Skipper only or 2 crew on offshore trips?

[tom]

Originally Posted by warmwaterdiver

how many diverboats do you know with lifts, that have a backup ladder or winch incase of lift failure, but thats another thread for another day

I think all dive boats with lifts I've been on have a backup ladder - someone once told me they were required to.
I've seen an instance of a broken lift where the ladder was not deployed, but everyone still got back on board OK.

[MixedUp]

Originally Posted by warmwaterdiver

how many diverboats do you know with lifts, that have a backup ladder or winch incase of lift failure, but thats another thread for another day

Already had that problem when on a boat out of Weymouth we had the lift breakdown on 2 consecutive weeks. There was no ladder on board.


Steve

[deepbull]

has anyone had a skipper go over board or fall asleep / become ill on a dive boat
then had problems getting back on the boat?
have you been a casualty in the water with a solo skipper?

thats charter boats or club rib





ada

[warmwaterdiver]

Originally Posted by deepbull

has anyone had a skipper go over board or fall asleep / become ill on a dive boat
then had problems getting back on the boat?
have you been a casualty in the water with a solo skipper?

thats charter boats or club rib

ada

I think you know of one skipper that has ended up in the water after trying to help a distressed diver on the surface

in that instance, the skipper was very lucky to have managed to get back onboard quickly

I've also heard of another skipper who, whilst trying to retrieve an item from the water, luckily had a crew member onboard that had to hold onto them to save them getting wet

[PeeBee]

Originally Posted by David Wallace

So I have pulled the the wording on manning in the code for information areas 3,4,5,6, are all less than 20 miles from safe haven. area 3 may operate at night but as you read this you will see that it cannot do so single handed.


here it is;

7. Single Handed Operations

7.1 The MCA does not recommend single handed operations. Vessels operating under this Code, other than those engaged as Pilot Boats or in any other business which involves the transfer of personnel at sea, may be operated single handed providing that the person operating the vessel complies fully with the minimum requirements for a skipper (appropriately qualified for the operating area) and the following conditions:-

the area of operation is restricted to Area Category 3, 4, 5 or 6 in conditions of favourable weather and subject to favourable official weather forecasts for the area throughout the period of operation; and
the duration of the voyage should not exceed 8 hours; and
the vessel is not operated single handed in conditions of restricted visibility; and
an acceptable lifejacket is worn at all times by the skipper; and
no overside working takes place whilst the vessel is being operated single handed; and
details of the time and point of departure, voyage plan and the Expected Time of Arrival (ETA) of every single handed voyage are left with a suitable person ashore and that person is notified of the safe arrival on completion of each voyage; and
communication should be made with a person ashore or with a vessel in company at regular agreed intervals; and
on all open sportsboats, inflatable craft and RIBS, engine kill-cords should be fitted and used at all times.
7.2 In some cases, because of the size and arrangement of the vessel, the Certifying Authority may deem the vessel not to be suitable for single handed operations. In all cases where single handed operations are carried out, the owner/managing agent and the skipper should be satisfied that it is safe to do so. The vessels certificate should show that it is suitable for “single handed” operations

Interesting bit of code there Dave
How many skippers have any of you guys seen wearing a life jacket at all times, if ever?

[David Wallace]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

Interesting bit of code there Dave
How many skippers have any of you guys seen wearing a life jacket at all times, if ever?

thats only the ones using the new harmonised code ...... of which there are very few

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by David Wallace

HOWEVER. this is the important bit. There is apparently a letter from the MCA to the PBA stating that boats coded under the yellow code do NOT need the crew on the basis of a certain number of years safe operating practice in this area.

This part quoted below IS NOT in yellow boat code in this format and is NOT a requirement for boats coded as such. There are requirements of a similar nature but to be honest at this point I cannot be bothered to retype them all here




So I am apparently wrong to say you must have crew over 20 miles and they must stay on the boat. The PBA have told me that this is not necessary.

In the meantime I publicly apologize for any concerns that may have been raised or problems caused. In my defence I did nothing other than refer to official MCA documents and had no knowledge of this "letter" to the PBA which gave all the yellow boats an exemption for crew.

I will scan the letter and post it here when it arrives. I have to say I dont agree with the exemption, I have always believed that the crew requirement was there for a good reason - safety. But am happy to wind my neck in and accept that the rules have been modified. Personally I will continue to operate with crew over 20 miles and I will only book on charters that carry crew on trips over 20 miles.

regards

Dave,

I'd love to see a copy of the letter sent to the PBA from the MCA.

I also don't see any need for you to apologize for any concerns with reference to the charter boat coding , as you always knew the rules off by heart , as you know from my phone calls when I was doing it ,,, ie , easier to ring you than to look it up in the book.

Personally , I think skippers could be easier lead by reading to sets of codes ( ie ,,, yellow code and the harmonized ) , remember the problems a few years back with club boats charging ...

Rgds

Andy

MSN 280 is a good read

[big kev]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

Interesting bit of code there Dave
How many skippers have any of you guys seen wearing a life jacket at all times, if ever?

errr.....me, always, all the time when on board my boat. But then I'm a piss poor swimmer!

Next they'll be wanting skippers to prove they can swim - I know loads who can't!

K.

[purple vonny]

Originally Posted by PeeBee

Interesting bit of code there Dave
How many skippers have any of you guys seen wearing a life jacket at all times, if ever?

One of the guys I work with does.

[Andy the Coastie]

via , E:Mail & phone ?

I now have some answers , taken from the MGN 280 . ( table on page 124 - & 125 )

When skippering a coded vessel category 2 , should there be a second person / crewman onboard ?

YES, There should also be on board a second person deemed by the skipper to be experienced

When skippering a coded vessel category 2 , should the skipper hold a full RYA Yachtmaster Office ?

YES,

Can a skipper operating coded vessel category 2 and in command, holding only a Advanced Power Boat certificate with a commerical endorsement operate the vessel ?

As I see it from the table , then NO ,as it says

Category 6,5,4,3, if 2 years relevent experience.
Category 6, only , if 12 months relevent experience.




I have the MGN 280 on file in a PDF format, if anyone wishes to e:mail or PM me their e:mail address and I will forward it onto them. ....

Happy diving and BOATING