Sweden has one of the highest numbers of boats per capita in the world. So what does the Swedish Maritime Administration do for the recreational boating sector?
Produces charts and other publications
Small craft charts are offprints from the regular chart illustrations. The basic information is the same as in regular navigational charts. In addition, small craft charts include certain supplemental information, such as nature preserves, bird sanctuaries, public phones, etc.
Responsible for aids to navigation
Managing and maintaining Swedish fairways is one of the pillars of the the Swedish Maritime Administration’s operations. Maintaining, marking, planning and improving our fairways is a neverending task that we must carry out to meet standards of environmental protection and maritime safety.
The Swedish Maritime Administration has also established a number of recreational boating fairways, which are used by merchant vessels very little or not at all. Safety standards are high from that perspective.
Coastal weather reports for recreational craft in Swedish waters
The coastal weather report refers to the weather approximately 100 km out from the mainland or to the outer archipelago. Particular emphasis is put on average winds, significant weather and rapid wind and visibility changes. The reports are a complement to the general sea report broadcast on Swedish radio P1, which covers only the major ocean areas. The coastal weather report can take into account the special conditions usually prevailing near the coast and in the outer archipelago.
Mariners can listen to the coastal weather report on VHF, the local radio service or answerphone. Order the Weather Card from us to ensure that you always have current information on broadcast times and telephone numbers.
Promotes safety and knowledge through the Maritime Safety Council
The Maritime Safety Council is part of the Swedish Maritime Administration. The board of directors is made up of representatives of the Swedish Maritime Administration, the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, the Swedish National Police Board, the Swedish Coast Guard, Nordisk Yacht Assurance AB, the Swedish Yachting Association, the Swedish Cruising Association, the Swedish Sailing Federation, the Swedish Marine Industries Federation, the Swedish Sports Diving Federation and the Swedish Rescue Services Agency. The Swedish Life Saving Society (SLS) and the Transit Marina Association are co-opted members.
The Maritime Safety Council has one simple objective: To reduce accidents and deaths related to recreational boating by means of preventative information and knowledge transfer.
Responsible for Swedish maritime search and rescue
The Swedish Maritime Administration is responsible for the Swedish Maritime Search and Rescue Service. The purpose of maritime search and rescue is to save human life at sea. Our field of operations is the ocean around our coasts both inside the belt of skerries and in open waters, as well as the three largest lakes in Sweden, Vänern, Vättern and Mälaren. State, municipal and private bodies also participate in maritime search and rescue missions.
All search and rescue personnel are trained at the Maritime Search and Rescue School on the island of Arkö, which is run by the Swedish Maritime Administration.
CE marking – Mandatory rules for recreational craft
As of 16 June 1998, all new recreational craft between 2.5 and 24 metres hull length must be CE marked according to an EU product directive called the Recreational Craft Directive.
To be allowed to CE mark the boat, the manufacturer must test the boat or have it tested against about 30 general safety requirements in the directive and the standards associated with them (at present, about 50). The results of the tests must be documented and saved by the manufacturer.
The directive also states that all Member States shall exercise market supervision to verify compliance with regulations. The Maritime Safety Inspectorate (part of the Swedish Maritime Administration) is responsible for this with regard to recreational craft.