Commercial, security and yacht rated marine equipment

All leisure, commercial and military vessels in estuary, coastal and offshore waters must conform to the IMO International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (the COLREGs). Compliance with the COLREGs is enshrined in the national laws of nearly every country worldwide.

"The COLREGs apply to all vessels, there is no differentiation between coded and non-coded vessels," Steve Austin, Senior Policy Lead at the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) stated. "Should the whistles (horns) prove not to conform then they will need to be modified or changed.  Whistles should conform to the performance in COLREGs, Appendix III and the appropriate parts of IEC 60945 to EN60945 which deal with the marine operating environment."

The insurance company of your vessel is also likely to take the view that IMO compliance is essential to ensure cover.

For further information our sister company, Kahlenberg UK, has prepared a leaflet called Marine Sound Signals - The Law As It Applies To You (PDF download).