Handrail

A rail positioned to provide a secure handhold aboard a vessel.

Handrails may be fitted on deck, cabin tops, companionways and within accommodation. Their shape, clearance and continuity should allow a person to grasp them while the vessel moves, and their construction may be metal, timber, composite or suitable rope.

Fastenings, backing structure, corrosion, cracking and clearance require inspection because a rail is only as reliable as its attachment. A decorative rail or guardrail should not be assumed to be a load-rated handhold without confirming its intended purpose.