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Safety & Our boats

Your safety is our No.1 priority. With over 20 years experience, you know you’re in safe hands.

Safety

Safety is paramount in everything we do. Believe it or not it’s possible to be safe and have fun at the same time. All of our Skippers and Crew are trained to a high standard. All the boats operate under strict regulations and in line with the company’s safety management system (SMS).

With years of experience operating vessels locally and further afield, along with several years as members of the Royal National Lifeboat Service (RNLI), you can be assured you’re in safe hands.

All of our operations are carefully risk assessed. The vessels comply with the strict guidelines enforced by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Vessels are inspected by the MCA to ensure compliance, and further to this, we at Bay Island Voyages insist on monthly audits of our vessels, crews and safety equipment by trained professionals. This way we can demonstrate our commitment to the safety of all when aboard one of the company vessels.

Training is key to prevent skill fade, and demonstrate that all of the planning and preparation during drills would be instinctively carried out if an emergency event were ever to occur.

Drills are carried out in house with all vessel crew members. Further to this we have links to both the local RNLI and Search and Rescue Helicopter, working together we can engage as a team to drill down on techniques and constantly develop our Safety Management System. With the Bristol Channel having the second highest tidal range in the world we are also ready to assist others if a situation were to occur.

All the vessels are equipped with safety items as set out in the MCA regulations.

Every effort is made to have safety at the forefront of everything we do. Should you have any questions or concerns ahead of a voyage then get in touch

Our boats

We have two 9metre RIBS (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with a 3rd on its way in ‘Spring 23’, all of which are built by ‘Ribcraft’.

Ribcraft are one of the few British manufacturers who have the capabilities to design and manufacture the complete boat ‘in-house’ giving us total quality control throughout. Ribcraft place great emphasis on safety, durability and quality of construction and each vessel undergoes a rigorous testing and commissioning schedule making them the perfect choice for Bay Island Voyages.

All of our vessels are equipped with twin Mercury Sea Pro outboards.  Having 2 engines provides further redundancy against mechanical failure and ensuring passenger safety.

The vessels are fully coded by the MCA (Maritime & Coastguard Agency) and insured to carry passengers out to sea.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION:

  • Twin Mercury SeaPro outboard engines 225hp 4.6ltr V8 each
  • Coded to category 3
  • Icom VHF/DSC Radios
  • Simrad Chart Plotter / sounder
  • Electric Bilge Pumps
  • Twin inboard fuel tanks allowing for a range of 100nm at cruising speed
  • Public Announcement System
  • Self inflating liferafts
  • Full complement of pyrotechnics for raising an alarm
  • Thermal Protective Aids
  • Cat C First Aid Equipment
  • Firefighting equipment
  • 14 x individual jockey style seats (ensuring maximum protection for whole boat vibration) with handlebars
  • Area up forward for carrying cargo
  • Partially removable seats (on certain vessels)
  • Lifejackets for all onboard including spares
  • Signalling torches
  • Anchor & spare
  • 2 x Life rings