A public consultation by the Boat Safety Scheme on proposals within a clarified and improved set of BSS Examination Checking Procedures opened on 7 March and will run until 31 May 2022.
The revisions to the BSS ECP are the product of many months of work by the BSS stakeholder committees and the revisions are commended by the BSS Management Committee. They apply to checks used in the examination of rivately owned and managed boats in private use as well boats subject to the 2017 Hire Boat Requirements.
The main focus of this consultation is the introduction of two mandatory BSS Requirements by way of amendments to two existing BSS Checks.
The two increased BSS Requirements are:
- on boats with petrol propulsion engines, requiring evidence of recent servicing for any Wilderness Boats conversion of an Electrolux RM 212 refrigerator, BSS Check 8.2.2R
- clarification that ferrous/cast iron fittings, joints and components used in LPG pipework are not compliant with BSS Check 7.8.3R.
It is also proposed to introduce 20 relaxations by reducing some requirements or allowing additional compliance options. Details are provided in the consultation.
The Scheme considers that the improvements are both necessary and proportionate means of risk control that will have a very positive impact on the level of consistency of the application of BSS Checks by existing BSS Examiners and will significantly improve the uptake of knowledge and understanding of trainees going through the New Examiner entry training programme.
Comments on the amendments are welcome from boat owners, the marine trade and all BSS stakeholders. The consultation is open until 16:30 on 31 May 2022.
The BSS will publish a summary of the views expressed and the BSS response in Summer 2022 on the BSS website www.boatsafetyscheme.org/ECPconsultation
It is intended that a communications campaign will promote the final agreed changes in this summer.
The consultation is available at www.boatsafetyscheme.org/ECPconsultation
