Depending on the navigation areas for which the vessel is authorized (oceanic, high seas, coastal waters, protected waters), the regulations require that certain equipment and safety equipment be carried on board. The teams are divided into five categories: salvage, navigation, bailing and fire fighting, diverse armament and prevention of dirty water discharges.
It is important to avoid considering mandatory equipment as an administrative procedure. They are on board to offer the greatest opportunities to save the lives of the crew in case of emergency. The same applies to Boating Safety Course Canada, which boosts overall safety.
All equipment and salvage equipment must be located, marked and accessible to any crewmember at all times. Store it on board in a dry place. Read and learn from memory the instructions for use, since we can need it at night, in full heat and in the dark. Respect scrupulously the expiration dates of the obligatory material. Otherwise, it can be sanctioned.
Complement the obligatory light signals carrying on board mirrors, flashing lamps (stroboscopic) and chemical lights.
Have, at least, a vest for each crewmember adapted to their size, weight and age. Minors must have a life jacket to their measure, preferably with straps worn by the legs. Keep the vests in perfect condition, with buckles, pins and locks clean and greased. If they get wet with seawater, wash them with fresh water and dry them before storing them.
Inflatable lifejackets must be checked annually at an authorized Service Station. CE regulations distinguish four types of vests, defined by their buoyancy expressed in Newtons (N). They do not guarantee that the face remains on the air at all times and are used for sports activities, such as kayaking, jet skis or windsurfing.
On the market, there are numerous models of life jackets, but all must have CE or SOLAS approval. All vests must have reflective bands for a better visibility.
Vests with built-in harness are very practical and safe on sailing boats. Lifejackets with personal beacon are equipped with automatic detector and locator. In the water, they emit a signal that is captured on the bridge, helping to locate the shipwrecked by direction finding.
Portable fire extinguishers must always be within arm’s reach and reviewed, in date and form, by authorized and approved companies. The entire crew has to know their exact location and know how to use them. In addition to the obligatory buckets for water, it is convenient to have a fireproof blanket with which to drown small fires.
The buoys or life buoys are safety elements in the case someone falls into the water.
