| (1) | The owner and skipper of any vessel must ensure that— |
| (a) | items of safety appliances and equipment are provided and maintained on board the vessel in accordance with the requirements of Annexure 2; and |
| (b) | the other requirements of Annexure 2 are complied with in relation to the vessel. |
| (2) | The skipper of a vessel must ensure that an approved buoyancy aid or lifejacket of the kind required by these regulations is worn by— |
| (a) | every crew member who works on the vessel's deck at night, if the vessel is a commercial vessel; |
[Regulation 7(2)(a) substituted by regulation 10(b) of Notice No. R. 731 dated 11 July 2008 ]
| (b) | every crew member who performs work on the vessel in circumstances where there is a risk of being lost overboard, if the vessel is a commercial vessel; |
[Regulation 7(2)(b) substituted by regulation 10(b) of Notice No. R. 731 dated 11 July 2008]
| (c) | every crew member on the vessel, if the vessel is a commercial vessel of less than seven metres in overall length and is being operated within one nautical mile from shore; |
[Regulation 7(2)(c) substituted by regulation 10(b) of Notice No. R. 731 dated 11 July 2008]
| (d) | every child under 12 years of age on deck at all times when the vessel is underway |
| (e) | any other person on board a vessel at such times as the skipper may direct; and |
| (f) | every person on board including the skipper whenever the vessel is launched or operated in the surf, or otherwise operates in rough sea or water conditions. |
[Regulation 7(2) amended by regulation 10(a) of Notice No. R. 731 dated 11 July 2008]
| (3) | On each occasion before any vessel is operated, the skipper must— |
| (a) | ensure that every person on board the vessel has received essential safety information appropriate to that person's functions on board, including— |
| (i) | information about the location on board of the safety appliances and equipment required to be carried on the vessel; and |
| (ii) | instruction in the use of such appliances and equipment; and |
| (b) | ensure the safety appliances and equipment required to be on board the vessel are fit and ready for use. |
| (4) | The skipper of a commercial vessel must, if it is practicable to do so, cause the vessel's emergency procedures and arrangements, including those in respect of fire-fighting, abandon ship and man overboard, to be practised at least once each week. |
| (5) | The skipper or person operating any power-driven vessel of more than 15 horsepower and of nine metres or less in length may not get underway unless there is an operational kill switch attached to the operator. |
| (6) | Subregulation (5) does not apply to vessels launching or beaching through surf whilst the vessel is transiting the surf zone. |
