Safety Guidance for Charterers and Users of Yachts and Small Craft in Nautical Tourism

Yacht and boat skippers, as well as all other participants in maritime traffic, should be aware of the importance of maintaining a proper lookout and of the consistent application of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Yacht and boat skippers, as well as all other participants in maritime traffic, should be aware of the importance of maintaining a proper lookout and of the consistent application of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Although responsibility for the safe navigation of a charter boat rests solely with the skipper, it should be recognised that many of them are not professional navigators, but tourists on holiday. As such, they often lack sufficient navigational experience, particularly in local conditions and in sea areas with increased traffic density, where the risk of collision is higher.
Accordingly, their assessment of risk and responses in more complex situations may be ineffective. In such circumstances, the safety of navigation may become more a matter of chance than the result of prudent seamanship in accordance with established rules.
Charter companies are therefore advised to provide, prior to handover of the boat, a concise and comprehensive safety briefing. This should focus on the proper operation of the vessel, the identification of hazardous situations, and responsible conduct during navigation, particularly in conditions of increased traffic. The briefing should cover basic navigation rules, specific characteristics of the local area, expected hazards, common navigation errors, and recommended actions in the event of unforeseen situations.
Users should also be made aware of examples of marine accidents that have occurred in the local sea area, in order to highlight the consequences of non-compliance with regulations and inadequate lookout.
The aim of this safety guidance is to reduce the risk of collision and other incidents during charter operations, while increasing awareness and responsibility among skippers and their accompanied crew members and passengers.
Adresati: Korisnici jahti i brodica u nautičkom turizmu, te charter kompanije koje se bave iznajmljivanjem plovila.