INTRODUCTION
Almost since its inception, the SBA has recognised that when it organises Events, it must take reasonable steps to assure the safety of participating members, their families and friends, and of members of the public who might be affected by the event. One element in achieving this has been mandatory requirements for members and their boats to comply with basic essentials. These have been updated and refined over the years, and this document is the latest version, including all the changes that have taken place since the last complete version was published in 2008. Further amendments are likely to be made from time to time, and will be published in Funnel or in Event entry details as they arise.

REQUIREMENTS
Any boat taking part in an Event organised by or in the name of the SBA must, at the time of taking part in the event:

1. Have current third party insurance cover for a minimum of three million pounds (£3,000,000), or such amount as the Committee shall from time to time recommend, in respect of any accident involving the boat, its boiler or machinery.
   • Note 1. In order to ensure adequate insurance cover, it is essential to confirm with the insurers that they are aware that the cover is required in respect of steam raising plant and steam machinery; this may not be included within the meaning of the term “engines” or “machinery” in a standard marine policy.
   • Note 2. Steam boat insurance arranged through brokers that provide cover in accordance with the SBA Steam Boat Insurance Conditions will comply with these requirements. A number of brokers including Bishop Skinner Marine (insurance brokers), Simon Winter Marine (insurance brokers) and Insurance Risk and Claims Management (insurance brokers) operate this scheme.
2. Have a current boiler examination report certified by a competent boiler inspector and stating that, at the time of the boiler examination, the boiler was in a satisfactory condition for use. The boiler examination to which the report refers must have been carried out by a competent boiler inspector in accordance with the principles set out in the Health and Safety Commission Approved Code of Practice “Safety of Pressure Systems”, 2000.
   • Note 3. “Competent Boiler Inspector” means “Competent Person” as defined fully in the H&SC Code of Practice. In essence, this requires the competent person (or his staff) to have such practical and theoretical knowledge and actual experience of the type of system which is to be examined as will enable defects and weaknesses, which it is the purpose of the examination to discover, to be detected and their importance in relation to the integrity and safety of the system to be assessed: he is also required to be independent of the system operator and to act in an objective and professional manner and carry out examinations solely on the basis of an impartial assessment of the nature and condition of the system under review.
   • Note 4. Insurance companies and other commercial inspection organisations, and the SBAS Boiler Inspection Scheme may be relied upon (if they agree to carry out a boiler examination) to supply a competent boiler inspector and apply the principles of the Code of Practice. If the examination is carried out by another organisation or by an independent inspector, the inspector must be asked to state on the examination report that the examination has been carried out in accordance with the H&SC Code of Practice.
• Note 5. For most types of boiler (including tubular boilers other than those defined in Appendix A) an examination report will be current for a period not exceeding 14-months. In the case only of small tubular boilers which comply with the SBA “Definition of Forced Circulation Tubular Steam Generator” [See Appendix A in the downloadable version], the report of a thorough examination may be valid for a period not exceeding 5-years PROVIDED THAT the protective devices on the steam generator and any steam/water separator receive interim inspections at intervals not exceeding 26-months. In all cases, it is open to the inspector to issue a report with a shorter period of validity than the maximum; the period of validity starts from the date of satisfactory completion of the examination sequence, (not from the date of issue of the report).
3. Have signed and submitted to the Event Organiser an SBA Event Declaration form that gives confirmation of compliance with requirements of 1 & 2 above. Boat Owner/Operators who have not provided this Declaration, cannot steam their boat at the event.
   • Note 6. Not later than the end of the Season, the Safety Officer of the Committee will audit a small random sample of completed event forms to determine that the system is operating correctly. Boat owners are advised to retain any documentation that expires during the season until December in case it is need for audit.
   • Note 7. In exceptional circumstances only, SBA Event Organisers are permitted (but may at their sole discretion decline) to allow the boat owner/operator to update an event Declaration form at the Event if the boiler and/or insurance details were not valid or available at the time of making the event application. Members are urged to avoid the need for this exceptional procedure, as it creates extra work for the event organisers, and could lead to a boat’s entry being refused.
4. Carry safety equipment appropriate to the size of the vessel and the waters. This may include paddles or oars for small boats on inland waters, secondary means of propulsion for small boats on salt waters, anchors and warps as appropriate, fire extinguisher(s) or other fire fighting equipment and a first-aid kit. Non-swimmers, and any others required by the boat owner, should wear buoyancy aids.

Members submitting an entry form for an SBA Event must sign a Declaration on behalf of themselves and their party confirming that, while attending the event, their boat including its steam plant will be insured against third party claims up to at least three million pounds, and that the boiler will be covered by an up to date boiler certificate issued by a recognised boiler inspector, and that they accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by the boat and/or its crew.

THE SBA WOULD TAKE A VERY SERIOUS VIEW IF ANY MEMBER
WAS FOUND TO HAVE MADE A FALSE DECLARATION.

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