Current regulations which affect your ability to operate and insure your craft include:
Directive 2002/447/EC of 25 June 2002 of the European Parliament and Council of the European Union.
This EU directive makes an employer legally responsible for minimizing crew/passenger exposure to impacts on high-speed craft, by providing suitable protection such as suspension seats. UK Defence conducted a study to establish what constitutes suitable protection and shark met the requirements. Tests performed at the RAF facility “RAFCAM” showed that shark suspension improved the endurance of high-speed impacts by a factor of 6 compared to seating without suspension fitted. From legal and insurance perspectives, this ensures that operators using shark suspension seats can safely continue operations in an increasingly litigious and regulated environment.
SOLAS chapter X – Safety measures for high-speed craft (built on or after 1 January 1996)
This SOLAS publication makes the following safety code mandatory: “International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code) (resolution MSC.36 (63)”. This Code requires that all passengers are provided with a seat which passes strength and impact requirements set out in Annex10 of the code. All shark seats and suspensions have been tested in accordance with this code and certified to 6G crash impacts and 12G vertical impacts as well as 3G static loads.
ABYC H-31: Seat Structures
This is an American test which requires a series of weights up to 400lbs (181kg) of weight to be dropped from 9 inches on the product and then left to sit for 5 minutes. The main purpose of the test is to see how components of our seat will bounce back after experiencing prolonged force and weight, but it also tests the endurance of accessories such as armrests and footrests. This test is performed on all shark modules and the report is available on request
Local Health and Safety regulations; based on ISO standards for WBV (Whole Body Vibration) limits
The impacts upon the health of an individual subjected to WBV are detailed in every country (for example Work Safe Australia). IN order to meet these regulations without suitable suspension seating, high speed craft (HSC) and rescue vessels would only be able to put to sea in the calmest conditions (sea state 1) and at speeds not exceeding 20 knots and would need to be confident these conditions would not worsen during the voyage. This makes it essential to comply with the standards above.