Safety equipment for type 4 and type 5 boats
1The lesson in plain words
The equipment list, set by Portaria 1464/2002, grows with the boat's type. Most small boats are type 4 or 5; know both lists.
Where the list comes from
Equipment for recreational boats is set by Portaria 1464/2002, still applied with DL 93/2018. The AMN publishes a leaflet per type, updated in December 2024. Types 1–3 carry longer lists for offshore work. Check the DGRM table before going beyond 6 NM.
Lifesaving gear
Carry lifejackets for everyone, including child sizes. The AMN recommends 150 N for type 4 and 100 N for type 5; N means newtons, a measure of buoyancy. Lifebuoys depend on length: one from 5 to 9 m, two from 9 to 15 m, four from 15 to 24 m. One buoy needs a 30 m line; with two or more, one needs a light. Carry a boarding ladder if the stern or either quarter (rear side) is over 50 cm above water.
Type 5 essentials
A type 5 boat carries 2 hand flares (not needed inside harbour entrances), a steering compass, a horn or bell, first-aid kit A, an accessible bilge pump to remove water (a bailer, a scooping container, may replace it only on boats up to 5 m), one anchor, a round-tipped knife, mooring and towing lines, and a waterproof torch with spare batteries.
Type 4 requirements
Keep type 5 gear, but replace kit A with B. Two hand flares remain required inside harbour entrances. Add survival craft (rafts or tenders) for the maximum permitted number of people; 2 parachute signals; 1 smoke signal; VHF (very high frequency) with DSC (digital selective calling), handheld allowed; bearing compass; current charts and publications; radar reflector; signalling mirror; two anchors; and two pumps, one manual and operable above water. Motorboats over 15 m need dedicated high-mounted reserve radio power: 6 hours, or 1 hour if other sources can supply it.
Fire extinguishers
Open or partly open outboard boats need a 1 kg powder extinguisher. An inboard boat without fixed extinguishing needs a 2 kg powder extinguisher by the engine. Carry a 1 kg powder extinguisher in the saloon (cabin), plus 1 kg by the cooker when the galley (kitchen) is separate.
Jet skis
Wear a lifejacket or suitable buoyancy aid. Carry two hand flares unless you stay inside harbour entrances; a compass; horn; first-aid kit A; bailer; round-tipped knife; mooring and towing lines; and a waterproof torch with spare batteries. Missing required gear can bring an individual skipper a €300–3,000 fine.
2Key data
- Lifebuoys by length
- 5–9 m: 1 · 9–15 m: 2 · 15–24 m: 4
- Type 5 pyrotechnics
- 2 hand flares (except inside harbour entrances)
- Type 4 pyrotechnics
- 2 hand flares, 2 parachute signals, 1 smoke
- Type 4 radio
- VHF with DSC (a handheld is allowed)
- Lifejackets (AMN advice)
- Type 4: 150 N · type 5: 100 N · all on board
- Fine for missing equipment
- €300–3,000 for an individual skipper
3Key points
- 1
Gear is set by Portaria 1464/2002; the AMN leaflets (Dec 2024) list it per type.
- 2
Type 5: lifejackets, 2 hand flares, compass, horn, kit A, pump (bailer only up to 5 m), anchor, torch.
- 3
Type 4: survival craft for maximum permitted capacity, rockets, smoke, VHF with DSC, charts, radar reflector; kit B replaces A.
- 4
Jet ski riders must wear a lifejacket or suitable buoyancy aid at all times.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: A type 4 boat needs no radio if everyone has a mobile phone.
Right: Type 4 must carry a VHF with DSC; a handheld DSC set is accepted.
Wrong: A tender cannot count as the survival craft.
Right: On type 4, liferafts, inflatable rafts or tenders need combined capacity for the boat's maximum permitted number of people.
Wrong: Lifebuoys are needed only on boats over 12 m.
Right: From 5 m one lifebuoy is required, two from 9 m and four from 15 m.
5Practice case & exam keys
Your type 4 boat has all required gear except survival craft and VHF with DSC. For five people going 5 NM offshore, the owner offers a phone and two extra lifejackets instead. Do you leave?
Show the answer
No. A phone cannot replace VHF with DSC, and extra lifejackets cannot replace survival craft. Carry liferafts, inflatable rafts or tenders with combined capacity for the boat's maximum permitted number of people, even with only five aboard. Carry VHF with DSC; a handheld DSC set is accepted. Recheck the type 4 list before departure.
Exam keys
- Lifebuoys: 1 (5–9 m), 2 (9–15 m), 4 (15–24 m); one with a 30 m line, one with a light if two or more.
- Type 5: 2 hand flares, except inside harbour entrances. Type 4: 2 hand flares, 2 parachute signals, 1 smoke.
- Type 4 needs VHF with DSC, survival craft with combined capacity for the boat's maximum permitted number of people, charts and radar reflector.
- Missing equipment: fine €300–3,000 for individuals.
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