Essential safety for RIB Users
Every year the RNLI's voluntary lifeboat crews respond to 8,000 or so incidents, many of which could have been prevented with simple safety precautions. Over half of these launches are to leisure craft. It is likely that more lives can be saved, with fewer lifeboat rescues needed, if leisure craft users took more responsibility for their safety and that of others.
Tell others where you are going
Many RNLI call outs and searches can be speeded up and more lives saved if the lifeboats have a good idea on where to start searching if someone goes missing. This can be done easily by leaving your trip details with someone ashore:
- Where you're going
- When you plan to be back
- Other details such as who you are with
- Give HMCG your trip details
- Sign up to the Coastguard's safety schemes
The immediate problem facing the Coastguard and the RNLI, is knowing where to start the search pattern. Knowledge of the area and knowing where you are likely to be can considerably increase chances of a successful rescue. Make sure that someone ashore knows your plans and understands what to do if they become concerned for your well being. They should dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
RIB owners are encouraged to use the Voluntary Safety Identification Scheme (CG 66) form and give the Coastguard passage information in the UK.There are a number of sea safety organisations located in the Solent, including:
RIB Insurance
See guide to RIB insurance.
RYA Powerboat Training
The RYA have an internationality respected range of Powerboat Training courses that are ideal for RIB users. Click here for further details.
Marine VHF DSC
An essential piece of safety equipment is a marine VHF. Click here for a guide to buying a marine VHF.
COLREGS
The Collision Regulations or COLREGS as they are more commonly known apply to you if you go boating on or near the coast.
You must be sure that you know the rules well enough to be clear when you are the stand on vessel, when you are the give way vessel and what the correct action to take is.
As well as these steering and sailing rules, the COLREGs dictate what day shapes and navigation lights a vessel must display to indicate its status to other vessels and when and what sound and light signals it must make.
Click here to access the COLREGS.
Navigation Lights
Make sure you have on your RIB the correct navigation lights, and that you can identify other vessels by their navigation lights. Click here for an overview of the main navigation lights.