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Question regarding length regulations.

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by milo12, Oct 31, 2012.

  1. milo12, Oct 31, 2012
    #1
    milo12

    milo12 Member

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    On setsail.com Steve Dashew mentions that there are some significant reasons to keep the boats length below 20 meters. One examples he gives are a pilot is required in certain areas of Alaska for foreign flagged boats. He also mentions in other areas you are required to stay in shipping lanes.

    I have done some searching and all I can find in the USA is the Alaska thing and the CG has some safety regs that change beyond 65 ft. I looked into registration in the Marshall Islands and they do have a 24 meter limit at which point there is a lot more qualification and bureaucracy involved.

    Can anyone give other examples of complications or bureaucracy that arise when you exceed 20 meter or more?

    I notice that all of Dashew's other boats are over 20 meters and there are tons of Nordhavns and others that are beyond 20 meters.

    Is there really any issue with going beyond 20 meters? I want to be able to do worldwide cruising but no European canals.
  2. Sea Gull, Nov 1, 2012
    #2
    Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    Just off the top of my head, in the northeast US, above 20 meters, you need an advance appointment to enter the Cape Cod Canal and you are limited to 10 knots in certain areas of whale migration.
  3. K1W1, Nov 1, 2012
    #3
    K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    Hi,

    Some bedtime reading for you: LY2 Large Commercial Yacht Code
  4. milo12, Nov 1, 2012
    #4
    milo12

    milo12 Member

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    Thank you, lots of good info there. I looked around that site and found there are too many regs and certs required if you go over 24 meters, so <24 meters it is.
  5. Ken Bracewell, Nov 2, 2012
    #5
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Vessels greater than 20m are required to utilize IMO adopted Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS). This will often mean that you'll have to travel miles out of your way (and miles offshore) to use a TSS, while smaller vessels are permitted to use the Inshore Traffic Zones.
    I found this tremendously inconvenient while traveling Western Europe (specifically the Iberian Peninsula and the English Channel) with the boss on board. In the UK they will allow you to travel the Inshore Zones so long as you are bound for/from a port within the inshore zones. This lead me to make a few extra port-calls along the way in order to be allowed to enjoy the coastline views.
  6. dennismc, Nov 2, 2012
    #6
    dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    Canada has gone to 30 meters for mandatory traffic participation, however, lots of other regs still have a breakpoint of 20 meters.
  7. Rodger, Nov 2, 2012
    #7
    Rodger

    Rodger Senior Member

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    Length Regulations

    St. Lawrence River through Quebec and The St. Larence Seaway requires pilots 35 meters or greater.
    Rodger
  8. mwagner1, Nov 7, 2012
    #8
    mwagner1

    mwagner1 Senior Member

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    Well, considering the explosion in the very large yacht building sector, there must be plenty of buyers who are not worrying about all of the regulations and certifications.....I mean, a competent naval architect/engineer should be well aware of all of the regulations set down....

    Cheers,
  9. Talon, Nov 8, 2012
    #9
    Talon

    Talon Senior Member

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    There is a difference between LY2 regs and Large Yacht 'Private' one.
    Commercial / Large Yachts still need to follow set lanes to a point, whereas private yachts exceeding 40m are not obliged to do so.
    This also depends on where the vessel is registered.

    It is a minefield of regs to chew through. some contradict themselves making it even more difficult to clarify.