AUSTRALIAN REGULATOR AMSA SETS DEADLINE FOR FLOAT-FREE EPIRBS TO BECOME MANDATORY FROM 2021


From January 2021, AMSA is imposing regulation that float-free EPIRBs will be mandatory on certain types of commercial vessel. This change to safety requirements is in response to tragic incidents in which commercial vessels sank quickly and the master and crew were not able to deploy their EPIRB in time.


AMSA will give industry a two-year transition period to plan for the added cost of fitting a float-free EPIRB, but calls owners to fit one to their vessel as soon as possible.


The National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) will change from 1 January 2019, with a two-year transition period for operators to comply, but AMSA calls owners to fit a float-free EPIRB to their vessel as soon as possible.


From 1 January 2021 it will be mandatory for the following domestic commercial vessels to carry a float-free EPIRB: - All fishing, passenger and non-passenger domestic commercial vessels (Class 1, 2, and 3) that are equal to or greater than 12 metres in length and operate beyond 2 nautical miles from land;


- All fishing, passenger and non-passenger domestic commercial vessels (Class 1, 2, and 3) that are less than 12 metres in length operating in restricted offshore and offshore waters (B or C waters) and do not have level flotation, and;


- All hire and drive vessels operating in restricted offshore waters (Class 4C) equal to or greater than 12 metres in length, or less than 12 metres and do not have level flotation.


- This change applies to new vessels, existing vessels, and transitional vessels. It also applies to vessels that are exempt from the requirement to have a certificate of survey.


Vessels without level flotation that are less than 12 metres in length and operating in D and E waters will not be affected by the changes. Similarly, all vessels that are less than 12 metres with level flotation can continue to carry the kind of EPIRB currently required regardless of where they operate.


OYSTER YACHTS PLUMPS FOR NEW SAFETY CERTIFICATION PROCESS


Oyster Yachts has formed a partnership with Lloyd’s Register EMEA (LR) to secure a safety certification process to be implemented on all its new built yachts.


LR will approve the design, materials and build quality of all hulls and decks on Oyster yachts. To ensure compliance with LR rules, an LR surveyor will inspect all yachts in production once per week. As a result, all newly built Oyster vessels will carry an LR moulding certificate immediately upon completion. Oyster will become the only British builder of sailing yachts sub 24m to carry out this level certification.


Richard Hadida, Oyster’s CEO, said: “It is incredibly exciting to be working with such an esteemed, globally recognised partner in LR, another great British brand. This third-party accreditation will assure all Oyster customers that their yachts are crafted in accordance with relevant international standards, particularly with regards to safety.”


The mould production facility is expected to open in September, with the first LR certified yachts to begin moulding in September.


“By bringing total control of our hull construction in-house for the first time, we not only continue to provide more jobs in the Norfolk area but also scale-up production capacity,” explained Richard. “This is key to our growth plans as orders continue to increase. There are precious few smaller vessels with this level of certification and this is yet another way in which Oyster’s yachts set themselves apart.”


The Report • September 2018 • Issue 85 | 11


Marine News


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