Marine Survey Standards: ABYC, US Rules, COLREGs, EU, Mediterranean, ISO, UL

ABYC

American Boat and Yacht Council standards

What the American Boat and Yacht Council is, how its standards are written and kept up to date, why they're voluntary but still decide survey findings, how to get the full text, and the standards surveyors cite most.

What surveyors check

ABYC E-11

AC and DC Electrical Systems on Boats

What ABYC E-11 covers on a boat's AC and DC systems, the rules surveyors check most often, from the 7 inch battery fuse rule to the reverse polarity indicator, and how to cite E-11 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC E-13

Lithium Ion Batteries

What ABYC E-13 asks of lithium battery systems on boats, the 600 Wh threshold, the BMS requirement, documentation and restraint, what a surveyor checks and how to cite E-13 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC E-10

Storage Batteries

What ABYC E-10 asks of battery installations on boats, the one inch movement test, terminal protection, containment and ventilation, what a surveyor checks and how to cite E-10 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC A-28

Galvanic Isolators

What ABYC A-28 covers for galvanic isolators on boats with shore power, what fail-safe means, the ratings, what a surveyor checks and how to cite A-28 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC A-1

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Systems

What ABYC A-1 asks of propane (LPG) systems on boats, the gas locker and drain rules, cylinders, solenoids and detectors, what a surveyor checks and how to cite A-1 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC A-24

Installation of Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Alarms

What the latest revision of ABYC A-24 asks of carbon monoxide detectors on boats, which spaces count as habitable, which detectors qualify, where not to fit them and how to cite A-24 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC H-27

Seacocks, Thru-Hull Fittings, and Drain Plugs

What ABYC H-27 asks of seacocks, through-hull fittings and drain plugs, the 500 lb strength test, why a ball valve on a through-hull can fail it, what a surveyor checks and how to cite H-27 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC H-24

Gasoline (Petrol) Fuel Systems

What ABYC H-24 (gasoline) and H-33 (diesel) cover in a boat's fuel system, which USCG hose types go where, anti-siphon protection, what a surveyor checks and how to cite them in a finding.

What surveyors check

ABYC H-22

Electric Bilge Pump Systems

What ABYC H-22 asks of electric bilge pump systems, how pumps are rated, where the inlet and discharge go, the high-water alarm on boats with enclosed accommodation, and how to cite H-22 in a finding.

What surveyors check

US federal rules

33 CFR 183 SUBPART J

Fuel Systems

What the US federal fuel system rules in 33 CFR 183 subpart J cover on gasoline boats, the hose, anti-siphon, tank and foam rules surveyors check, and how to cite them in a finding.

What surveyors check

33 CFR 183 SUBPART I

Electrical Systems

What the US federal electrical rules in 33 CFR 183 subpart I cover on gasoline boats, ignition protection, overcurrent protection within seven or 40 inches, grounding and batteries, and how to cite them in a finding.

What surveyors check

33 CFR 183 SUBPART K

Ventilation

What the US federal ventilation rules in 33 CFR 183 subpart K ask of gasoline engine compartments, powered blowers, natural ventilation, the blower warning label, and how to cite them in a finding.

What surveyors check

33 CFR 175 SUBPART C

Visual Distress Signals

What the US federal visual distress signal rules require, which boats and waters they cover, the accepted signals, why expired flares don't count, and how to cite 33 CFR 175 in a finding.

What surveyors check

46 CFR SUBCHAPTER T

Small Passenger Vessels (Under 100 Gross Tons)

Which charter boats fall under 46 CFR Subchapter T, the Certificate of Inspection and annual inspections, drydock intervals, bilge pump and fire extinguisher tables, and how to cite Subchapter T in a finding.

What surveyors check

COLREGS LIGHTS AND SHAPES

Navigation Rules, Part C: Lights and Shapes (Rules 20 to 31)

The navigation lights and day shapes the COLREGs require on yachts and small craft, light arcs and visibility ranges, the anchor ball and motorsailing cone, the USCG certification label, and how to cite the rules in a finding.

What surveyors check

33 CFR 175 SUBPART E

Fire Protection Equipment

How many fire extinguishers a US recreational boat needs by length, which boats are exempt, what good and serviceable means, the rules for older boats, and how to cite 33 CFR 175 subpart E in a finding.

What surveyors check

NFPA

NFPA 302

Fire Protection Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft

What NFPA 302 covers on pleasure and commercial boats under 300 gross tons, fire, explosion and carbon monoxide hazards, the latest additions on lithium batteries and engine compartment detection, and when surveyors cite it.

