Construction standards for fishing vessels
This page outlines the requirements and construction standards for fishing vessels
Fishing vessel length categories
Fishing vessels less than 15 metres are covered by Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. This Notice replaces MSN 1871 Amendment 1 and this amendment applies new requirements from the ILO Work in Fishing Convention C.188.
Fishing Vessels between 15 metres and 24 metres registered length are covered by The Code of Safe Working Practice for the Construction and Use of Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length (MSN1872 Amendment No.1 (F)).
Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and Over are covered by The Code of Practice for the Construction and Safe Operation of Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and over (MSN1873 Amendment No.1) (F).
The Codes of Practice cover fishing vessel design and construction - as well as maintenance, safety and emergency procedures. They form the basis for surveys of new vessels, and of the periodic surveys and/or inspections of all fishing vessels.
Fishing vessel certification
Fishing vessels are exempt from some certification requirements, although other specialised certificates must be carried, including:
- Small Fishing Vessel certificate (SFVC) for - vessels of less than 15m Length Overall (LOA)
- a UK Fishing Vessel certificate (UKFVC) - for vessels 15m LOA to less than 24 metres Registered Length (RL)
- an International Fishing Vessel certificate (IFVC) - - for vessels 24m RL or longer
- an Oil Pollution Prevention certificate, where applicable
- an Air Pollution certificate - for vessels of 400 gross tonnes (gt) or more
- a Sewage Pollution certificate - for vessels of 400 gt or more, or carrying up to 15 persons, and on international voyages
- an Anti-fouling declaration - for vessels of less than 24m RL and less than 400 gt
- an Anti-fouling certificate - for vessels of 400 gt or more
- a Certificate of Registry
- an International Tonnage certificate - for vessels of 400 gt or more
- an ILO 188 document of compliance (known in the UK as a Work in Fishing Convention Certificate) is required for all fishing vessels which -
- (a) are 24m RL or over;
- (b) normally navigate at a distance exceeding 200 nautical miles from the coastline of the UK or navigate beyond the outer edge of the UK continental shelf, whichever is the greater distance OR operate more than 200nm from coastline of Flag State or beyond its continental shelf
See the list of fishing vessel certifying authorities who are authorised to conduct new build surveys of fishing vessels of less than 15m LOA in accordance with MGN628 (M+F) and registration surveys in accordance with MGN630.
The MCA conducts new build surveys of fishing vessels of 15m LOA to less than 24m RL in accordance with MGN 628 (M+F) and MGN 629 (M+F). Further information can be found in the new build procedures.
Vessels up to 15 metres overall length
Fishing Vessels: Codes of Practice
Fishing vessels under 15m LOA are not subject to statutory surveys, but the MCA will inspect them periodically and at least every five years, to ensure they are seaworthy, equipped to a safe standard, and that they comply with the relevant codes of practice, see the Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2.
Construction standards for fishing vessels
From 21 July 2020, MCA oversee the construction of new build fishing vessels of less than 15m length overall. MCA conducts the plan approval for all vessels. Fishing Vessel Certifying Authorities conduct the surveys during construction of vessels of less than 15m LOA.
This service is not available for fishing vessels being built for registration or operation as fishing vessels in countries other than the United Kingdom.
What you need to do
A notice of intent to build form (MSF1356) should be submitted to the Marine Office closest to where the vessel is to be built. This is the start of the application process for every newbuild fishing vessel of less than 24m RL.
Vessels must comply with the construction standards for new build fishing vessels of less than 15m length overall MGN628 (M+F).
Guidance in the New Build Vessel Survey Guide (MSIS27 Chapter 1 Annex 24) is available that describes the processes to follow through building a new fishing vessel of less than 24m RL for vessels being built from 21 July 2020.If you want to register a vessel of up to 15m LOA on the UK register, you must demonstrate its seaworthiness and safety.
If your vessel build was completed between 16 July 2007 and 20 July 2020, it must conform to the Seafish Construction Standards and have a Seafish Construction Certificate.
If built in the same time period and 7m LOA or over, a Seafish Outfit Certificate must also be submitted to the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS).
If the vessel build is completed on or after 21 July 2020, to register you must present different documents to the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS) depending on vessel length as set out below. More details can be found in the New Build Vessel Survey Guide MSIS27 Chapter 1 Annex 24.
If your vessel is:
- Vessels less than 7m LOA
- Hull construction certificate (MSF 1367)
- Vessels between 7m LOA and 12m RL
- Hull construction certificate (MSF 1367), and
- Outfit compliance certificate (MSF 1368)
- Vessels between 12m RL and less than 15m LOA:
- Partial declaration (MSF 1326 or MSF1370) if vessel was constructed prior to 30 October 2023 under survey of the MCA; or
- Partial declaration (MSF 1326 or MSF1370) if vessel was under construction or Plan Approval on 30 October 2023 (see Section 5 above);
- Hull construction certificate (MSF 1367) and Outfit compliance certificate (MSF 1368) if construction commenced on or after 30 October 2023 and is surveyed by a Fishing Vessel Certifying Authority with a signed Agreement with the MCA.
The Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2 should be read in conjunction with:
- the Fishing Vessels (Code of Practice) Regulations 2017 No.943
- the Merchant Shipping (Work in Fishing Convention) Regulations 2018 No.1106
This notice (MSN 1871 Amendment 1 (F)) replaces MSN 1813 – The Code of Practice for the Safety of Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall.
Vessels 15m LOA to less than 24m RL
Fishing Vessels: Codes of Practice
Vessels between 15m LOA and 24m RL are covered by MSN1872 Amendment No.1 The Code of Safe Working Practice for the Construction and Use of Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length (F))
Construction standards for fishing vessels
Medium-sized fishing vessels must meet the construction requirements for fishing vessels of 15m LOA to less than 24m RL contained in MGN 629 Construction and Outfit Standards for Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length. Plans for new build vessels and construction surveys are approved by the MCA.
If a vessel was built before 21 July 2020, it must conform to the Seafish Construction Standards and to MGN 629.
What you need to do
New build vessels starting construction on or after 21 July 2020 must be built in accordance with Construction and Outfit Standards for Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length (MGN 629 M+F).
This notice should be read with:
- the Fishing Vessel (Codes of Practice) Regulations 2017 No.943
- the Merchant Shipping (Work in Fishing Convention) Regulations 2018 No.1106
- MSN1872 Amendment No.1 The Fishing Vessels Code of Safe Working Practice for the Construction and Use of Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length
- MSIS27 Chapter 1 Annex 24 New Build Survey Guide
Vessel surveying requirements
- Vessels of 15m LOA to less than 24m RL must be surveyed by MCA against MGN 629 when being constructed, repaired, modified or altered
- Vessels of the same length must then undergo an MCA survey under the code of practice MSN 1872 Amendment 1.
- Vessels should be resurveyed after five years to renew its Fishing Vessel Certificate
- Vessels must also undergo a mid-term inspection between the second and third anniversary of the Certificate issue date.
- Owners must also complete an annual self-certification.
Find more information about arranging a survey on the Survey and Inspection of Fishing Vessels – Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall and Over page.
Vessels over 24m RL
Fishing Vessels: Codes of Practice
The codes of practice for fishing vessels of 24m RL and over were published in 2017. The code MSN1873 Amendment No.1 The Code of Practice for the Construction and Safe Operation of Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and Over and regulations cover fishing vessel design and construction - as well as maintenance, safety and emergency procedures. They form the basis for surveys of new vessels, and of the periodic surveys of all fishing vessels over 15m LOA.
Construction standards for fishing vessels
The construction of larger fishing vessels is governed by MSN1873 Amendment No.1 The Code of Practice for the Construction and Safe Operation of Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and Over.
What you need to do
MSN1873 Amendment No.1 The Code of Practice for the Construction and Safe Operation of Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and Over should be read in conjunction with:
- the Fishing Vessels (Codes of Practice) Regulations 2017 No.943
- the Merchant Shipping (Work in Fishing Convention) Regulations 2018 No.1106
Fishing vessels classification
Fishing vessels of 24m RL must be surveyed annually by UK-authorised Classification Societies, to ensure compliance with the regulations. The Classification Society will carry out a full survey every five years, to ensure the vessel remains in class.
The five Classification Societies are:
- American Bureau of Shipping
- Bureau Veritas
- Det Norske Veritas Germanischer Lloyd
- Lloyds Register of Shipping
- Registro Italiano Navale
The MCA will survey the vessel for its International Fishing Vessel Certificate when the owner wishes to place it on the UK Register, and at intervals of four years afterwards. The MCA will also carry out an intermediate survey, between 21 to 27 months after the certificate was issued.
Find more information about arranging a survey on the Survey and Inspection of Fishing Vessels – Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall and Over page.
Fishing vessels classification definitions
Fishing vessels are classified according to their length in metres.
“Length overall (LOA)” means the distance between the foreside of the foremost fixed permanent structure and the afterside of the aftermost fixed permanent structure; and “fixed permanent structure” includes any portion of the hull which is capable of being detached, but which is fixed in place during the normal operation of the vessel. It does not include functional arrangements such as safety rails, bowsprits, pulpits, stemhead fittings, rudders, steering gear, outdrives, outboard motors, propulsion machinery, diving platforms, boarding platforms, rubbing strips and fenders, other than where such functional arrangements are designed to replace any part of the hull that has been removed;
“Length (RL)” in relation to a vessel, means “Length between perpendiculars” (LBP);
“Length between perpendiculars” (LBP) is the ITC ’69 definition which means 96% of the total length on a waterline of a vessel at 85% of the least moulded depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the fore-side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that be greater. In vessels designed with a rake of keel the waterline on which this is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline. The forward perpendicular and the after perpendicular are positioned at the forward and after ends of LBP respectively;
“Registered length” has the same meaning as length in the Tonnage Regulations {SI 1997 No. 1510 - The Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations} which has the meaning as “Length between perpendiculars” (LBP);
Further explanation can found in MSIS27 Chapter 1 Annex 3.
Updates to this page
Last updated 30 October 2023 + show all updates
-
Amendments made to update information regarding new arrangements for the Plan Approval, Construction and Outfit and Certification of New build fishing vessels from 30 October 2023.
-
First published.