⚓ The SAMSA Category Comparison Table
| Category | Description | Distance Limit | Day/Night | Key Requirement |
| Cat R | Inland Waters | Dams, Rivers, Lakes | Day Only | 50 Hours (Inland) |
| Cat E | Coastal | 1 Nautical Mile (1.85 km) | Day Only | 25 Sea + 25 Inland Hours |
| Cat D | Coastal | 5 Nautical Miles (9 km) | Day Only | VHF Radio (SRC) Required |
| Cat C | Offshore | 15 Nautical Miles (28 km) | Day Only | 100% Sea Hours |
| Cat B | Deep Sea | 40 Nautical Miles (74 km) | Day & Night | 200 Hours + Chart Work |
🚦 Night Navigation: Lights and Shapes (Crucial for Cat B)
When you move into Category B, you must be able to identify other vessels by their light configurations at night.
- Power-Driven Vessel (<12m): Red (Port), Green (Starboard), and a White Masthead light.
- Sailing Vessel: Red and Green sidelights only (No white masthead while under sail).
- Vessel at Anchor: One all-round white light.
- Trawler (Fishing): Green over White (“Green over white, fishing tonight”).
- NUC (Not Under Command): Red over Red (“Red over red, the captain is dead/in bed”).
🚀 The “Rules of the Road” (COLREGs) Essentials
Regardless of your category, these three rules are the “Bibles” of the water:
- Give-Way vs. Stand-On: The “Give-Way” vessel must take early and substantial action to stay clear. The “Stand-On” vessel must maintain its course and speed.
- Head-On Situation: When two power vessels meet head-on, both must alter course to Starboard (Right) so they pass Port-to-Port.
- Overtaking: The vessel doing the overtaking is always the Give-Way vessel, regardless of whether it is a sail or power boat.
🧰 Mandatory Safety Gear “Must-Haves”
Pyrotechnics (Flares)
- Cat R: None required (but a torch is recommended).
- Cat E & D: 2 x Red Hand Flares, 1 x Orange Smoke Signal.
- Cat C & B: 3 x Red Hand Flares, 1 x Orange Smoke, 2 x Rocket Parachute Flares.
The “Capsize Bottle”
Every offshore boat (E to B) must have a waterproof container containing:
- First Aid Kit (Check expiry dates!)
- Space Blankets
- Waterproof Torch + Spare batteries
- Signaling Mirror (Heliograph)
- Whistle