What surveyors check

UL

UL 1426

Electrical Cables for Boats

What UL 1426 covers, how to read BC-5W2 and the other markings printed on boat cable, where ABYC and the Coast Guard point to it, why household cable fails on a boat, and how to cite UL 1426 in a finding.

What surveyors check

EU and national rules

RCD 2013/53/EU

Directive 2013/53/EU on recreational craft and personal watercraft

What the EU Recreational Craft Directive covers, which boats it applies to and which it excludes, the CE marking and builder's plate, private imports and post-construction assessment, and what a surveyor checks on a CE-marked boat.

What surveyors check

REAL DECRETO 339/2021 (SPAIN)

Real Decreto 339/2021, equipo de seguridad y de prevención de la contaminación de las embarcaciones de recreo

Spain's rules on safety equipment for recreational craft: which boats they cover, navigation zones 1 to 7 and how they map to CE design categories, liferafts, lifejackets, flares and extinguishers by zone, and the extras for charter boats.

What surveyors check

DIVISION 240 (FRANCE)

Division 240 of the French ship safety regulations, pleasure craft for personal use and training

France's Division 240 for pleasure craft up to 24 m: which boats it covers, the basic, coastal, semi-offshore and offshore zones measured from a shelter, the equipment for each, rental boat rules, and how surveyors cite it.

What surveyors check

DM 146/2008 ANNEX V (ITALY)

Regolamento di attuazione del Codice della nautica da diporto, Allegato V, dotazioni di sicurezza

Italy's rules on safety equipment for private pleasure craft: distance bands from 1 mile to unlimited, liferafts and coastal liferafts, EPIRB or satellite phone, lifejacket categories and lights, flares, and what changed in the latest amendment.

What surveyors check

CROATIA BOATS AND YACHTS RULES

Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama, and Pravilnik o sigurnosti pomorske plovidbe

Croatia's rules for boats (brodice) and yachts: navigation areas I to IV and how they map to CE design categories, required liferafts, lifejackets, flares, EPIRB and VHF by area, liferaft service, and the navigation safety rules near the coast.

What surveyors check

CYPRUS RECREATIONAL NAVIGATION LAW

Νόμος που προβλέπει για τη ρύθμιση της ναυσιπλοΐας αναψυχής στη Δημοκρατία, Ν. 4(Ι)/2026

The Cyprus rules surveyors meet on pleasure craft: the new Recreational Navigation Law with its A, B and C circulation licences, operator licences, inspections and insurance, the equipment list for fast boats, and the registers.

What surveyors check

GREECE GENERAL PORT REGULATION 20

Γενικός Κανονισμός Λιμένα αριθ. 20, Ταχύπλοα (ταχυκίνητα) σκάφη και λοιπά θαλάσσια μέσα αναψυχής

Greece's General Port Regulation 20 on fast boats and other recreational craft: what counts as a fast boat, the operator licence, distances from swimmers and the 5 knot limit, equipment in date, jet ski equipment, and what owners must carry.

What surveyors check

REAL DECRETO 1434/1999 (SPAIN)

Real Decreto 1434/1999, reconocimientos e inspecciones de las embarcaciones de recreo

Spain's compulsory inspections of recreational boats, often called the ITB: which boats need periodic and intermediate inspections and how often, the certificado de navegabilidad, what the inspector checks, what counts as a serious deficiency and the two months to put it right.

What surveyors check

CROATIA VESSEL REGISTER AND TECHNICAL INSPECTION RULES

Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama, and the Ordinance on the Vessel Register

Who inspects boats and yachts in Croatia and how often: the harbourmaster for boats, the Croatian Register of Shipping for yachts over 15 m, the two-year and five-year periodic inspections, extraordinary inspections, and the CE rule for boats built before June 2000.

What surveyors check

MCA SPORT OR PLEASURE VESSEL CODE

The safety of small vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure: a code of practice

The MCA code for small UK vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure: which boats it covers, the codes it replaces, area categories 0 to 6, the five-year certificate, the examination cycle and the SCV2 record.

What surveyors check

CROATIA CHARTER ORDINANCE (NN 42/17)

Ordinance on the conditions for conducting the activity of chartering of vessels with or without crew and the provision of guest accommodation services on vessels

What the Croatian ministry requires of charter companies: which flags may charter, the eCrew system and crew lists, cabotage authorisation for non-EU boats, the yearly or two-yearly technical survey for foreign-flagged charter boats, and the navigation safety fee.

