24.1 This section of the Code addresses “Tenders and Daughter Craft” which are
referred to as Type 1 and Type 2 Tenders. “Daughter craft” (Type 1) is a term more
commonly used elsewhere but serves here to convey the nature of the use. There should be
no confusion between the two types of vessel. The LOLER and PUWER Regulations apply to
these vessels.
24.2 Type 1 Tenders are daughter craft provided (towed or carried) on board
specifically for “off-ship” working on the business of the mother vessel or support
thereof. See also 4.5 & 4.6. Guidance on daughter craft outwith the scope of the
application in this Code are also available.
24.3 Type 2 Tenders are provided (towed or carried) solely for tendering persons
or stores directly to and from the mother vessel and not for workboat duties. Such
transits should be restricted to nearby shore facilities or vessels, either within
harbour limits, categorised waters or no more than 0.5 n.m. from the mother vessel
whilst at sea.
24.4 Type 1 Tenders may, when meeting the qualifying conditions below, treat the
mother vessel as a safe haven (see Note 2). In order to do so, Type 1 tenders
should:
- (a) be separately named; and
- (b) be coded and certified independently of the mother vessel with the exceptions of
Area Category 5 or 6 vessels, and when operating as a Type 1 Tender should also be
subject to the limitations applied in (d) and (e) below, see also Note 1;
- (c) The vessel’s Workboat Certificate should be endorsed "suitable for use as a
daughter craft restricted to X miles from the mother vessel” to indicate that it is
suitable for operation as a daughter craft.
- (d) fit a kill cord and use it at all times during navigation and whilst the engine
is on (as per section 7.6.5) if the tender is an inflatable boat, a boat fitted with
an buoyant collar or an open boat that achieves planing speeds. A spare kill cord
should also be carried on board or the kill system should be capable of override to
facilitate the rescue of the person going overboard with the cord attached. See 7.6.5
for exclusions to the fitment and use of kill cords;
- (e) regardless of a tender’s certified Area Category, be limited to operations no
more than 10 miles from the mother vessel and to daylight hours in favourable
weather; and
- (f) additionally on communications including GMDSS:
- i The crew of the Type 1 tender should be suitably qualified for
the equipment on board e.g. if GMDSS is fitted;
- ii Where GMDSS or an EPIRB are not carried, procedures should be in place for
the mother vessel to continuously monitor the communication method and the
daughter crafts location;
- iii if not remaining in visual range and within 3 miles of the mother vessel,
should be fully equipped and operated as per the certified Area Category
(subject to 24.4(e) and Note 1);
- iv if remaining in visual range and within 3 miles of the mother vessel, the
Type 1 Tender need not carry GMDSS equipment or an EPIRB but all the tenders’
crew are recommended to wear PLB’s (meeting the guidelines in 13.9.1) and the
tender should be fitted with VHF radio equipment (in accordance with 16.7)
suitable for the receiver heights (see 16.3.3 for details) and distance from
the mother vessel, so as to enable effective communication between the mother
vessel and the Type 1 tender at all times; and
- v The MMSI number of the type 1 tender should be registered under that of the
mother vessel.
- Note 1: Type 1 tenders should be operated, restricted and manned in accordance with
the certified area category (subject to 24.4 (b), (c), (e) and (f) above). Operators
of Type 1 tenders needing to operate outside these limitations should contact the
Administration.
- Note 2: Type 1 tenders should have a risk assessment of the operation and equipment
carried as per the occupational Health and Safety responsibilities to the Type 1
tender under their permit to work scheme. Hence, amongst other considerations, where
crew need to leave the vessel for some part of the work of that Type 1 tender
consideration should be given to a means to remotely locate those persons (e.g. see
13.9.1) and be able to communicate with both the mother vessel and the Type 1 tender,
if persons are left on board; and the crew of the Type 1 tender (if on board) should
consider keeping visual safety watch on any off-ship working personnel.
24.5 Where a Type 1 tender relies on the mother vessel as its “safe haven” the
lifting equipment must be capable of recovering the daughter craft in ALL anticipated
operational weather and sea conditions during which times the daughter craft is
permitted to be launched and operated. Also, the scantlings of the daughter craft must
be such that the structure of the craft are adequate for both static and dynamic loading
in such extreme conditions. Where a platform facility is relied upon as a “safe haven”,
equivalent levels of safety for the recovery should be provided.
24.6 Certification of Type 1 Tenders shall take account of:
-
“Man lifting” requirements. The LOLER Regulationsfootnote should be followed where applicable;
-
Static and dynamic lifting loads imposed on the craft structure;
-
The operational restriction on any off-ship operation, and;
-
The consequences particularly of dynamic loading on the recovery of the tender and
the viability of considering the mother vessel as the safe haven for the purposes
of certification. Reference should be made in particular to 4.6.3.
24.7 In order to be able to consider Type 2 Tenders not as Workboats, then the
following should be met:
-
The mother vessel should be Coded, certified under Load Line or other equivalent
arrangement and be fit for the purpose intended, or;
-
if it is not certified under the Code of Practice or other as above it should be
fit for the purpose intended, regularly inspected by the operator, owner or
managing agent and maintained in a safe condition, or;
-
it should be considered as work equipment under PUWERfootnote;
-
It should be clearly marked “Tender to [mother vessel
name]” and must be clearly marked with the permissible maximum weight
which can be safely carried;
-
Fit a kill cord and use it all times during navigation and whilst the engine is on
(as per section 7.6.5) if the tender is an inflatable boat, a boat fitted with a
buoyant collar or an open boat that achieves planing speeds. A spare kill cord
should also be carried on board or the kill system should be capable of override
to facilitate the rescue of the person going overboard with the cord attached. See
7.6.5 for exclusions to the fitment and use of kill cords;
-
Personnel operating a Type 2 Tender should carry a hand held VHF at all times;
-
If the vessel is being lifted or used on a ramp the strength of construction
should also be fit for purpose, where necessary, it should also be fitted with
lifting points that correspond with the construction of the vesselfootnote.
A Type 2 Tender is not required to meet the requirements for inflatable boats or rigid
inflatable boats in 4.5.
It is not anticipated that it will be necessary for a Type 2 Tender to carry any more
than a ready use fuel tank.