Guidance

Annex 1 MCA Code of practice for small fishing vessels mandatory items

Updated 23 February 2024

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fisheries-and-seafood-scheme-guidance/annex-1-mca-code-of-practice-for-small-fishing-vessels-mandatory-items

1. Open Vessels less than 7 metres

Mandatory Items not eligible for FaSS funding

  • Lifejackets – 1 per person
  • Lifebuoy (with 18 metre buoyant line attached)
  • 2 Parachute Flares
  • Hand-held Flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal, buoyant or handheld 1 Fire Bucket + Lanyard
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher (fire rating 5A/34B) – if vessel has in-board engine (extinguisher should be capable of dealing with all fire types, including hydrocarbons)
  • Fire Blanket (light duty) if vessel has galley or cooking area 1 Satellite EPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon(s) - 1 per person VHF Radio – DSC fixed or handheld.
  • Bailer
  • Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Signals Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torches
  • Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 No.1802 or any superseding regulations Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating

2. Open vessels above 7 metres and below 12 metres

  • Mandatory Items not eligible for FaSS funding (Liferaft(s) - sufficient capacity for all persons on board vessel and appropriate for area of operation – See Annex 2 for guidance
  • Lifejackets - 1 per person
  • Lifebuoys (1 with 18 metre buoyant line attached) or 1 Lifebuoy (with 18 metre buoyant line) +1 Buoyant Rescue Quoit
  • 3 Parachute Flares
  • 2 Hand held Flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal (buoyant or handheld)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher (fire rating 5A/34B)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher for oil fires (fire rating 13A/113B) 1 Fire Blanket (light duty) in galley or cooking area (if applicable)
  • 1 Fire Pump + Hose and 1 Fire Bucket and lanyard
  • 1 Satellite EPIRB (for Vessels of 10m L and over) (Vessels of 10m and over that are single handed may replace the EPIRB with a Personal Locator Beacon)
  • Satellite EPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon(s) – 1 per person (for vessels of 7m (L) to less than 10m (L)) ( VHF Radio – DSC fixed or handheld Bilge AlarText Boxm, if bilge not visible Bilge Pump *Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Signals Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torch *Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 No.1802 or any superseding regulations Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating appliance or where engine exhausts penetrate the wheelhouse or crew space

3. Open vessels over 12 metres and below 15 metres

Items not eligible for FaSS funding

  • Liferaft(s) - Sufficient capacity for all persons on board vessel and appropriate for area of operation – See Annex 2 for guidance
  • Lifejackets - 1 per person + 2 spare
  • Lifebuoys (1 with 18 metre buoyant line attached) or 1 Lifebuoy (with 18 metre buoyant line) +1 Buoyant Rescue Quoit
  • 3 Parachute Flares
  • 2 Hand-held Flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal (buoyant or handheld)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher (fire rating 5A/34B)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher for oil fires (fire rating 13A/113B) 1 Fire Blanket (light duty) in galley or cooking area (if applicable)
  • 1 Fire Pump + Hose and 1 Fire Bucket and Lanyard VHF Radio – DSC fixed and handheld
  • Satellite EPIRB (Vessels that are single handed may replace the EPIRB with a Personal Locator Beacon)
  • Bilge Alarm, if bilge not visible Bilge Pump
  • Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Signals Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torch
  • Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 No.1802 or any superseding regulations Approved Stability book in accordance with MGN 281 for New Vessels only Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating appliance or where engine exhausts penetrate the wheelhouse or crew space

4. Decked vessels less than 10 metres

Mandatory Items not eligible for FaSS funding

  • Liferaft(s) - sufficient capacity for all persons on board vessel and appropriate for area of operation – See Annex 2 for guidance
  • Lifejackets - 1 per person
  • Lifebuoys (1 with 18 metre buoyant line attached) or 1 Lifebuoy (with 18 metre buoyant line) +1 Buoyant Rescue Quoit
  • 3 Parachute Flares
  • 2 Hand-held Flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal (buoyant or handheld)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher (fire rating 5A/34B)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher for oil fires (fire rating 13A/113B) 1 Fire Blanket (light duty) in galley or cooking area (if applicable)
  • 1 Fire Pump + Hose and 1 Fire Bucket and lanyard
  • 1 Satellite EPIRB (for Vessels of 10m L and over) (Vessels of 10m and over that are single handed may replace the EPIRB with a Personal Locator Beacon)
  • Satellite EPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon(s) – 1 per person (for vessels of 7m (L) to less than 10m (L))
  • VHF Radio – DSC fixed or handheld Bilge Alarm, if bilge not visible Bilge Pump
  • Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Signals Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torch
  • Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 No.1802 or any superseding regulations Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating appliance or where engine exhausts penetrate the wheelhouse or crew space

