When is a tender not a tender?

[bigbadbob]

Hi guys.
I'm a newbie to this forum but have been driving RIBs for work and pleasure since 1997.
For work we often deploy equipment over the side of one of several RIBs launched from a large vessel.
The RIB used does not belong to the mothership or even the same company. can you tell me if the RIB requires coding or if it can be classed as a tender?
Also how far can we go from the mothership if it is a tender?
Thanks in advance.
Bob.

[bigbadbob]

Further to this, i suspect we may be operating in group working mode.
Am I right in assuming the RIBs still have to be coded (limited to group working) and skippers must be commercially endorsed?

[SeaSkills]

I think the workboat COP refers to tenders as being towed by or carried on a vessel for the transfer of personnel between the vessel and the nearby shore. Provided it is fit-for-purpose, not overloaded, and subject to routine inspection and maintenance programmes, it should be exempt from the workboat requirements if that is what it is being used for.

It appears from your post that you are using the RIB as something other than a simple tender within the meaning of that definition and so I suspect you may need to be coded.

I don't know enough about group-working mode to comment.

This is a topic that you do need a reliable answer to and I would refer to an expert - a coding inspector or direct to the MCA - for clarification. My personal preference would be to speak to a friendly coding inspector, they seem able to interpret the rules to some extent and should be able to advise not just adjudicate

[bigbadbob]

Many thanks for your reply.
We do indeed use the RIB for more than just transfer of personell. usually within a few miles from shore, but sometimes in the open sea. I will seek advice on group working mode from a coding inspecter as you suggest.