Briefing. All helms should be briefed on what they should be doing and what is off limits. If, for example, the RIB’s seating does not provide shock mitigation, then strict speed and sea state limits need to be set and adhered to. If the trip involves high- speed manoeuvres, is a second crew required to help keep a lookout and an eye on passenger safety while the skipper is concentrating on helming?


Pre-departure briefing. There is a lot to fit in to a good pre-departure brief besides telling the passengers what they are about to experience. Lifejacket operation must be explained and their fit checked; passengers need to know how to sit correctly, brace themselves and hold on; each passenger must be allocated to a seat suitable for them and checks made to ensure their feet can gain firm purchase on the


floor, their backs can rest on the back support, and they can grip the handholds correctly.


Signalling. The means of signalling concern or a problem needs to be both understood and achievable. Passengers are unlikely to raise their hands if they are clinging on for dear life. All this takes time, so scheduling must allow for it, or other staff used. Carrying out the brief while walking to the boat or donning lifejackets while underway might save time, but it will not save lives.


Conduct of the trip. The trip should always be operated in line with the offering made. If passengers have booked on a wildlife sea safari ride, they might not expect to be subjected to a thrill ride involving tightly banked turns at speed or wave and wake


This article was first published in Powerboat & RIB Magazine and is published here with our gratitude. Visit https://powerboatandrib.com.


Further reading


MAIB report: Heavy landing on rigid inflatable boat Celtic Pioneer with 1 person injured. Go to https://bit.ly/3XIDn7x


MAIB report: Heavy landing on a rigid inflatable boat with 1 person injured. Go to: https://bit.ly/4d44UV5


MAIB report: Collision between rigid inflatable boats Osprey and Osprey II resulting in serious injuries to 1 passenger. Go to https://bit.ly/4gnpSBc


MAIB report: Heavy contact between the high-speed passenger craft Seadogz and a navigation buoy with loss of 1 life. Go to: https://bit.ly/4ejlYri


jumping. Even thrill-seeking passengers might find manoeuvring at 25 to 30 knots exciting so operating at 40 to 50 knots could stray into a terrifying experience.


It is worth remembering that skippers can easily become insulated from the experience on offer. If the RIB has an aft helm position, then the motion experienced by the crew will be much softer than that affecting passengers near the bow. The skipper is looking ahead and helming so they can anticipate the boat’s motion, they are experienced at bracing themselves and, of course, they have done the trip multiple times before. A passenger RIB ride is not the time to start exploring the operating limits of their boat; whatever the experience on offer, the skipper’s prime concern must be to return their passengers safely ashore uninjured.


The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the IIMS.


THE REPORT | DEC 2024 | ISSUE 110 | 61


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