UK MCA issued a Code of Practice for Intended Pleasure Vessels (IPV Code), to be introduced on 1 January 2019, to provide a framework for what is wanted by the Pleasure Vessel sector.
The IPV Code is split into two parts and in each part there are requirements for owners and operators:
- Use at sea for business purposes: Operators are the people using the boat for their business, which are manufacturers, brokers, repairers, surveyors and in some cases owners can also be operators too.
- Use at sea as a race support boat: The Operator is the person using the Race Support Boat.
Part 1 of The IPV Code allows for Intended Pleasure Vessels to be in temporary commercial use at sea on a single-voyage basis for business purposes relating to repair, post-production, post-repair or mid-survey sea trials, customer sea trials, or vessel delivery outside the definition of Pleasure Vessel. It is applicable to Intended Pleasure Vessels of any size which are UK vessels wherever they may be. It also applies to other Intended Pleasure Vessels operating from UK ports whilst in UK waters.
Part 2 of the IPV Code allows for Intended Pleasure Vessels to be in temporary commercial use at sea on a single-voyage basis as a Race Support Boat for the purpose of Race Support Activities of yacht or powerboat racing affiliated to the National Governing Body of the Sport. It provides a standard for small (<8m) Intended Pleasure Vessels used for no more than ten occasions per calendar year as a Race Support Boat outside the definition of Pleasure Vessel either by the Owner or persons authorised by the Owner to do so. It is aimed at open boats such as Rigid Inflatables but does not prohibit use for small (<8m) decked vessels. Operators of Race Support Boats are advised that other Codes of Practice may be more appropriate for decked vessels.
- If you own a Pleasure Vessel (owned by an individual or a company) then you are responsible for making sure that either all use is in accordance with the Pleasure Vessel definition or, if not, then appropriate commercial standards are met.
- If you are taking a Pleasure Vessel to sea for business purposes as an owner, manufacturer, broker, repairer or, surveyor then you become an Operator in accordance with this Code of Practice. If the use is not temporary then you would need to seek further advice from the MCA but if the use is temporary (according to the IPV Code) then you can use this simple and easy to meet standard. The very basic requirement for use as an Operator is that you will need to have a SMS in place but this need not be complicated.
In an official statement, UK MCA and the UK Coast Guard have called members of the boating community to ‘have their say’ on the new Code. The public consultation launches on 1 August and runs for 8 weeks until the 26 September.
Once the external consultation has closed, the MCA will draft a final set of proposals of the new IPV Code. Any new development changes within the Code will be published accordingly.
