Remember to wear your lifejacket

The Norwegian Maritime Authority would like to emphasise that the requirement for bringing suitable PFDs for all persons on board applies to all recreational craft, regardless of lenght. The requirement for wearing suitable PFDs in recreational craft of less than eight metres supplements the requirement for bringing suitable PFDs.

The requirement for suitable PFDs in recreational craft applies both at sea, on lakes and in watercourses. Below, you will find the answers to frequently asked questions regarding the requirements for suitable PFDs in recreational craft.

Section 23 of the Act relationg to recreational and small craft is found here: Krav til fritidsbåter og utrustningen av dem1 - Lovdata

The provision stipulates that you must wear a suitable PFD on board recreational craft of less than eight metres when the boat is underway and you are outdoors on the boat.

A recreational craft in this context means any floating device not used for commercial purposes, which is intended for and capable of moving on water. Boats rented out for recreational purposes are also included.

That is to say that motor boats, sailing vessels, rowing boats, jet skis, kayaks and similar also fall under the requirements for suitable personal flotation devices. Water sports equipment being towed after the boat, e.g. water skis, tubes and wakeboards, are also covered by the provision to wear suitable personal floatation devices.

The provision stipulates that you must wear suitable PFD on board recreational craft of less than eight metres when the boat is underway and you are outdoors on the boat. The term "outdoors" means whenever a person is outside of a fixed, enclosed superstructure which is part of the boat's construction.

Many recreational craft have lounges, but you are only considered to be indoors when you are surrounded by ceiling, fixed walls and a door, i.e. a weathertight enclosed superstructure. On boats without such a superstructure, everything will be considered outdoors. A collapsible hood is not considered such a superstructure.

The provision stipulates that you must wear suitable PFD on board recreational craft of less than eight metres when the boat is underway and you are outdoors on the boat. In this context, the boat being "underway" means that the boat is being propelles by one engine, sails, oars or similar.

Persons in stationary boats are exempt due to activities such as sunbathing. The NMA recommends that the PFD is kept on even when the boat is stationary, for instance when fishing. 

The provision stipulates that you must wear suitable PFD on board recreational craft of less than eight metres when the boat is underway and you are outdoors on the boat.

"Suitable personal flotation device" means lifejacket, flotation clothing, buoyancy aid or other pieces of equipment intended to keep a person afloat. The personal flotation device (PFD) shall be either CE marker or wheelmarked as PFD.

It is important to read the instructions in order to be familiar with the necessary maintenance of the PFD, and how many kilograms the PFD is intended for. The wrong use of PFDs may result in the device not working as it should.

You can read more about recommendations for and the safe use of PFDs on the website of the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB); www.sikkerhverdag.no (in Norwegian only).

The police may issue a fine if you do not have suitable PFDs on board the recreational craft. In a recreational craft of less than eight metres you may also be fined for not using the PFD.

It is the responsibility of the master and the owner of the boat that suitable PFDs are available for all persons on board, but it is each person's responsibility to use the PFD. The master must ensure that persons under 15 years of age are wearing PFD.

There are some exemptions from the requirements for PFD in recreational craft for organised sports and for rental boats within a limited area.

Organised sports or competitions

The requirement for having suitable PFDs on board, and the requirement for wearing a suitable PFD, do not apply to organise sports or competitions. Organises sports mean activities, including training, which are organised by sports organisations registered in the Norwegian Confederation of Sports.

The exemption applies where the requirement for PFDs complicates the execution of the sport or is unnecessary for obvious reasons. Athletes are exempt because the safety is often ensured in other ways.

Each sport federation may lay down more detailed rules on the use of PFDs during training and competition. It is a precondition that the sport federation's own rules are followed.

Rental boats on small lakes or within a limited area

The requirement for wearing a suitable PFD in recreational craft of less than eight metres does not apply on board rental boats available on small lakes or within a limited area through attended rental.

Rental boats in this context means pedal boats or rowing boats. "A limited area" is a clearly marked area on the sea within 500 metres from the shore. "Small lakes" means lakes with a maximum surface area of 0.5 kmMed utleiebåter menes i denne sammenhengen pedalbåter eller robåter. Et avgrenset område er et tydelig oppmerket område på sjøen inntil 500 meter fra land. Med små innsjøer menes innsjø med største flateinnhold på 0.5 km2.

Rental boats as described above are exempt because the safety is considered to be adequately ensured through proximity to land and supervision by staff.

The NMA's interpretation of the term "wear" is: 

• The PFD shall be attached to the body with the associated straps/belts and ready for use.

• If you fall into the water, the PFD shall keep you floating without any effort on your part (fastening straps etc.).

Today, a variety of PFD equipment is available, including lifejackets packed in a hip belt. Many of these are designed so that action is required after falling into the water to make the lifejacket work as intended. In the opinion of the NMA, such lifejackets do not meet the requirement of "wearing" the lifejacket in boats of less than eight metres.