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    1.    BOAT DESIGN CATEGORIES



Design Category	Wind force (Beaufort scale)	Significant wave height (H1/3, metres)
A—`Ocean'	exceeding 8	exceeding 4
B—`Offshore'	up to, and including, 8	up to, and including, 4
C—`Inshore'	up to, and including, 6	up to, and including, 2
D—`Sheltered waters'	up to, and including, 4	up to, and including, 0.5

Definitions:
    A.  OCEAN: Designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 (Beaufort scale) and significant wave heights of 4 m and above, and vessels largely self-sufficient.

    B.  OFFSHORE: Designed for offshore voyages where conditions up to, and including, wind force 8 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 4 m may be experienced.

    C.  INSHORE: Designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes and rivers where conditions up to, and including, wind force 6 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 2 m may be experienced.

    D.  SHELTERED WATERS: Designed for voyages on small lakes, rivers, and canals where conditions up to, and including, wind force 4 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 0.5 m may be experienced.

Boats in each Category must be designed and constructed to withstand these parameters in respect of stability, buoyancy, and other relevant essential requirements listed in Annex I, and to have good handling characteristics.

    2.    GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Recreational craft and components as referred to in Annex II^[8] shall comply with the essential requirements in so far as they apply to them.

    2.1.  Hull identification

Each craft shall be marked with a hull identification number including the following information:


—manufacturer's code,


—country of manufacture,


—unique serial number,


—year of production,


—model year.


The relevant harmonized standard gives details of these requirements.

    2.2.  Builder's plate

Each craft shall carry a permanently affixed plate mounted separately from the boat hull identification number, containing the following information:


—manufacturer's name,


—CE marking (see Annex IV)^[9],


—boat design category according to section 1,


—manufacturer's maximum recommended load according to section 3.6,


—number of persons recommended by the manufacturer for which the boat was designed to carry when under way.

    2.3.  Protection from falling overboard and means of reboarding

Depending on the design category, craft shall be designed to minimize the risks of falling overboard and to facilitate reboarding.


    2.4.  Visibility from the main steering position

For motor boats, the main steering position shall give the operator, under normal conditions of use (speed and load), good all-round visibility.


    2.5.  Owner's manual

Each craft shall be provided with an owner's manual in the official Community language or languages which may be determined by the Member State in which it is marketed in accordance with the Treaty. This manual should draw particular attention to risks of fire and flooding and shall contain the information listed in sections 2.2, 3.6 and 4 as well as the unladen weight of the craft in kilograms.

    3.    INTEGRITY AND STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS

    3.1.  Structure

The choice and combination of materials and its construction shall ensure that the craft is strong enough in all respects. Special attention shall be paid to the design category according to section 1, and the manufacturer's maximum recommended load in accordance with section 3.6.


    3.2.  Stability and freeboard

The craft shall have sufficient stability and freeboard considering its design category according to section 1 and the manufacturer's maximum recommended load according to section 3.6.


    3.3.  Buoyancy and flotation

The craft shall be constructed to ensure that it has buoyancy characteristics appropriate to its design category according to section 1.1, and the manufacturer's maximum recommended load according to section 3.6. All habitable multihull craft shall be so designed as to have sufficient buoyancy to remain afloat in the inverted position. Boats of less than six metres in length that are susceptible to swamping when used in their design category shall be provided with appropriate means of flotation in the swamped condition.


    3.4.  Openings in hull, deck and superstructure

Openings in hull, deck(s) and superstructure shall not impair the structural integrity of the craft or its weathertight integrity when closed.


Windows, portlights, doors and hatchcovers shall withstand the water pressure likely to be encountered in their specific position, as well as pointloads applied by the weight of persons moving on deck.


Through hull fittings designed to allow water passage into the hull or out of the hull, below the waterline corresponding to the manufacturer's maximum recommended load according to section 3.6, shall be fitted with shutoff means which shall be readily accessible.

    3.5.  Flooding

All craft shall be designed so as to minimize the risk of sinking.


Particular attention should be paid where appropriate to:


—cockpits and wells, which should be self-draining or have other means of keeping water out of the boat interior,


—ventilation fittings,


—removal of water by pumps or other means.

    3.6.  Manufacturer's maximum recommended load

The manufacturer's maximum recommended load (fuel, water, provisions, miscellaneous equipment and people (in kilograms)) for which the boat was designed, as marked on the builder's plate, shall be determined according to the design category (section 1), stability and freeboard (section 3.2) and buoyancy and flotation (section 3.3).


    3.7.  Liferaft stowage

All craft of categories A and B, and craft of categories C and D longer than six metres shall be provided with one or more stowage points for a liferaft (liferafts) large enough to hold the number of persons the boat was designed to carry as recommended by the manufacturer. This (these) stowage point(s) shall be readily accessible at all times.


    3.8.  Escape

All habitable multihull craft over 12 metres long shall be provided with viable means of escape in the event of inversion. All habitable craft shall be provided with viable means of escape in the event of fire.


