THE Boat Safety Scheme committees have reviewed the BSS checks for private boats, and made some proposals for amendments.
Boaters are invited to review the recommendations, and have the opportunity to submit comments if they wish.
Periodic review
The Boat Safety Scheme checks for private boats have just undergone a periodic review by the Scheme's stakeholders. The proposed changes have been posted on the BSS website with an opportunity for people to view and offer comments on the proposals.
Most of the changes are editorial in nature, tidying up terms and descriptions, to help see that the checks are applied consistently by BSS examiners and so reduce risks and see safer boats.
The amendments
- A new check for portable fuel tanks in engine spaces;
- Five new advice checks concerning 230V a.c. systems.
- A new advice check for cracks and unintended gaps on solid fuel appliances.
- 15 existing checks amended to introduce an enhanced technical requirement.
- 63 changes have been made to the existing checks that reduce or slightly change the technical impact.
- Two checks, one about marine fuel filters and the other about 230V a.c. shore connections are being removed.
Take effect in 2013
It is anticipated that the changes will take effect on 1st January 2013 by which time, all examiners will have completed online and local workshop training exercises.
The final versions will be posted on the BSS website later this year as pdf files and will be available to be saved or printed out.
Comments can be made in the next six weeks using the consultation form on the BSS website, the deadline is Tuesday 28 Aug 2012. To find the proposals, follow the link to BSS news from the home page.