Thanks OZZ
I have been on to eastleigh today and i think the same rules apply, i will check the link. Heres an email i sent to someone today, it a bit untidy, but i'm sure you get the gist. It work in progress
""""Hi both
I have attached the material I got from Eastleigh. After reading the material I think the following applies
From earlier discussions MCA doc - to get to cat 4 (which includes cat 5 and 6)” Anyway, I figure the best coding an open rib (without cabin) can expect is cat 4, with is 20 miles from safe haven, in daylight and reasonable weather” .However this needs a liferaft e.g.
Constructed to SOLAS standard, but equipped to “SOLAS B PACK”
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If you look at the Eastleigh material, It seems that the registration is the same depending where you register, you can register at many places (including Portsmouth and Chichester). So I think the comment I mentioned about Portsmouth Pilots refers to this document in some method.
There are 4 Category of vessel. Cat 4 will align with the MCAs codings (thus a liferaft will be needed to the spec above). However if I read the documentation properly, Cat 3 needs basically the same equipment as Cat 4, but
“but in addition to the 1 life jacket per person there shall be buoyant apparatus which together with the 2 lifebuoys in Category 1A shall be of sufficient aggregate capacity to support all on board. This may include DTp approved lifebuoys (a 800mm lifebuoy is considered sufficient to support two persons and a 610mm lifebuoy one person), DTp approved buoyant apparatus,
liferafts or the vessel, provided that it has sufficient internal buoyancy to remain afloat and is fitted with suitable grablines, keel grab rails or bilge keels.”
Cat 3 Areas of operation
Normal and rough weather = Smooth and/or Partial smooth waters .
Very rough weather = smooth waters
In their classification rough = (1.2 to 2.5m) and very rough = (2.4 to 4m)
Areas of operation
1) Sheltered waters. They should not extend more that 15 miles from base exclusive of smooth waters or 3 miles from land
2) If you register at Chichester then smooth water is from a line drawn between Eastoke point and the spire, West Wittering. And Partially smooth, Inside the IOW bounderd by Needles to Trinty point and West Wittering, spire to basically Benmridge.
So if I read this correctly then cat C can operate within the boundaries of IOW as above providing the that weather state is rough, if it very rough you have to basically stay in the harbour. Also if my reading is correct, then a liferaft is not needed providing that it has sufficient internal buoyancy and GRABLINES
I have attached the doc for you to read. It all seems to line up with the comments other people have given me."