Maritime Equipment

Maritime equipment refers to the paperwork, tools and safety devices all vessels sailing in U.S. waters are required to carry.

While required maritime equipment can vary slightly, depending on the specific type of vessel and the size of its crew, in most cases, the U.S. Coast Guard requires watercraft to have:

current vessel registration paperwork
a boating license or education card
personal flotation devices (PFDs) for each person aboard the vessel
a fire extinguisher (if the vessel has an inboard engine, is over 26 ft long, has enclosed living quarters or has permanently installed fuel tanks)
noise-making devices, such as an air horn or a whistle
visual distress signals, such as flares
navigation lights (if the vessel is traveling during the night)

Why is Boating Equipment Required?

The primary reason that certain marine equipment is legally required is to promote optimal safety aboard watercraft.

In 2008, over 90 percent of those who died in a maritime drowning were not wearing life jackets. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that about 800 fatalities resulted from the over 27,000 offshore incidents reported to this agency.

Consequently, life jackets, flares, air horns, etc. are essential pieces of maritime safety equipment when or if an offshore accident (such as a collision or capsizing) occurs.

Maritime Equipment Sales

Watercraft can require a large amount of marine equipment, which can be costly when stocking up for the first time or when trying to adequately supply a number of vessels. To cut the costs of maritime equipment, seamen can shop at maritime equipment exchange companies that:

sell certified, used maritime equipment
offer leasing options for maritime equipment

Maritime equipment exchange centers are available online and in many major sporting goods retailers.

Maritime Equipment Suppliers

Some of the most popular maritime equipment manufacturers worldwide include:

Analytic Systems (Canada)
Anchor Industries (South Africa)
Billboard Engineering (Hong Kong)
CPR Group (UK)
Dr. Shrink, Inc. (US)
ESL Power Systems (US)
Filtration Concetps, Inc. (US)
Laser Plot (US)
MacGregor Group (Sweden)
Nautical Structures (US)
Radiotechnics (Greece)
Seacoast Electronics (US)
Uniscan (Norway)
Viking Life-Saving Equipment (Denmark)
Yokota Manufacturing (Japan)

Marine Equipment Malfunctions & Maritime Lawsuits

Although many types of maritime equipment are intended to promote safety, should an item be defective, it may cause serious injury or even death to the crew, captain or vessel's passengers.

If you’ve sustained an injury as the result of defective equipment, you might be entitled to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. For more information about your legal rights, contact our maritime attorneys today.

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Maritime Equipment

Why is Boating Equipment Required?

Maritime Equipment Sales

Maritime Equipment Suppliers

Marine Equipment Malfunctions & Maritime Lawsuits

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