Changes to BSS examination

BOAT Safety Scheme Examiners who are members of the Nationwide Alliance of Boat Surveyors & Examiners (NABSE) are concerned that boat owners are largely unaware that elements of the Boat Safety Scheme Examination will change on 1st January 2013.

While NABSE believes that boat owners who are members of the various organisation such as the National Boat Owners Association, Residential Boat Owners Association, etc should have been informed of these changes by their representatives on the Boat Safety Scheme Advisory Committee, these changes are likely to come as a surprise to those in the inland boating community who are not members of these organisations, Graham Freeman, Chairman of NABSE, tells us.

Should be aware

Despite the fact that a large proportion of the changes to the Examination Checking Procedures are editorial, boat owners should be aware that the following checks will require the boat owner (or his/her representative) to be present at the time of the examination:

Shore power/Alternative sources of power

If shore power is connected to the craft, the boat owner (or his/her representative) will be asked by their BSS Examiner to disconnect the shore lead and/or isolate generators and/or inverters to create a safe environment for the Examiner to carry out the newly introduced 230v ac related checks. While the new checks relating to 230v ac systems are ‘advisory’, any non-compliances noted at the time of the examination may result in the award of a Warning Notice (which could be of interest to the craft'’s insurer).

Gas locker(s):

If the craft has a gas locker/lockers, the Examiner will require access to the whole of the locker bottom to ensure that there is no path for leaked LPG to enter the interior of the craft. If full visibility of the bottom of the gas locker(s)) is not possible, the boat owner (or his/her representative) will be requested to disconnect and remove gas bottles to enable this check to be carried out (and refit and reconnect them after completing the check). If the Examiner is unable to complete this check (due to non-availability of the owner/representative and/or obstructed visibility of the locker floor), the BSS Examination Record will be annotated “Not Verified” and a subsequent visit will have to be booked before a BSS Certificate can be awarded.

Attended training seminars

In preparation for these changes, all BSS Examiners have attended training seminars to ensure consistent application of the new checks from 1st January 2013. Readers are recommended to visit the BSS website to learn more about these changes and how they may affect their preparation for their next BSS Examination.

www.boatsafetyscheme.org/about-us/news-from-the-bss/ecp-review-2012

Additional information relating to NABSE'’s submission to the consultation which occurred in August can be found at Item 12 on the Newsletter page at

www.nabse.co.uk/Pages/NewsLetter.aspx