Marine Notice No 49 of 2019
Notice to all Fishing Vessel Owners, Agents, Small Fishing Vessel Code of Practice Surveyors, Skippers and Fishers
Fishing Vessel Safety
In response to Marine Casualty Investigation Board recommendations, the purpose of this Marine Notice is to:
• remind masters, owners, users, charterers, skippers and crew of fishing vessels of previous safety advice and requirements issued by means of Marine Notices and supply links1 to such Notices; and
• to inform the sector of several recommendations in relation to smaller vessels and that they are under consideration for inclusion in the next revision of the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation of Small Fishing of less than 15m in Length overall.
Reminder of Marine Notice
- Carriage of Inflatable Liferafts onboard Fishing Vessels of less than 15 metres in length
- Monitoring of Bilges on Fishing Vessels
- Fatal Incident Caused by the Inhalation of Toxic Gases onboard a Fishing Vessel
- Helicopter Search and Rescue Hi-Line Technique
- Correct Use of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) which contains links to earlier more comprehensive information on PFD reqjuirements)
- Use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations and systems on merchant vessels, fishing vessels, pleasure craft and other marine craft
- Drills and Musters on all Fishing Vessels and Man Overboard Recovery Systems on Fishing Vessels
- Safety of small vessels engaged in potting operations
- MCIB Recommendations as a Result of a Fatal incident involving small fishing vessel and
- Fatal incident involving small fishing vessel engaged in potting operations
Recommendations under consideration for
the next revision of the Code of Practice for Fishing Vessels <15m
Links to the current Code of Practice and to the current panel of surveyors
In recent years the MCIB have made several recommendations some of which were incorporated in the most recent revision of the Code of Practice (most notably in relation to a requirement for all such fishing vessels to carry an automatic, float-free Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and for all fishers to carry Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)).
Some recommendations required further consideration and additional recommendations have since been made including:
- Improvement of stability standards (including freeboard and freeing ports in small decked vessels)
- Consideration of stating a minimum height of rails/bulwarks
- A mandatory requirement for fishing vessels to be fitted with smoke/fire detection systems in engine rooms and for fuel and hydraulic oil pipes to be constructed out of fire resistant material
- A requirement to carry safety harnesses for each person on board; and
- Making mandatory the holding of emergency drills for vessels less than 12 metres.
NB – owners are reminded that the nature and extent of any major repairs or major structural modifications to their vessel must comply with the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation of Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length overall (Section 1.5.4.4).
Marine Notices are issued purely for maritime safety and navigation reasons and should not be construed as conferring rights or granting permissions.