    3.9.  Anchoring, mooring and towing

All craft, taking into account their design category and their characteristics shall be fitted with one or more strong points or other means capable of safely accepting anchoring, mooring and towing loads.

    4.    HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS

The manufacturer shall ensure that the handling characteristics of the craft are satisfactory with the most powerful engine for which the boat is designed and constructed. For all recreational marine engines, the maximum rated engine power shall be declared in the owner's manual in accordance with the harmonized standard.

    5.    INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS

    5.1.  Engines and engine spaces



5.1.1.  Inboard engine
All inboard mounted engines shall be placed within an enclosure separated from living quarters and installed so as to minimize the risk of fires or spread of fires as well as hazards from toxic fumes, heat, noise or vibrations in the living quarters.


Engine parts and accessories that require frequent inspection and/or servicing shall be readily accessible.


The insulating materials inside engine spaces shall be non-combustible.


5.1.2.  Ventilation
The engine compartment shall be ventilated. The dangerous ingress of water into the engine compartment through all inlets must be prevented.


5.1.3.  Exposed parts
Unless the engine is protected by a cover or its own enclosure, exposed moving or hot parts of the engine that could cause personal injury shall be effectively shielded.


5.1.4.  Outboard engines starting
All boats with outboard engines shall have a device to prevent starting the engine in gear, except:


(a)  when the engine produces less than 500 newtons (N) of static thrust;


(b)  when the engine has a throttle limiting device to limit thrust to 500 N at the time of starting the engine.

    5.2.  Fuel system



5.2.1.  General
The filling, storage, venting and fuel-supply arrangements and installations shall be designed and installed so as to minimize the risk of fire and explosion.


5.2.2.  Fuel tanks
Fuel tanks, lines and hoses shall be secured and separated or protected from any source of significant heat. The material the tanks are made of and their method of construction shall be according to their capacity and the type of fuel. All tank spaces shall be ventilated.


Liquid fuel with a flash point below 55 °C shall be kept in tanks which do not form part of the hull and are:


(a)  insulated from the engine compartment and from all other source of ignition;


(b)  separated from living quarters.


Liquid fuel with a flash point equal to or above 55 °C may be kept in tanks that are integral with the hull.

    5.3.  Electrical system

Electrical systems shall be designed and installed so as to ensure proper operation of the craft under normal conditions of use and shall be such as to minimize risk of fire and electric shock.


Attention shall be paid to the provision of overload and short-circuit protection of all circuits, except engine starting circuits, supplied from batteries.


Ventilation shall be provided to prevent the accumulation of gases which might be emitted from batteries. Batteries shall be firmly secured and protected from ingress of water.

    5.4.  Steering system



5.4.1.  General
Steering systems shall be designed, constructed and installed in order to allow the transmission of steering loads under foreseeable operating conditions.


5.4.2.  Emergency arrangements
Sailboat and single-engined inboard powered motor boats with remote-controlled rudder steering systems shall be provided with emergency means of steering the craft at reduced speed.

    5.5.  Gas system

Gas systems for domestic use shall be of the vapour-withdrawal type and shall be designed and installed so as to avoid leaks and the risk of explosion and be capable of being tested for leaks. Materials and components shall be suitable for the specific gas used to withstand the stresses and exposures found in the marine environment.


Each appliance shall be equipped with a flame failure device effective on all burners. Each gas-consuming appliance must be supplied by a separate branch of the distribution system, and each appliance must be controlled by a separate closing device. Adequate ventilation must be provided to prevent hazards from leaks and products of combustion.


All craft with a permanently installed gas system shall be fitted with an enclosure to contain all gas cylinders. The enclosure shall be separated from the living quarters, accessible only from the outside and ventilated to the outside so that any escaping gas drains overboard. Any permanent gas system shall be tested after installation.

    5.6.  Fire protection



5.6.1.  General
The type of equipment installed and the layout of the craft shall take account of the risk and spread of fire. Special attention shall be paid to the surroundings of open flame devices, hot areas or engines and auxiliary machines, oil and fuel overflows, uncovered oil and fuel pipes and avoiding electrical wiring above hot areas of machines.


5.6.2.  Fire-fighting equipment
Craft shall be supplied with fire-fighting equipment appropriate to the fire hazard. Petrol engine enclosures shall be protected by a fire extinguishing system that avoids the need to open the enclosure in the event of fire. Where fitted, portable fire extinguishers shall be readily accessible and one shall be so positioned that it can easily be reached from the main steering position of the craft.

    5.7.  Navigation lights

Where navigation lights are fitted, they shall comply with the 1972 Colreg or CEVNI regulations, as appropriate.


    5.8.  Discharge prevention

Craft shall be constructed so as to prevent the accidental discharge of pollutants (oil, fuel, etc.) overboard.


Craft fitted with toilets shall have either:


(a)  holding tanks; or


(b)  provision to fit holding tanks on a temporary basis in areas of use where the discharge of human waste is restricted.


In addition, any through-the-hull pipes for human waste shall be fitted with valves which are capable of being sealed shut.

[8] Annex II is set out in Schedule 2. back

[9] Annex IV is set out in Schedule 4. back