Boaty laws

[nik]

I recently saw a largish gin palace motoring around with no name displayed on the hull.
A person told me that this was illegal, and I would like to know if this is correct.
I appreciate that this will cause other problems like identification in the event of theft, getting into marinas, identification in the case of emergency etc.
What I would like to know is the letter of the law, is it illegal?

Thanks, Nick.

[tonto]

Originally Posted by nik

I recently saw a largish gin palace motoring around with no name displayed on the hull.
A person told me that this was illegal, and I would like to know if this is correct.
I appreciate that this will cause other problems like identification in the event of theft, getting into marinas, identification in the case of emergency etc.
What I would like to know is the letter of the law, is it illegal?

Thanks, Nick.

Nope, AFAIK You can pretty much do what you like, as long as you dont carry paying passengers or employ someone to work on your boat.

Rest is a free for all, unless there is a local bye law, which are difficult to enforce.

[nik]

Originally Posted by tonto

Nope, AFAIK You can pretty much do what you like, as long as you dont carry paying passengers or employ someone to work on your boat.

Rest is a free for all, unless there is a local bye law, which are difficult to enforce.

And what if the skipper claimed to use the boat commercially but did not carry fare paying passengers or employ anyone?

I suspect this may run into insurance issues, as it may be a requirement to be insured for commercial use and the insurers may require a name to be displayed.

However, I would like to know if it is legally possible.

Ta.

[thomas]

Names don't mean anything unless the boat is on the small ships register, then they have to be unique to a given port, that's where you have a town name under the boat name - there is no requirement to register a vessel unless you have finance then the finance company will insist on it.

[tonto]

Originally Posted by nik

And what if the skipper claimed to use the boat commercially but did not carry fare paying passengers or employ anyone?

I suspect this may run into insurance issues, as it may be a requirement to be insured for commercial use and the insurers may require a name to be displayed.

Commercial vessels will normally need to be insured, and will be required by the MCA to confirm to certain requirements, thus will almost certainly need a name displayed.

For example a small comercial fishing vessel single handed requires to show ID letters, and normally a name as well, even if they dont employ anyone, or take passengers.
There are different rules for commercial boats and private boats.
Commercial small boats normally require some sort of coding.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by thomas

Names don't mean anything unless the boat is on the small ships register, then they have to be unique to a given port, that's where you have a town name under the boat name

Close, but no cigar. A port or town of registry isn't obligatory. BP has a name, SSR No. but no registered port. In answer to the OP, a name isn't obligatory, unless being used commercially as already stated.

[Anchorhandler]

And to be honest, both in the private world and commercial sector the only real means of identification is the HIN. (and i would imagine that even that is probably open to abuse)
The name has very little importance. Even in the world of large commercial shipping these days more emphasis is placed on an ID number than a name. Only real practical benefit of naming a vessel these days is to facilitate radio communication....

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[tonto]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

And to be honest, both in the private world and commercial sector the only real means of identification is the HIN. (and i would imagine that even that is probably open to abuse)
The name has very little importance. Even in the world of large commercial shipping these days more emphasis is placed on an ID number than a name. Only real practical benefit of naming a vessel these days is to facilitate radio communication....

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

Yep every commercial vessel is required to have the IMO number stencilled on the stern, and bridge sides where they can be seen. It is a unique number wheras a hull ID number may be used by differnt builders, the IMO number will be unique.

As Simon says no one really worries too much about a name, but the number, however for large vessels the port of registry is important, as it donates which national laws the vessel is complying with.

All fascinating stuff, and I digress, but for the OP, if it was not a commercial vessel, (carrying cargo, passengers or employees) it probably wont need a name.

[nik]

Just spoke to the MCA, and they did not have an answer.
Then spoke to the small ships register, they were not sure either but are looking into it.
It seems you can be commercial and not be coded (only needed for employees and passengers).
Vague or what.

[Anchorhandler]

Originally Posted by tonto

Yep every commercial vessel is required to have the IMO number stencilled on the stern, and bridge sides where they can be seen..

and on a main transverse beam in the Engine room.....

Poor engineers forgotten about as usual.. :-)

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[tonto]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

and on a main transverse beam in the Engine room.....

Poor engineers forgotten about as usual.. :-)

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

Poor Ginger beers..........

[Anchorhandler]

Originally Posted by tonto

Poor Ginger beers..........

Bloody Rock Dodgers......:-)

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[tonto]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

Bloody Rock Dodgers......:-)

Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

Dont really want to get into the old oil and water thing but......

Anyway no such difference on a RIB.
(unless I take my wife who will ALWAYS be right!)

[Anchorhandler]

Originally Posted by tonto

Dont really want to get into the old oil and water thing but......

Anyway no such difference on a RIB.
(unless I take my wife who will ALWAYS be right!)

Lol, were drifting from the op here a bit but when are you actually due home anyway?


Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[tonto]

Originally Posted by Anchorhandler

Lol, were drifting from the op here a bit but when are you actually due home anyway?


Simon

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

To my home, 2 weeks, 6 days 2 hours and 30 minutes, but hey, whos counting!

[Carl]

interesting thread nik

[m chappelow]

When attended the old commercial fishing school in Grimsby way back in 1974 we did a subject on this , seem to remember the smallest bold letters of a name couldn't be less than 4 inches tall but that was for such things as ships lifeboats or small commercial inshore fishing boats . Seem to remember also having to have a white background for black letters and vice versa ,
Think lifebelts had to have a minimum of 3 inch high letters,

[L'escargot]

Originally Posted by thomas

Names don't mean anything unless the boat is on the small ships register, then they have to be unique to a given port, that's where you have a town name under the boat name - there is no requirement to register a vessel unless you have finance then the finance company will insist on it.

It is Part 1 registration that requires a unique name, many names are duplicated on the SSR.

[alystra]

deleted

[nik]

@alystra
Have replied, but can't be certain if it got sent. Finding PM's a bit confusing.