Ribbing to France/ Ships Register ?

[Alan Mckewan]

We have towed a rib to France 8 or 9 times over the past 15 years to the west coast (Brittany & Vendee) with no SSR no vhf and none of the stuff referred to above. We have never had any problems from anyone. All this sounds like everybody is trying to put you off!

Admittedly we took various small-ish ribs, maximum size 5.3M and only did off-the beach stuff. Also we all had L2 / safety boat / ICC stuff with us even though it was never asked for.
The local ribbers are very friendly and helpful as are the harbourmasters etc.
Some great beach and estuary cruising grounds, specially around Concarneau..
I wouldnt chance it on inland waterways though, as I know they are much more strict there.

[Manos]

This the safety and VHF regulation as I received it from Jean-Marc Shalk the moderator of Pneuboat.com (one of the French RIB forums)

Quote
Manos Hello,
For the material, there is a discussion on the forum Armament in 5 2nd category:
> a machine floating of a type approved for 5 people, at station in the back skirt,
> a buoy horseshoe of an approved type, station in the back skirt,
> horn of brown,
> five standard approved life jackets 50, or 100, or 150, or 275 other than model with inflation alone,
> a rigid bucket 7 liters with an end,
> a conical play of wood pinoches, > an oar sufficient length and device of stroke,
> rope of towing,
> blunder,
> mirror of indication,
> national house, N and C (small pocket) travelling compass,
> tight flashlight,
> directory of the tides (except in the Mediterranean),
> work With, 2B, 3C and Ç of the SHOM,
> the up to date charts of the attended area,
> scoop,
> limps of help (pharmacy),
> traffic lights (fires with hands) or fires of mast,
> a line of damping with an anchor of 12 kg, 8 meters of chain of 8, and 30 meters of cablet of 14,
> 3 red rockets parachutes.
But frankly I do not know if the foreigners doivents imperatively to have the same thing as us. Concerning the VHF one needs for us French a licence, but the foreigners must be subjected to their regulation, I suppose. Highly Europe and harmonization of the regulation.
Unquote

The French original version since the translator is abit silly

Quote
Salut Manos

Pour le matériel, il y a une discussion sur le forum

Armement en 5 ème catégorie :

> un engin flottant d'un type approuvé pour 5 personnes, à poste dans la jupe arrière,
> une bouée fer à cheval d'un type approuvé, à poste dans la jupe arrière,
> corne de brune,
> cinq brassières de sauvetage approuvées type 50, ou 100, ou 150, ou 275 à l'exclusion de modèle à gonflage seul,
> un seau rigide 7 litres avec un bout,
> un jeu de pinoches coniques en bois,
> un aviron de longueur suffisante et dispositif de nage,
> filin de remorquage,
> gaffe,
> miroir de signalisation,
> pavillon national, N et C (pochette),
> compas de route,
> lampe électrique étanche,
> annuaire des marées (sauf en Méditerranée),
> ouvrage 2A, 2B, 3C et 1C du SHOM,
> la ou les cartes à jour de la région fréquentée,
> écope,
> boite de secours (pharmacie),
> feux de signalisation (feux à mains) ou feux de mât,
> une ligne de mouillage avec une ancre de 12 kg, 8 mètres de chaîne de 8, et 30 mètres de câblot de 14,
> 3 fusées rouges parachutes.


Mais franchement je sais pas si les étrangers doivents impérativement avoir la même chose que nous.

Concernant la VHF il faut pour nous français une licence, mais les étrangers doivent être soumis à leur réglementation, je suppose.

Vivement l'europe et l'harmonisation des reglementation.

Unquote

Hope it helps.

By the way no one is trying to put you off. Everyone is trying to tell you what the requirements are. You can take your chances and if you are caught you will pay a fine. That's it. Better safe than sorry.

Re the boat number clearly displayed on both sides of the boat I think this is the regulation in all EU countries. But I suppose in the UK will be different

[Richard B]

Originally posted by Manos
translator is abit silly

Err, yes! But what a nice chap to send you such a comprehensive reply.

I was particularly relived to see "blunder" on the list. I was worried that when we went on the Comedy of Errors cruise last September that the French would be concerned at our number of blunders, but they're obviously mandatory. Excellent!

[Manos]

Pepper, I am talking with the French Club forum quite sometime now (I have my own forum there for holidays in Greece http://www.pneuboat.com/grece_en_pneumatique/index.php - not finished yet).
The guys (most of them apart from a few exception -like here more or less) are very friendly and egger to help.
If any one thinks that we can organise a raid in France and involve them too (which will be great) please let me know.
Cheers

[Richard B]

Good idea.

[mstacey]

Comprhensive looking list Manos.

Do not worry nobody here is putting me off going across the channel. All the information and individual experiences expressed in this thread and in the forums in general are for the best part invaluble.

Sometimes a question is asked and it produces not only a comprehensive and concise answer but also results in a whole load of other questions which I had not even thought about.

I have been ribbing for a number of years in a smaller rib, just in the little bit of sea and river of which I have gained first hand local knowledge. When one starts to get more adventureous and to longer trips along the coast line and aspire to cross the channel there is a heap of new stuff to learn about.

A big thank you to everybody here for sharing thier experience,knowlege and thoughts with me.

[Brian]

And who was it who said they wanted even more laws??

[Richard B]

Originally posted by Brian
even more laws??

- Brian, unless you've got the following mandatory items, then legislation is obviously needed:
> station in the back skirt,
> horn of brown,
> a conical play of wood pinoches
> blunder,
> mirror of indication,
> national house,
> tight flashlight,
> limps of help
> traffic lights
> a line of damping

But seriously, I shall make sure that this summer I comply with SolasV stuff. Just in case I suffer any unplanned incidents.

[Garygee]

Hi folks

Can anyone confirm that if you go to another country you MUST comply with all the regulations, regarding to saftey equipment for that country and not the country in which the boat is registared ?.

This could mean carrying lots of gear as many contries appear to have slighthy different regulations and requirements ?.


If you do need to comply does anyone know the requirments for Ireland ?.

Thanks Gary