Fresh water safety protocol is vital to the safety of the crew and guests onboard your superyacht. Ensuring your systems meet regulations will help eliminate the chance of waterborne illnesses that could pose a severe risk to all on board, and the ability to continue chartering.
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) MLC2006 regulations included specific statutes on fresh water loading, onboard water production, sterilisation and storage. All marine vessels must provide an adequate supply of safe water for drinking, washing, and preparing food, as well as any water-based recreational activities such as swimming pools and hot tubs. Additionally, any water that is used onboard for maintenance of the yacht and its services, such as laundry, air conditioning, cleaning, and fire control, must also meet these regulations.
The water onboard a superyacht is usually either sourced from supplies onshore or through the reverse osmosis process. Once the water is onboard it must be stored and treated, meeting specific standards to guarantee it is safe to use. All water consumed on board must be stored and delivered under pristine hygiene conditions. It must be free of any microorganisms, parasites, or chemicals that have the potential to harm anyone who consumes it. Using equipment that prevents chemical or microbial contamination, in line with the WHO and International Water Association (IWA) guidance, can help keep your water safe. However, the most effective means of consistently ensuring the safety of a potable water supply is through the use of comprehensive risk assessment and risk management.
Octo Marine’s Fresh Water Safety Plan
The team at Octo Marine are expert in all things fresh water. Fully trained in all MLC regulations and IWA guidance, we are happy to offer a tailor-made fresh water Safety Plan. With a visit from our specialists, we ensure that the fresh water on board does not pose risks to health in either use or consumption, by providing a step-by-step risk management assessment and plan.
Water analysis should be carried out on a regular basis to ensure that it is of sufficient quality to satisfy both those who use it and the requirements of the current rules, regulations and guidelines. We identify any issues that might be recurring and provide a detailed improvement plan. This plan includes what actions need to be taken to bring the systems back up to a safe functioning level and training on maintaining those levels of safety.
Our team will also establish a record-keeping plan, allowing you to review and monitor the new plan they have put in place. Record keeping is a vital step in water safety as it helps identify any new and recurring issues. We will continue monitoring the latest Water Safety Plan once it is in place, ensuring it complies with all regulations and guidelines.
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Water systems on superyachts are complex and require expertise to ensure they are running properly.
At Octo Marine, we have over 2 decades of experience providing knowledge, equipment, and services to the superyacht industry. If you would like to find out more about our fresh water safety plans, or any of our other products and services then please don’t hesitate to contact us.
