Legal notice

Penalties for sailor failing to report incidents or accidents

The RYA's legal department advises on a clarification regarding the penalties for failing to report an incident or accident under the Merchant Shipping (Vessel Traffic Monitoring and Reporting) Regulations

Further legal consultation has resulted in the clarification of the penalties recreational skippers face if they fail to report an ‘accident’ or ‘incident’ as defined under the new regulations.

The threat of imprisonment is reserved for the owners of larger commercial vessels but recreational skippers, including dinghy sailors, will face a substantial financial penalty.

Please note that during the progress of this legal case more ‘grey’ areas of the regulations will become clarified. This is an ongoing process and the RYA will make this information available as soon as possible.