5. Open vessels over 12 metres and below 15 metres

Mandatory Items not eligible for FaSS funding

  • Liferaft(s) - Sufficient capacity for all persons on board vessel and appropriate for area of operation – See Annex 2 for guidance
  • Lifejackets - 1 per person + 2 spare
  • Lifebuoys (1 with 18 metre buoyant line attached) or 1 Lifebuoy (with 18 metre buoyant line) +1 Buoyant Rescue Quoit
  • Parachute Flares
  • 2 Hand-held Flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal (buoyant or handheld)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher (fire rating 5A/34B)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher for oil fires (fire rating 13A/113B) 1 Fire Blanket (light duty) in galley or cooking area (if applicable)
  • 1 Fire Pump + Hose and 1 Fire Bucket and Lanyard VHF Radio – DSC fixed and handheld Satellite EPIRB (Vessels that are single handed may replace the EPIRB with a Personal Locator Beacon) Bilge Alarm, if bilge not visible Bilge Pump
  • Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Signals Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torch
  • Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 No.1802 or any superseding regulations Approved Stability book in accordance with MGN 281 for New Vessels only Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating appliance or where engine exhausts penetrate the wheelhouse or crew space.

6. Decked vessels less than 10 metres

Mandatory Items not eligible for FaSS funding:

  • Liferaft(s) (for vessels of 7 metres (L) and over) - sufficient capacity for all persons on board vessel and appropriate for area of operation – See Annex 2 for guidance
  • Lifejackets - 1 per person
  • Lifebuoys (1 with 18 metre buoyant line attached) or 1 Lifebuoy (fitted with 18 metre buoyancy line) +1 Buoyant Rescue Quoit
  • 3 Parachute Flares
  • 2 Hand-held Flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal (buoyant or handheld)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher (fire rating 5A/34B)
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher for oil fires (fire rating 13A/113B) Gas Detector
  • 1 Fire Blanket (light duty) in galley or cooking area (if applicable) Fire Detectors
  • 1 Fire Pump + Hose and 1 Fire Bucket and lanyard
  • Satellite EPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon(s) – 1 per person VHF Radio – DSC fixed or handheld
  • Bilge Pump
  • Bilge Level Alarm
  • Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Systems Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torch
  • Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 No.1802 or any superseding regulations Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating appliance or where engine exhausts penetrate the wheelhouse or crew space

7. Decked vessels above 10 metres and less than 12 metres

Mandatory Items not eligible for FaSS funding

  • Lifejackets - 1 per person + 2 spare
  • Liferaft(s) - sufficient capacity for all persons on board vessel and appropriate for area of operation – See Annex 2 for guidance
  • Lifebuoys (1 with 18 metre buoyant line attached) or 1 Lifebuoy (fitted with 18 metre buoyant line) +1 Buoyant Rescue Quoit
  • 3 Parachute flares
  • 2 Hand-held flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal (buoyant or handheld) Gas Detector
  • 1 Fire Blanket (light duty) in galley or cooking area (if applicable) Fire Detectors
  • 1 Fire Pump and hose, 2 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguishers (fire rating 5A/34B and 13A/113B), 1 Fire Bucket and lanyard, 1 fixed Fire Extinguishing system for the machinery space
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher for oil fires (fire rating 13A/113B)
  • Satellite EPIRB (Vessels that are single handed may replace the EPIRB with a Personal Locator Beacon)
  • VHF Radio - DSC fixed and handheld Bilge Pump
  • Bilge Level Alarm
  • Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Signals Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torch
  • Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 * * No.1802 or any superseding regulations Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating Appliance or where engine exhausts penetrate the wheelhouse or crew space

8. Decked vessels above 12 metres and below 15 metres

  • Life jackets - 1 per person and 2 spare
  • Liferaft(s) - sufficient capacity for all persons on board vessel and appropriate for area of operation – See Annex 2 for guidance
  • Lifebuoys (1 with 18 metre buoyant line attached) or 1 Lifebuoy (fitted with 18 metre buoyant line) +1 Buoyant Rescue Quoit
  • 3 Parachute flares
  • 2 Hand-held flares
  • 1 Smoke Signal (buoyant or handheld) Gas Detector
  • 1 Fire Blanket (light duty) in galley or cooking area (if applicable) Fire Detectors
  • 1 Fire Pump and hose, 2 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguishers (fire rating 5A/34B and 13A/113B), 1 Fire Bucket and lanyard, 1 fixed Fire Extinguishing system for the machinery space
  • 1 Multi-purpose Fire Extinguisher for oil fires (fire rating 13A/113B) VHF Radio - DSC fixed and handheld
  • 1 Satellite EPIRB (Vessels that are single handed may replace the EPIRB with a Personal Locator Beacon)
  • Bilge Pump
  • Bilge Level Alarm
  • Approved Navigation Lights & Sound Signals Anchor and cable/warp
  • Compass Waterproof Torch
  • Medical Kit in accordance with The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995
  • No.1802 or any superseding regulations Approved Stability Book in accordance with MGN 281 or roll test for existing vessel (New Vessels only)
  • Radar Reflector
  • CO Alarms for every enclosed space that has a fired cooking or heating Appliance or where engine exhausts penetrate the wheelhouse or crew spa
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