Small vessels are governed by the “Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations) of 2007.  At the risk of offending our legal colleagues, a highly simplified overview of the key issues for yachties is as follows:

1. All small vessels have to meet the safety requirements defined in the regulations.  The requirements depend on the vessel and where you want to sail it.
2. Sailing vessels over 9m in length (and power vessels over 15 HP) have to be listed.  Once listed they get a Certificate of Listing (CoL).
3. Sailing vessels over 9m in length (and power vessels over 15 HP) have to have an annual safety inspection.  If they pass their inspection they get a Certificate of Fitness (CoF) which is valid for one year from the date of inspection.
4. To skipper a sailing vessel over 9m in length (or a power vessel over 15HP) you have to have an appropriate Certificate of Competence (CoC) often just called a skipper’s ticket.
5. You have to carry these documents, or certified copies, on board at all times.
6. SAMSA have authorised SAS to list vessels, inspect them for a CoF and examine potential skippers for a CoC.  Working through SAS is very much cheaper and simpler than going through SAMSA.
7. However, if you wish to go foreign, a SAS listing and a SAS CoF is no longer sufficient.  You have to get your vessel registered through SAMSA.  And you have to get a Local General Safety Certificate for your yacht.  Without these documents you will not be able to clear customs.

To find out more about getting your yacht listed, getting a CoF, getting a skipper’s ticket or going foreign, click on the tabs on the left or click on the drop down tabs under “member services” above.