Safety at sea

Life jacket

Life jacket is the most important safety equipment on board. All persons in a recreational boat should wear a vest at all times. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate recommends vests with a minimum of 150 newton buoyancy for use on the open sea. Check that the vest fits, is CE marked and that any cartridges are intact.

Mandatory equipment

VHF radio

A VHF radio is the safest way to call for help at sea. The emergency channel is channel 16. To use a VHF radio in a recreational boat, you must have an SRC certificate (Short Range Certificate). The test for the certificate covers procedures for emergency messages, emergency traffic and normal communications.

Distress signals

Emergency flares and hand flares are used to alert other vessels and the rescue service. Red flares mean distress, while orange smoke is used during the day. Always check the expiry date and keep the signals dry and accessible.

Man overboard

If someone falls overboard, quick action is essential:

1. Call out man overboard and point to the person in the water
2. Throw out rescue equipment immediately
3. Turn the boat carefully and approach the person from the le side
4. Maintain eye contact with the person at all times

Weather and conditions

Always check the weather forecast before posting. Pay particular attention to wind strength, wave height and visibility. Weather changes can come suddenly along the coast, and fog reduces visibility dramatically.

Good safety knowledge is an important syllabus for the boat driving test . Also read about weather and sea conditions and engine learning . Test yourself with free theory test .