For some sheltered environments and inland waterways (canals, ponds, small lakes, etc.), bank-based safety cover may be appropriate.

Minimum crew: 2

Qualification level – one of:

• SLSGB/NVBLQ Lifeguard
• British Canoeing FSRT
• DEFRA MOD2

Minimum equipment:

• Throwline, perry buoy, or rescue tube
• Reach pole / aid
• Med kit inc TPA
• Personal Floatation Device / Lifejacket
• Drysuit (if water Tº <15ºC)

For lining up on cast, positioning props and equipment, and manoeuvring camera platforms/boats, in-water support crew can provide an effective means of quickly resetting between takes.

In-water support crew should be:

• Medically fit
• First aid trained (to FREC3 or higher)
• Hold HSE SCUBA/NVBLQ/RLSS lifeguard qualifications (if supporting cast in-water)

(Current exceeding 3 knots in water depth 0.7m+ )

Minimum crew: 3

Crew qualification level:

• DEFRA MOD3
• DEFRA MOD4 (for powered craft operations)
• British Canoeing WWSR/AWWSR

Minimum equipment:

• Quick-release PFD with chest harness + SS ring
• Helmet
• Whistle
• Throwline (> 15m length, >8mm dia)
• Wading pole / reach aid
• Climbers tape/webbing/slings
• River knife
• Carabiners (locking HMS pear shaped anodised alloy type)
• Waterproof med kit inc TPA
• Waterproof means of communication (UHF/VHF)
• Drysuit (if water Tº <15ºC)

Where bank-based rescue is impractical or unlikely to prove effective, a well-equipped safety boat helmed by competent and experienced crew can provide flexible safety cover across a range of scenarios and potential incidents. 

Minimum crew: 2

Safety boat helm qualification level:

• RYA Advanced Powerboat (or RYA PB2 for daylight operations only)
• First aid training (to FREC3 or higher)

Safety boat crew requirements:

• RYA PB2
• First aid training (to FREC3 or higher)

All safety boats should be equipped with:

• An anchor
• Waterproof first aid kit inc TPA
• Aux propulsion (paddles/oars for small craft)
• A torch/searchlight
• An efficient means of communication (UHF/VHF radio)
• Sharp knife
• Engine kill cord + spare

Certificates of insurance should state that craft are used as commercial safety boats.

If operating at sea (open water), vessels should be surveyed and coded with the MCA (or licenced locally).

For use inland, vessels should be compliant with local survey and licencing requirements.

Artiste/cast training should only be undertaken by competent and experienced instructors who hold accreditation with the relevant national governing body (NGB) for their discipline(s). Copies of comprehensive liability and professional indemnity insurance (specifying cover for instruction/tuition activities) should be sought, along with a list of crew delivering training and copies of qualifications.

Bespoke training activities (that fall outwith the provision of NGB activities or syllabi) should be comprehensively risk assessed and evidence of training delivery quality assurance sought. In the event of an incident, any related training activities are liable to be scrutinised intensely. Most insurance companies will include specific clauses to exclude training and instruction activities unless they are specifically stated on the schedule of insurance.  

We hold accreditation with the RYA as a Recognised Training Centre, and benefit from a roster of national-level coaches and experts amongst our team – with skillsets that span powerboating, dinghy and yacht sailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, and SCUBA diving disciplines.