01/01/2025
PLEASE READ, this post is related to a change in regulations for tender and PWC (jetski) use..
Happy new year to all!
Just thought I'd share this for the upcoming season. Its now an obligation in French law to wear a kill cord on small craft rather than just a recommendation. The full text is below. Also details of the obligation to wear 2mm neoprene on a jet ski.
An order of October 1, 2023 amending the order of November 23, 1987 relating to the safety of ships (division 240) presents two new obligations for users: the obligation to wear a circuit breaker on board vessels with outboard propulsion motors with helm or remote control, as well as on motorized watercraft (VNM - jetski) and the obligation to wear neoprene equipment with a minimum thickness of 2 mm for users - driver and passenger(s) - of motorized watercraft.
The use of a kill switch is mandatory for the driver on board outboard motor boats with helm or remote controls, or on motorized watercraft. It functions as a switch that cuts off the electrical power to the engine in an emergency.
Conditions of use:
• The kill switch must be attached to the driver's wrist, leg or flotation device when the engine is running.
• The kill switch cannot be modified (extended or moved) to facilitate movement.
• Before the driver moves on the boat, the engine must be turned off or placed in neutral to ensure that the propeller cannot turn.
• These instructions also apply to vessels equipped with electronic kill switches. In this case, since the driver can move away without being held by a wire, a passenger must remain at the helm to avoid any manipulation of the throttle lever.
A second kill switch must be easily accessible on board and its location must be known to all passengers. It allows the engine to be restarted if necessary, for example: to recover the pilot from the sea, if he falls.
Article 3 of the decree of 11/10/2024
Obligations concerning neoprene equipment
Regulatory reference: article 240-2.12. Conditions of use of motorized watercraft:
Motorized watercraft are used exclusively during the day.
The navigation of motorized watercraft designed to carry a maximum of one person is limited to 2 miles from a shelter.
The navigation of motorized watercraft designed to carry more than one person is limited to 6 miles from a shelter.
Regardless of their distance from a shelter, including less than 300 m from it, their users must wear at all times:
Personal buoyancy equipment. The performances presented by this PFD are:
50 N up to 2 miles from a shelter;
100 N from 2 miles to 6 miles from a shelter.
Neoprene equipment (shorts, shorty or full wetsuit) with a minimum thickness of 2 mm, aimed at preventing the risk of injuries that could be caused by the jet of the turbine in the event of a fall at the rear of the motorized watercraft.
Outside French territorial waters, the national flag must be flown.
