A man onboard a vessel with a hi-vis jacket and personal floatation device

Safety onboard

Onboard safety

blue chair
Beach
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Coast
Blue sea icon
Sea
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Onboard
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Resources
Onboard safety tips:
Tip 1
Wear a Personal Flotation Device
Always wear a lifejacket or suitable buoyancy aid to help keep you afloat
Tip 2
Use Channel 16 in an emergency
Contact the Coastguard via a Mayday distress alert using a marine Very High Frequency (VHF) radio
Tip 3
Register your beacon
Carry a 406 megahertz (MHz) beacon and make sure it's registered with the Coastguard
Tip 4
Hone your skills
Find out about available training and qualifications to ensure you are safe and confident onboard
Tip 5
Conduct regular checks
Make sure you regularly check your onboard and personal equipment, such as lifejackets or the vessel's engine
In an emergency at sea send a Mayday distress alert on Channel 16
Boat illustration

Commercial fishing

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the UK with the fatality rate 100 times higher than the average for the general workforce.

The most common causes of fatalities include going overboard, flooding, and capsizing. Many commercial fishing deaths may have been preventable if appropriate safety measures were in place.

Reduce the risks:

  • Check your vessel is stable - learn how to do a roll or offset load test.
  • Do regular risk assessments to highlight hazards and dangers on deck. All crew should be fully trained on the equipment they are using.
  • Familiarise your crew with your man overboard recovery plan - choose a recovery device suitable for your vessel and make sure everyone onboard knows the plan and has practised it.
  • Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) - ensure your PFD is fit for purpose and correctly maintained.
  • Carry a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) - it will help locate you if you go overboard, ensure it's always within reach and you know how to activate it in an emergency.
  • In an emergency at sea send a Mayday distress alert on Channel 16, or call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

 

Learn more from the Home and Dry website

Commercial fishing

A man wearing a PFD stands by the waterside at a harbour Watch now

Stay sober when you're on the water

Alcohol and the water are never a safe combination. Just as drinking and driving a car can lead to life-altering consequences, so can mixing alcohol with operating a boat or any watercraft. Look after each other and act responsibly — if a friend has had too much to drink, ensure they get home safely and never let them take control of a vessel. Alcohol impairs judgment, reaction times, and coordination, all of which are critical for safe boating. Don't let your trip end in tragedy.

Dinghy sailing

Dinghy sailing offers thrill, speed and a chance to race with others on the water. Whether single-handed dinghies or high-performance foiling boats, checking and updating equipment will allow to sail faster while remaining safe.

 

Reduce the risks:

  • Check the weather forecast and tide times before you leave home.
  • Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and make sure you are also wearing suitable clothing.
  • Always carry a means of calling for help and ensure everyone on board knows how to use it. Consider having an additional method as a backup.
  • Hone your skills - contact your national governing body, club or watersports activity centre to find out which training is best for you.
  • Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back. If you are late returning, they can raise the alarm by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.

 

 

Reduce the risk, boost your skills
We've teamed up with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) on an important safety campaign for boat owners to refresh their skills and help prepare vessels for the new boating season. If you are in the boating community, find out more about how to ‘reduce the risk, boost your skills’.
Recreational boating safety
Two people wearing lifejackets on a small white recreational boat in the open sea
App on phone

Motorboating

Motorboating can a be an exciting way to enjoy the UK coast, from small rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) to powerboats and motor cruisers. 

 

Reduce the risks:

  • Check the weather forecast and tide times before you leave home.
  • Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and make sure you are also wearing suitable clothing.
  • Always wear a kill cord if fitted and carry a spare.
  • Always carry a means of calling for help and ensure everyone on board knows how to use it.
  • Safety plans - we advise that you practice man overboard procedures with everyone on board and conduct a safety briefing.
  • Ensure your engine is well maintained, that you have enough fuel for your journey, and carry adequate tools and spares.
  • Ensure you pilot your boat at an appropriate speed to the environment and conditions.
  • Hone your skills - contact your national governing body, club or watersports activity centre to find out which training is best for you.
  • Understand rights of way - you must follow the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) - a power driven vessel must give way to a sailing vessel unless the sailing vessel is in the process of overtaking it.
  • Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back. If you are late returning, they can raise the alarm by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.

Jet skis and waverunners

Small, fast and easy to handle are some reasons why personal watercraft, such as jet skis and waverunners, are so popular. However, there is a risk of serious injury when operating or riding personal watercraft - including collisions and falling into the water at speed. Mechanical breakdowns are also a common hazard. 

 

Reduce the risks:

  • Hone your skills - as well as ensuring safe operation, gaining a qualification can be beneficial when accessing launch sites, riding abroad and for lower insurance premiums. Contact your national governing body, local club or watersports activity centre to find out more.
  • Check the weather forecast and tide times before you leave home.
  • Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and make sure you are also wear a wetsuit or suitable clothing.
  • Check your equipment - make sure the drainage plug is in place.
  • Ensure your engine is well maintained, that you have enough fuel for your journey, and carry adequate tools and spares.
  • Always wear a kill cord if fitted and carry a spare.
  • Stay out of safe swim areas and use appropriate boat lanes.
  • Keep to speed limits in restricted areas.
  • Carry a means of calling for help you can reach easily in an emergency, for example a Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch worn around your neck.
  • Stay with your craft in an emergency, it will keep you afloat and is easier to locate.
  • Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back. If you are late returning, they can raise the alarm by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.
Yacht sailing

Yacht sailing

Yacht sailing offers the opportunity to explore waters at home or around the world.

Reduce the risks:

  • Check the weather forecast and tide times before you leave home.
  • Safety plans - practice man overboard procedures with everyone on board and conduct a safety briefing.
  • Ensure your engine is well maintained, that you have enough fuel for your journey, and carry adequate tools and spares.
  • Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when on deck and a harness where appropriate. Make sure you are also wearing suitable clothing.
  • Carry a means of calling for help you can reach easily in an emergency, for example a Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch worn around your neck. Consider purchasing a Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) for your vessel.
  • Hone your skills - contact your national governing body, club or watersports activity centre to find out which training is best for you.
  • Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back. If you are late returning, they can raise the alarm by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.
  • In an emergency at sea send a Mayday distress alert on Channel 16, or call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
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