Irish Registation for Small Fast Powered Craft

[Ribochet]

Fishing Boats, Jet Skis, Small Fast Powered Craft & Angling Boats in New Bill - Ireland 2014

Another thread primarily for Irish RIBneters which will directly affect us RIB owners but there is also mention of a system for visitor registration

Registation for Fishing Boats, Jet Skis, Small Fast Powered Craft & Angling Boats in New Bill

Extract

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD has announced the publication of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013.
The Bill is one of the Minister's legislative priorities and is part of an overall objective to update and enhance the national maritime legislative code, and ensure the safety of maritime transport services.

Mandatory ship registration will be extended to additional ship categories including fishing boats less than 15 metres in length overall, personal watercraft (jet skis), small fast powered craft and some small angling boats. In general, subject to some exemptions, all ships operating domestically will be required to be on the Register or to have a current valid registration conferring nationality from another country. Other than the small vessels mentioned, registration of all leisure craft less than 24 metres is not proposed.

A system of visitor registration is proposed for recreational craft 24 metres in load line length and greater, personal watercraft (jet skis) and small fast powered craft, where such craft are not registered in another country and wish to operate in Irish waters for short periods not exceeding three months. This will be a simplified form of registration and for a nominal fee, so as not to impact negatively on tourism.

The proposed extension of a registration requirement to jet skis takes account of the increase in the numbers of such craft in recent times, the risks that can be involved in the operation of such craft and, in particular, responds to a recommendation made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board following a number of marine casualty incidents involving jet skis in recent years

[Nos4r2]

That seems to say if you're crossing the border from NI you'll need an SSR or pay for temporary registration? Sounds like a real pain in the neck.

[beamishken]

Id say it looks like small recreational craft under 24 m will be exempt unless you interprete small fast craft to include ribs It seems very ambiguous & I doubt southern Ireland will implement something which would have a negative impact on tourism
we were in dunlaghore howth dublin & carlingford in the summer & they are all in need of more visitors & a scheme that makes traveling in their waters harder &or more expensive will deter visitors even more than their expensive visitor rates we much prefered northern Ireland anyway

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by beamishken

unless you interpret small fast craft to include ribs

I haven't found a draft Bill to see what they define as fast craft but the Irish PFD rules define:
"fast power craft means a pleasure craft, other than a personal watercraft, the principal means of propulsion of which is derived from a mechanical power source and which attains or can attain a speed through or over water equal to or exceeding 17 knots;"
So thats RIBs...

But UK SSR registration costs less than a tank of fuel... and if they are planning a quick tourist registration I guess they'll keep it on a low level... unless they have been studying the methods of Greece!

[Pikey Dave]

This is the sort of thing that the RYA has been fighting for years, long may it last It's a slippery slope to (increased) taxation, regulation, control.