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Going Boating?

Boating Safety and Irish Law


Where do you stand with the law?

The following is a brief summary of those regulations specific to users of Pleasure Craft in Ireland including;
 Sailing boats,
 Personal Water Craft (jet ski),
 Powerboats
 Motor cruisers and
 Angling boats

Full details on the legislation may be seen using the link at the bottom of the page.

 

Wearing of lifejackets, minimum age of operators, controls on drugs and alcohol on craft
Legislative Requirements
• Merchant Shipping (pleasure craft) (lifejackets and operation) (safety) Regulations, 2004. S.I. No 259 of 2004.
These Regulations do not apply to “Olympic style” rowing boats.

 

Lifejackets:
Recreational Craft other than personal watercraft

The following provisions apply to all recreational craft (other than personal watercraft (PWC)):
• All persons on board any craft of less than 7m in length must wear a personal floatation device (PFD) or a lifejacket while on board an open craft or while on
the deck of a decked craft, other than when the craft is made fast to the shore.
• The master or owner of a craft is required to ensure that either a PFD or a lifejacket is carried on the craft for each person on board.
• The master or owner of a craft is required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that all persons under the age of sixteen must wear a personal floatation device or a lifejacket while on board an open craft or while on the deck of a decked craft, other than when it is made fast to the shore or at anchor.
• The term “open craft refers to a craft without a cabin or below deck facilities for persons on board and where any seating is exposed or partially exposed to the elements.
• The master or owner of a craft (other than a PWC) is required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person wears a PFD/lifejacket while:
(a) Being towed by the craft, or
(b) On board a vessel or object of any kind being towed by the craft.

The wearing of PFD/lifejacket requirements under these Regulations do not apply to a craft (other than a PWC), which is not underway, when the person:
(a) Is wearing, putting on, or taking off, scuba diving equipment, or
(b) Is about to engage in, or has just completed swimming (including snorkeling) from the craft.

 

Personal Watercraft (PWC)
• Every person on a personal watercraft (PWC) is required to wear a PFD/lifejacket at all times while on board, or being towed in any manner by a PWC.
• The master or owner of a PWC is required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person under 16 years of age complies with the requirement to wear a PFD/lifejacket while on board or being towed on a PWC.

Operation of Pleasure Craft - Minimum age levels
• The master or owner of a personal watercraft (PWC) or fast power craft is required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that Persons under the age of 16 do not operate or control the craft.

The term “fast power craft” means a craft that can attain a speed of 17 knots or more.
• The master or owner of a craft with an engine rating of more than 5 hp (3.7 kW) is required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person under 12 years of age does not operate or control the craft.

 

Controls on alcohol and drugs
• The master or owner of a pleasure craft must not operate or control or allow another person to operate or control the craft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Any person on board a pleasure craft must not consume alcohol or drugs in circumstances that could affect the safety of other persons.
• Any person being towed or on board a vessel or object which is being towed by a pleasure craft shall not consume alcohol or drugs.

Violation of the any of the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (pleasure craft)(lifejackets and operation)(safety) Regulations 2004 could result in an on the spot fine of €127 issued by an Authorised Officer, or prosecution in the District Court.

Authorised Officers include members of the Gardai Siochana, Naval Service, Harbour Masters, and members of the Maritime Safety Directorate and the Irish Coast Guard nominated by the Minister.

 

Water-skiing, wake boarding, paragliding & other towed rides
The Merchant Shipping (pleasure craft) (lifejackets and operation) (safety) Regulation, 2004 - S.I 259 of 2004 applies as follows to water skiing, wake boarding, paragliding & other towed rides.
• All persons while being towed by a pleasure craft or on board any vessel or object of any kind being towed by a craft must wear a personal floatation device or lifejacket. The responsibility for compliance with this requirement lies with the master or owner of the towing craft.
• Persons partaking in towed rides must not consume alcohol or drugs.

 

Full details on the legislation summarised above is available at the following link:
The Merchant Shipping (pleasure craft) (lifejackets and operation) (safety) Regulation, 2004 - S.I 259 of 2004

In additional the ISA Guidelines on the use of Personal Floatation Devices (PFD) may be found here.