Safety Equipment and Category Requirements

Let us do it for you. With helpful staff and keeping up to date with the latest rules and regulations we offer the "Do it all"-service to you. We arrange for your boat, jetski or semi-rigid to be made sea worthy and all the necessary stickers and paperwork will be our concern.

View the latest requirements below for sea use, then complete the form and we will come back to you with a free quote to help make your craft sea worthy.

Category index links:
•  Category B
•  Category C
•  Category D
•  Category E
•  Category R

Category B

Power Driven Vessels operating more than 15 nautical miles but not more than 40 nautical miles from shore.

1. Approved life jacket per person – S.A.M.S.A approved.
2. Four (4) hand-held red distress flares.
3. Four (4) red rocket parachute flares.
4. One (1) floating orange smoke marker.
5. One (1) sound signalling device (other than a life jacket whistle). Only on vessels operating West of Port Alfred.
6. Marine VHF Radio – Channel 16 and 1 other working channel OR 29MHZ Radio – channel A, B, and C
7. Suitable magnetic compass (with which bearings can be taken). Vessels over 9m to have a table of deviations.
8. Suitable approved fire extinguisher – 1 per engine – serviced annually.
9. Capsize bottle and rope: rope to be minium 1.5 times length of vessel (unless life raft is carried).
10. Two (2) space blankets.
11. One (1) litre water per person.
12. First Aid kit.
13. Suitable air bellows and repair kit – only on inflatable vessels.
14. Spares and tools.
15. Marking of equipment and trailer.
16. Emergency steering (to be demonstrated) – except when fitted with tiller arm.
17. Suitable anchor, chain and rope
    Chain: vessels 6m and over – minimum 5 metres  /  vessels under 6m – minimum 3 metres.
    Rope: minimum 100 metres.
18. ID sheet – where vessel is not of highly conspicuous colour – rectangular sheet at least 2m x width of vessel – orange/yellow.
19. Life buoy only on non-planing hulls.
20. Radar reflector minimum 400mm in diameter or equivalent – (vessel 9m or more permanently fitted) West of Port Alfred.
21. Navigation chart for area of operation – corrected or renewed every six years.
22. Approved self inflating life raft – only if insufficent buoyancy as per regulations for all persons aboard.

REQUIRED EXTRA EQUIPMENT FOR NIGHT OPERATION – SKIPPER TO BE NIGHT RATED

1. Appropriate navigation lights.
2. Waterproof torch with spare batteries and bulb.
3. Illuminated compass.

Category C

Power Driven Vessels operating more than 5 nautical miles but not more that 15 nautical miles from shore.

1. Approved life jacket per person – S.A.M.S.A approved.
2. Two (2) hand-held red distress flares.
3. Two (2) red rocket parachute flares.
4. One (1) floating orange smoke marker.
5. One (1) sound signalling device (other than a life-jacket whistle) – only on vessels operating West of Port Alfred.
6. Marine VHF radio – channel 16 and 1 other working channel OR 29MHZ radio – channel A, B and C. Mounted radio only.
7. Suitable magnetic compass (with which bearings can be taken) vessels over 9m to have a table of deviations.
8. Suitable approved fire extinguisher – one (1) per engine – serviced annually.
9. Capsize bottle and rope – rope to be minimum 1.5 times length of vessel (unless life-raft is carried).
10. Two (2) space blankets.
11. One (1) litre water per person.
12. First Aid kit.
13. Suitable air bellows – repair kit – only on inflatable vessels.
14. Spares and tools.
15. Marking of equipment and trailer.
16. Emergency steering (to be demonstrated) – except when fitted with tiller arm.
17. Suitable anchor, chain and rope
    Chain: vessels 6m and over – minimum 5 metres  /  vessels under 6m – minimum 3 metres.
    Rope: minimum 100 metres.
18. ID sheet – where vessel is not of highly conspicuous colour – rectangular sheet at least 2m x width of vessel – orange / yellow.
19. Radar reflector minimum 400mm in diameter or equivalent – (vessel 9m or more permanently fitted) West of Port Alfred.
20. Approved self inflating life raft – only if insufficent buoyancy as per regulations for all persons aboard.

REQUIRED EXTRA EQUIPMENT FOR NIGHT OPERATION – SKIPPER TO BE NIGHT RATED

1. Appropriate navigation lights.
2. Waterproof torch with spare batteries and bulb.
3. Illuminated compass.

Category D

Power Driven Vessels operating more than 1 nautical mile but not more than 5 nautical miles from shore.