What surveyors check

GREEK LAW 4926/2022

Law 4926/2022 on pleasure craft and tourist day-boats

What Greek Law 4926/2022 asks of charter boats: the e-Registry, professional status, full charter only, bareboat conditions, the e-Charterparty and e-CharterPermission platforms, passenger lists, foreign-flag permits and the minimum insurance cover.

What surveyors check

ISO

ISO SMALL CRAFT STANDARDS

ISO standards for small craft (ISO/TC 188)

The ISO small craft standards behind CE-marked boats, what each covers, how they line up with the ABYC standards US surveyors use, and how to cite them in a finding.

What surveyors check

ISO 13297

Small craft, Electrical systems, Alternating and direct current installations

What ISO 13297 covers on small craft electrical systems, the 50 V DC and 250 V AC limits, what it replaced, what it excludes, how it compares with ABYC E-11 and how to cite it in a finding.

What surveyors check

ISO 12217

Small craft, Stability and buoyancy assessment and categorization

What the RCD design categories A, B, C and D mean in wind force and wave height, how ISO 12217 stability assessment sets them, why load changes the category, and how surveyors use them in a report.

What surveyors check

ISO 10088

Small craft, Permanently installed fuel systems

What ISO 10088 covers on a CE-marked boat's petrol or diesel fuel system, from the fill to the engine, what it leaves to ISO 21487, what a surveyor checks and how to cite it in a finding.

What surveyors check

ISO 6185

Inflatable boats (ISO 6185, parts 1 to 4)

How ISO 6185 splits inflatable boats and RIBs by motor power and length, the boat types in each part, the design categories RIBs are built for, what surveyors check on a tender or RIB, and how to cite ISO 6185 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ISO 7840

Small craft, Fire-resistant fuel hoses

What ISO 7840 covers, the difference between A1 and A2 fuel hose, how it lines up with the US Coast Guard's Type A1 and A2 hose, which hose goes where, and how to cite ISO 7840 in a finding.

What surveyors check

ISO 12215

Small craft, Hull construction and scantlings (ISO 12215, in several parts)

What ISO 12215 covers for small craft hull construction, the parts on design pressures, structural details, rudders, keels and rig attachments, how surveyors use it on structural findings, and how to cite ISO 12215 in a finding.

What surveyors check

The standards, on board

ABYC

American Boat and Yacht Council standards

AC and DC Electrical Systems on Boats

Lithium Ion Batteries

Storage Batteries

Galvanic Isolators

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Systems

Installation of Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Alarms

Seacocks, Thru-Hull Fittings, and Drain Plugs

Gasoline (Petrol) Fuel Systems

Electric Bilge Pump Systems

US federal rules

Fuel Systems

Electrical Systems

Ventilation

Visual Distress Signals

Small Passenger Vessels (Under 100 Gross Tons)

Navigation Rules, Part C: Lights and Shapes (Rules 20 to 31)

Fire Protection Equipment

NFPA

Fire Protection Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft

UL

Electrical Cables for Boats

EU and national rules

Directive 2013/53/EU on recreational craft and personal watercraft

Real Decreto 339/2021, equipo de seguridad y de prevención de la contaminación de las embarcaciones de recreo

Division 240 of the French ship safety regulations, pleasure craft for personal use and training

Regolamento di attuazione del Codice della nautica da diporto, Allegato V, dotazioni di sicurezza

Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama, and Pravilnik o sigurnosti pomorske plovidbe

Νόμος που προβλέπει για τη ρύθμιση της ναυσιπλοΐας αναψυχής στη Δημοκρατία, Ν. 4(Ι)/2026

Γενικός Κανονισμός Λιμένα αριθ. 20, Ταχύπλοα (ταχυκίνητα) σκάφη και λοιπά θαλάσσια μέσα αναψυχής

Real Decreto 1434/1999, reconocimientos e inspecciones de las embarcaciones de recreo

Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama, and the Ordinance on the Vessel Register

The safety of small vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure: a code of practice

Ordinance on the conditions for conducting the activity of chartering of vessels with or without crew and the provision of guest accommodation services on vessels

Law 4926/2022 on pleasure craft and tourist day-boats

ISO

ISO standards for small craft (ISO/TC 188)

Small craft, Electrical systems, Alternating and direct current installations

Small craft, Stability and buoyancy assessment and categorization

Small craft, Permanently installed fuel systems

Inflatable boats (ISO 6185, parts 1 to 4)

Small craft, Fire-resistant fuel hoses

Small craft, Hull construction and scantlings (ISO 12215, in several parts)

Name the standard. Axsail writes the finding