#TECM2603188AAmendments to French Small Vessel Safety and Pollution Prevention Rules
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This order makes technical corrections to France’s safety rules for small vessels, especially divisions 240 and 241 of the 1987 maritime safety order. It clarifies definitions, fixes article references, updates wording on flotation equipment, and corrects a threshold for vessels of 24 metres or more. The most practical change is a VHF watch rule: vessels equipped with fixed or portable VHF radio must, when at sea and where possible, continuously monitor channel 16 from the normal navigation station. Boat owners, operators, marinas, sailing schools, and compliance teams should check safety documentation, onboard procedures, and equipment checklists against the updated references.
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Key Changes
- Adds a definition of motor vessel within the small vessel safety rules.
- Requires vessels with fixed or portable VHF radio to monitor channel 16 at sea where possible.
- Corrects article references and wording for flotation equipment, first-aid kits, and the 24-metre vessel threshold.
Obligations
What this law requires
Any vessel equipped with a fixed or portable VHF radio installation must, when at sea and where possible, continuously monitor VHF channel 16 from the vessel’s normal navigation station, in addition to maintaining the required visual and auditory watch under COLREG Rule 5.