1. Approved life jacket per person – S.A.M.S.A approved.
2. Two (2) hand-held red distress flares.
3. Two (2) red rocket parachute flares.
4. One (1) floating orange smoke marker.
5. One (1) sound signalling device (other than a life-jacket whistle) – only on vessels operating West of Port Alfred.
6. Marine VHF Radio – Channel 16 and 1 other working channel
   or 29MHZ Radio – channel A, B, and C
   VHF 5 watt handheld acceptable.
7. Suitable magnetic compass (with which bearings can be taken). Vessels over 9m to have a table of deviations.
8. Suitable approved fire extinguisher – one (1) per engine – serviced annually.
9. Capsize bottle and rope: rope to be minium 1.5 times length of vessel.
10. Two (2) space blankets.
11. One (1) litre water per person.
12. First Aid kit.
13. Suitable air bellows and repair kit – only on inflatable vessels.
14. Spares and tools.
15. Marking of equipment and trailer.
16. Emergency steering (to be demonstrated) – except when fitted with tiller arm.
17. Two paddles or oars – required only on vessel with single petrol motor.
18. Suitable anchor, chain and rope
    Chain: vessels 6m and over – minimum 5 metres  /  vessels under 6m – minimum 3 metres.
    Rope: minimum 100 metres.
19. ID sheet – where vessel is not of highly conspicuous colour. Rectangular sheet at least 2m x width of vessel – orange / yellow.
20. Suitable bailer or bucket – for non self-draining decks.
21. Radar reflector: min. 400mm in diameter or equivalent (vessel 9m or more permanently fitted) west of Port Alfred.

REQUIRED EXTRA EQUIPMENT FOR NIGHT OPERATION – SKIPPER TO BE NIGHT RATED

1. Appropriate navigation lights.
2. Waterproof torch with spare batteries and bulb.
3. Illuminated compass.

Category E

Power driven vessels operating not more than one (1) nautical mile from shore.

1. One (1) approved flotation aid per person SABS 1417/1987 approved.
2. One (1) projectile flare set.
3. One (1) hand-held smoke marker.
4. Suitable approved fire extinguisher – one (1) per engine – serviced annually.
5. Two (2) oars or paddles single outboard petrol engine.
6. Capsize bottle and rope – rope to be minium 1.5 times length of vessel.
7. Spares and tools.
8. One (1) sound signalling device (other than a life-jacket whistle). Only on vessels operating West of Port Alfred.
9. Suitable anchor, chain and rope
   Chain: vessels 6m and over – minimum 5 metres  /  vessels under 6m – minimum 3 metres.
   Rope: minimum 50 metres.
10. Marking of equipment and trailer.
11. Emergency steering (to be demonstrated) – except when fitted with tiller arm.
12. Suitable air bellows and repair kit – only on inflatable vessels.
13. ID sheet – where vessel is not of highly conspicuous colour – rectangular sheet at least 2m x width of vessel – orange / yellow.
14. Suitable bailer or bucket – for non self-draining decks.
15. First aid kit – only on power-driven vessels exceeding 15hp.

RECOMMENDED EXTRA EQUIPMENT

1. Hand held compass.
2. Space blanket (also for use as radar reflector).

REQUIRED EXTRA EQUIPMENT FOR NIGHT OPERATION – SKIPPER TO BE NIGHT RATED

1. Appropriate navigation lights.
2. Waterproof torch with spare batteries and bulb.
3. Illuminated compass.

Category R

1. One (1) life jacket, with wistle attached, per person on board.
2. One (1) x suitable approved fire extinguisher per motor (serviced annually).
3. Suitable oars or paddles single outboard petrol engine.
4. Capsize rope (plus snap ring) – minimum 1.5 times length of vessel.
5. Tool kit (containing at least plug spanner, 2 screw drivers, pliers, water pump pliers, adjustable wrench, starter motor cord and tow rope).
6. Minimum two (2) litres fresh water.
7. Suitable anchor, chain and rope
   Chain: vessels 6m and over – minimum 5 metres galvanised  /  vessels under 6m – minimum 3 metres galvanised.
   Rope: minimum 50 metres braided nylon.
8. Bow and stern eye.
9. Emergency steering (to be demonstrated) – except when fitted with tiller arm.
10. Suitable air bellows and repair kit – only on inflatable vessels.
11. SAMSA approved petrol tanks.
12. Fuel tanks and battery to be in separate compartments.
13. First Aid Kit – only for vessels with engine power exceeding 15hp.
14. Spares (set of spark plugs, jumper cables and engine fuses).
15. Suitable baler – for non-self draining decks.

IMPORTANT

1. A valid certificate of competency is required.
2. The registration numbers issued must appear on both sides of the vessel in a highly visible contrasting colour:
   maximum – 150mm x 25mm
   minimum – 100mm x 20mm
3. The road trailer is clearly marked with:
   a)   the owner's name,
   b)   the owner's telephone number, and
   c)   the registration number of the vessel.
4. All safety equipment is clearly marked with the vessels's registration number.
5. Cabin boats to have suitable bilge pump where applicable.
6. For night operation, the vessel must be equipped with navigation lights and an all round white light (on a separate switch).
7. The vessel must have a MINIMUM BUOYANCY OF 30%, either approved bottles or foam, to enable the crew to hang on to an upturned vessel, which will remain afloat to provide a stable platform.