Division 240: Mandatory boat chandlery and safety equipment.
Navigating new boating regulations can be complex, but at Antibes Ship, we make compliance simple and stress-free. With Division 240, all boats under 24 meters must follow strict safety rules in French waters, no matter their flag. Our team stays informed on the latest updates to French maritime laws. Ensuring that yacht owners, captains, and crew have access to the right equipment to remain fully compliant.
We offer a comprehensive selection of marine safety gear. This includes life rafts, fire extinguishers, distress signals, first aid kits, navigation lights, and safety signage. All meeting the necessary standards set by the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forest, Sea, and Fisheries. Whether you're preparing for an inspection, outfitting a new vessel, or upgrading your existing safety equipment, we provide expert advice and high-quality solutions tailored to your needs. At Antibes Ship, we’re committed to keeping you safe on the water. While making sure that your yacht meets all regulatory requirements.
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What is Division 240?
Division 240 establishes safety objectives that sailors and captains must meet. It prioritises the safety of crew members aboard a pleasure boat while sailing. Holding the owner, tenants and captains accountable.
This regulation specifies that the equipment that must be carried on board, based on criteria such as the number of persons on board, the type of vessel, and the method of navigation being used. Specific equipment must meet a standard, bear a label indicating a specific degree of quality, or justify an expiry date that has not been exceeded.
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The Division 240 equipment list is defined by where you are sailing, which is classed based on your boat's distance from shelter. These zones are divided into four categories:
- Basic (within 2 miles of a shelter)
- Coastal (2 to 6 miles from a shelter with basic equipment completed)
- Semi-offshore (6 miles or more from a shelter with coastal equipment completed)
- Offshore (more than 60 miles from a shelter with semi-offshore equipment)
A shelter is a location on the coast where a craft, boat, or ship and its crew can safely anchor, land, or dock and depart without assistance. This idea considers both the current weather conditions and the qualities of the vessel.
New to 2024 -The Division 240 vessel safety regulations, published in the Official Journal on December 13, 2023, evaluate the use of a circuit breaker as an outboard pilot and the requirement to wear a neoprene suit when performing VNM. These changes must be understood and implemented without delay.
Two circuit breakers on board.
The new safety rule stipulates the pilot of an outboard with remote control/fixed or watercraft with motor. To ensure safety, wear a circuit breaker (wired or electronic) when the ignition is turned on and keep a backup in case of an emergency. The only "exception" that allows movement on board without a kill switch is when the engine is turned off or the propeller is stopped from engaging.
A neoprene wetsuit.
Watercraft designed to transport more than one person, regardless of their distance from a shelter, including less than 300 metres away, must now permanently wear; Neoprene equipment (shorts or short/complete wetsuit) with a minimum thickness of 2mm. This is intended to reduce the risk of injuries caused by the jet of the turbine in the case of a fall at the back of the watercraft.
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Other Equipment in the List
To meet the 'Basic' requirements, you must have the following items on board at all times:
- Personal buoyancy equipment
- A lighting device
- Mobile fire-fighting equipment (as specified in the owner's manual)
- A manual drying device
- A towing device, a mooring line (if the light mass is ≥ 250 kg), a tide table, and a national flag (required outside territorial waters).
To comply as a 'Coastal' sailor, the above and the following equipment is required on board at all times:
- Device for locating and assisting people overboard, horseshoe buoy or crown buoy
- 3 red hand lights
- Magnetic compass (or GPS on the coast)
- Official nautical charts (see the Nautical Documents sheet)
- International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (RIPAM)
- Description of the buoyage system
As a 'semi-offshore' French sailor, you will need to comply with the above requirements as well as the following additional products.
- Life raft Equipment for taking stock Up-to-date light book (see Nautical documents sheet)
- Logbook
- Device for receiving weather reports
- Harness and tether per vessel for non-sailing boats
- Harness and tether per person on board for sailing boats
- First aid kit in accordance with article 240-2.16
- Lighting device for searching and locating
For 'deep-sea' sailors, you will need all of the items above and a portable VHF Emergency Position and Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).
Antibes Ship Marine Chandlery is here to provide you with all the equipment necessary to comply with Division 240 regulations. Our extensive inventory includes yacht safety equipment and navigational items, featuring life jackets, emergency kits, flares, fire extinguishers, GPS systems, and more to ensure your yacht is fully equipped for safe and reliable voyages. We stock a multitude of yacht safety brands, including 4 Water, Crew Saver, LedLenser, FireBlock International, Bucket, Robline, Amare, Ocean Safety, Wessex, Silva, Bloc Marine, Plastimo, Garmin, Furuno and MC Murdo.
Antibes Ship recognises that each vessel has distinct needs, which is why we are delighted to build a customised equipment list based on your individual requirements. Whether you need to improve your safety equipment to meet with the most recent standards, stock up on critical chandlery, or outfit a new yacht with high-quality maritime supplies, we have you covered. Our skilled team is here to help you navigate the process and ensure you have the proper products for your vessel, whether for personal use, charter, or training. Simply visit our store in Antibes to browse our large selection, or contact us online for personalised advice!
Talk to the team at Antibes Ship today!
Division 240