Practical Boat Owner – August 2019

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NEWS

A consultation into six new

Marine Guidance Notices

(MGNs) covering yacht and

powerboat safety is under way.

It follows a review of MGN 280

by the Maritime and

Coastguard Agency (MCA)

after the jury in the Cheeki

Rafiki trial recommended the

notice, which applies to small

commercial vessels like charter

yachts, be tightened.

Douglas Innes, whose

company managed the

Beneteau 40.7 Cheeki Rafiki,

was cleared of manslaughter,

although found guilty of failing

to ensure the yacht was

operated in a safe manner.

Four men died when Cheeki

Rafiki lost her keel in 2014.

The six draft MGNs cover

guidance on keel groundings,

rigging inspections,

preparedness, stowage of

lifesaving gear, vessel resilience

and emergency procedures,

and maintenance, modifications,

damage and repairs.

Details on the consultation,

which ends on 18 July, can be

found at http://www.gov.uk/

government/consultations/

consultation-on-yacht-and-

powerboat-safety-at-sea

The Sport and Pleasure Code

is also being tightened and

amended via Merchant

Shipping Notices (MSNs). The

MCA is preparing to consult on

three of the eight updated

sections of the code including

examinations and certifications,

which clarifies accident

reporting and states that any

incident involving the keel,

rudder, propulsion unit, hull

below the water line or anything

that affects the safety of the

vessels must be reported to the

Certifying Authority. Alternative

methods of certification

including the introduction of an

examination for non-coded

vessels operating commercially

for racing, is also being

consulted on.

Boatbuilders Swallow Yachts

has said it will be back to full

capacity by the autumn after a

fire destroyed one of the firm’s

workshops in Cardigan, Wales.

Two mouldings, an old

demonstrator boat and an 18ft

rowing skiff were also burnt

beyond repair during the

incident on 23 May.

Managing director, Matt

Newland, said customer

schedules for delivery over the

summer and autumn would be

delayed by a month, but said

the firm was already in the

process of purchasing new

equipment and building a

temporary workshop.

Spotlight

on safety

at sea

Round Britain in two months

Swallow Yachts open for business

The draft MGNs and MSNs

are aimed at small

commercial vessels and

pleasure boats

Danny Burnett and Steve

Pointon are expected to

finish their circumnavigation

around Britain by 17 July.

The pair, who were trying

to complete the voyage in

less than eight weeks, are

raising money for the charity

Action for Children (uk.

virginmoneygiving.com/

fund/TikkasTravels2019).

They left Portland aboard

Pointon’s 34-year-old Moody

28 Tikka on 1 June, but were

forced to pull into Falmouth

to repair the heads.

Unseasonal weather also

hampered their progress.

As PBO went to press,

Tikka was transiting the

Caledonian Canal as the

pair tried to keep to their

schedule.

Steve Pointon was in the

Navy for more than 24 years

“We have lost 60% of our

production capacity but we are

not laying anyone off. Our

financial position is strong and

we are definitely open for

business,” stressed Newland.

“We are still taking orders and

will be fully back on our feet in

the autumn.”

Swallow Yachts is already

rebuilding after a factory fire

David Harding