MGN 604(M+F) - Media, Other Organisations or persons carried as passengers on board Ships and Fishing Vessels.
This notice should be read with MGN 538, MGN 571, MGN 587 and MGN 588 and replaces MGN 494.
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It is strongly recommended that individuals, such as family and friends and in particular, children, are not carried as passengers whilst a vessel is fishing commercially to sell its catch. It is unlikely that when media or other organisations use vessels for the purpose of their business, that the vessel will be considered as a ‘pleasure vessel’.
The Skipper/Owner must include in their risk assessment the risks and hazards involved when passengers are carried.
Ship and fishing vessel owners, managers and masters/skippers should ensure that their vessel is suitably certified for the activity it is being used for. Media and other organisations are recommended to verify that the vessel is suitably certified.
The use, size and number of passengers the vessel carries determines the certification that it is required to have and the manning requirements for that vessel.
When a project is taking place that will involve an unusual type or use of a vessel it is best practice to contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) at an early stage to ensure that it is feasible.
The safety of the vessel and the persons onboard should be the primary consideration at all times and instructions of the master/skipper should be complied with.
Fishing Vessels, when operating commercially, must conduct a written risk assessment of the risks of going overboard, and if these cannot be eliminated, all persons on board must wear Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) or lifelines when at risk.
All persons on the decks of fishing vessels not operating commercially and small commercial vessels should also wear PFDs or lifelines.