard, foiling, surfing and kitesurfing safety, coastal rowing, cold water shock, hypothermia, and radio communications.
The message that underlines the Code of Practice is the importance of personal responsibility and safety awareness for all those who take to the water. The continued growth in marine leisure activities brings with it a range of safety implications for regulators and recreational craft users alike. After a three-year period between 2020 and 2022 of no fatalities on the water, the ‘2023 Marine Casualty Investigation Board Report of Incidents and Investigations’ records that five fatalities involving recreational craft occurred during 2023, which is a cause for concern and reinforces the ongoing need for vigilance and safety awareness.
Minister Lawless urged all recreational craft users to familiarise themselves with the Code of Practice, to think about safety and to plan each journey. The Minister stressed the importance of checking the weather forecast prior to departure, always wearing a personal flotation device or life jacket, and telling someone shore-based about the plans for the trip, including letting the Coast Guard know by logging a Traffic Report message so as to help the rescue authorities in the event of a need for search and rescue. The Minister also stressed the need to have a dependable means of communication to call for assistance, such as a VHF radio, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or a Personal Locator Beacon.
The Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft is available to view or download, in both English and Irish, on the Department of Transport website and at www.gov.ie. Copies free of charge can also be requested from the Maritime Safety Policy Division of the Department of Transport at marineleisuresafety@transport.gov.ie.
The Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft was first published in 2006 following a review of safety measures on small watercraft and a public consultation process. Revised editions were published in 2008 and 2017. Since 2017, almost 15,000 hard copies of the 2017 edition of the Code have been distributed by the Department of Transport.
The revised 2024 Code of Practice represents the culmination of a review and extensive stakeholder consultation process undertaken since 2022.
As well as revising and updating the existing content of the Code and providing information on applicable legislation in a simple and user-friendly manner, the new 2024 edition also contains new content on such topics as Traffic Report messages to the Irish Coast Guard, hazards and risks, foiling, kitesurfing safety, coastal rowing, cold water shock, hypothermia, electrical systems, radio communications and the online maritime radio licence registration system.
The Code of Practice contains a General Introduction with a number of Safety Checklists followed by two Parts and a series of Appendices.
Part A (Chapter 1) outlines the legislative requirements that apply to all recreational craft or specific types or size of craft. Owners and operators must comply with the requirements appropriate to their craft.
Part B (Chapters 2 to 11) contains recommended guidelines and best practice information on the safe operation of recreational craft. Chapters 2 to 9 provide guidance in relation to particular types of craft/activities. Chapters 10 and 11 provide safety guidance applicable to recreational craft generally and 11 Appendices cover such topics as radio communications, collision prevention, weather and sea states, life-jacket guidance, passage planning, buoyage and anchoring.
Owners and users of recreational craft should familiarise themselves with the General Introduction, Safety Checklists, Part A, the particular chapter in Part B appropriate to their type of vessel, together with Chapters 10, 11 and the appendices.
Main message and focus of Code of Practice:
The message that underlines the Code of Practice is the importance of personal responsibility for all those who take to the water. Each individual must “Think and Prepare”, take responsibility for their actions and take maritime safety seriously.
Pages 7 – 9 of the Code of Practice provide a Checklist of Basic Requirements and Advice that should be followed by all persons who own, use or operate a recreational craft. Versions of the Checklist are repeated throughout the Code in relation to the different categories of recreational craft. In summary, the following advice is key for recreational craft users:
Get training
Wear a personal flotation device/life jacket
Check current weather forecasts and sea/lake/river conditions prior to departure and plan your voyage accordingly
Check for any hazards and risks and prepare a Passage Plan
Avoid operating alone
Carry out pre-departure safety checks and brief all persons on board on emergency procedures and the location/use of safety/emergency equipment, e.g. flares, radio equipment
Tell someone about your plans – ensure a designated person ashore knows your departure and return times and where you are going
Let the Coast Guard know your plans by logging a Traffic Report message via the nearest Coast Guard Radio Station
Bring a dependable means of communication such as VHF radio equipment. Relying on a mobile phone is not recommended, but if used must be in a waterproof pouch with a lanyard, be fully charged at all times with regular checks being made on signal strength and charge indicator
Consider bringing an appropriate Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
Be responsible – do not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when operating a craft
Be aware of and recognise the symptoms of fatigue
Wear suitable clothing and footwear
Follow the Float to Live advice if you unexpectedly fall into the water
In a marine emergency, raise the alarm on VHF Channel 16 or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
The Department of Transport and other maritime bodies continue to promote maritime safety at every opportunity.
Marine casualties involving recreational craft
A large number of Irish Coast Guard call-outs each year are to assist recreational craft users. Reports of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board have also indicated that many accidents and deaths in this sector could have been avoided. The key is to think and act safely.
The ‘2023 Marine Casualty Investigation Board Report of Incidents & Investigations’ includes information regarding marine casualties involving recreational craft in the period 2014-2023. After a three-year period of no fatalities between 2020 and 2022, five recreational craft fatalities were reported in 2023 involving a jet ski, motor boats and recreational angling boats.
