Passengers on vessels larger than 9 meters must have lifejackets

A new amendment to the regulation on marine safety states that passengers on vessels more than nine meters in length must be given lifejackets.

A clause added to Article 27 (d) of the regulation states that lifejackets must be in the hands of passengers on closed vessels and vessels larger than nine meters.

The article declares circumstances where captains are compelled to have passengers wear lifejackets. They are:

• Before embarking on journeys on vessels smaller than nine meters
• Before embarking on journeys in areas where weather alerts are in effect
• Before embarking on journeys on vessels smaller than nine meters registered for water sports and entertainment

The regulation also states that lifejackets must be easily accessible on all passenger vessels, that passengers must be briefed on how to use lifejackets before departure, and that all passengers and crew must wear lifejackets if they need to go out on to the deck for any reason.

Operators of vessels smaller than nine meters found in violation of the regulation are punishable with a MVR 15,000 fine.

Authorities also reserve the right to suspend the captain’s license for three months, and write the violation on the license book after an investigation.

Repeated violations are punishable with one-year suspension of the captain’s license.