ISAF Launches Structural Plan Review To Combat Increase In Yacht Structural Failures

ISAF has launched a major new safety initiative in response to the growing number of structural failures, publishing details of the new ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Structural Plan Review.

The Structural Plan Review aims to combat an increase in the number of structural failures in offshore yachts and the safety concerns inherent with such failures. The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) have been amended to strengthen the regulation surrounding hull construction and the aim of the Structural Plan Review is to implement compliance with these new requirements as quickly as possible.

Jason SMITHWICK, Head of the ISAF Technical and Offshore Department, explains, “ISAF has sent out a clear message that safety at sea is paramount and structural problems which can result in keel and hull failures must be addressed. The Structural Plan Review provides a clear framework for designers, builders and owners to ensure they comply with the recent updates to the Offshore Special Regulations. As part of the scheme we have published a series of documents which give a simple guide to the Structural Plan Review and the steps which need to be taken by different parties.”

ISAF has created a guide to the new scheme which includes procedural documents for owners, designers, builders and ISAF recognized notified bodies. A sample OSR Plan Review certification is also included as an illustration. The structural plan review will be undertaken by ISAF recognised notified bodies, organizations that are able to carry out assessments and issue CE certificates for the European Recreational Craft Directive and have been recognized by ISAF. A list of notified bodies with contact information is available to download from the Structural Plan Review page.

Full details of the OSR Plan Review and all the accompanying documentation are available to download at www.sailing.org/specialregs/planreview.

The OSR govern offshore racing for monohulls and multihulls, as well as structural features, yacht equipment, personal equipment and training. The OSR are published every two years, with Amendment Sheets issued to detail any changes made in the intervening period. Following a Working Party review of keel failure incidents, the ISAF Offshore Committee approved an update to the OSR meaning yachts racing in Category 0, 1 and 2 should be constructed to one of the newly approved International Standard for yacht structure – ISO 12215.

The 2009 OSR Amendment Sheet, available to download at the ISAF Offshore Special Regulations microsite www.sailing.org/specialregs, contains full details of the requirements of the updated OSR 3.03 relating to – Hull Construction Standards (Scantlings).

ISAF Offshore microsite – www.sailing.org/offshore