The Cruising Association hosts an Evening of Essential Cruising Knowledge - 21 March 2024

An evening with RATS © Luissa Smith

Mark your calendar for an evening with the Cruising Association's Regulatory & Technical Services group (RATS) at 1900 hours on Thursday 21 March 2024.

RATS will delve into the current hot topics impacting cruisers and share practical advice. Open to members and non-members, you can participate either in person at CA House, London, or via Zoom. The evening will feature concise 5 to 15-minute presentations lasting approximately one hour, followed by a Q&A session:

• Orca: insights into ongoing interactions with orca off the coasts of Portugal and Spain, discussing avoidance tactics.
• HVO and Sustainability: examining Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil which could be an eco-friendly replacement for diesel, weighing the pros and cons and exploring regulatory obstacles.
• EU Visas and Permits: addressing challenges posed by the 90/180-day rule for UK citizens visiting Schengen countries, with updates on positive developments in some nations.
• CE/UKCA and RCD: the latest on conformity marking of vessels brought into service from outside the UK and the EU and exploring the impact of the UK Government's decision on CE marking.
• RATS Technical Projects: an overview of other issues, including battery technology, end-of-life boat scrapping, emissions, electrical systems, remote monitoring of boat systems, alternative propulsion, connecting to shore power, UV degradation of safety lines/equipment, transmission of emergency information and diving from your boat.