Registering a fishing vessel
Steps and requirements on how to register a fishing vessel
A fishing vessel is a boat used to catch sea fish for profit, even if it is only used occasionally.
Every British sea fishing vessel - with certain exceptions - that fishes for profit must be registered by law.
All fishing vessels that catch sea fish for profit must also have a licence issued by the appropriate Fisheries Department.
You should contact your Local Fisheries Office about licensing at the same time as applying for registration.
You can get full or simple registration for a fishing vessel.
Full registration requires:
- proof of ownership, including Bills of Sale
- builders certificate for new vessels (See MGN 628 and MGN 629)
- Acceptance by a Principal Consultant Fishing Vessel Surveyor of a Registration survey by a Surveyor from a Fishing Vessel Certifying Authority (see MGN 630)
- forms MSF 4740B (Application to register a fishing vessel), MSF 4728 including a declaration of the maximum continuous engine power (MCEP), MSF 4705 (Bills of Sale) and MSF 4743 (Builder’s Certificates)
A vessel with full registration can have mortgages registered against it.
Simple registration requires:
- an accepted receipted invoice
- forms MSF 4740B, MSF 4728, including a declaration of the maximum continuous engine power
Mortgages cannot be recorded against a vessel with simple registration.
How to register
You will need to complete a British ship form and submit it with the appropriate fees and support documentation, for example:
- a copy of certificate of incorporation - if the owner is a body corporate
- safety certificate - for vessels over 15 metres
- International Tonnage Certificate (ITC69) - if the vessel is over 15 metres
- Fishing Vessels of Less than 24m Registered Length - Seafish Certificate (if built before 21 July 2020) or an MCA or FVCA Certificate of Construction/Outfit depending on vessel size (see MSIS27 Chapter 1 Annex 24)
- Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and Over - Classification Society Certificate You will also need to complete a Declaration of Eligibility to Register a Fishing Vessel form (MSF 4728)
General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
Personal information which you supply to us will be used to keep the UK ship register up to date and to make sure our services are planned to meet ship owner’s needs. The information you provide is primarily used for vessel registration purposes but may also be used for other non-vessel registration related purposes and shared with other statutory bodies/organisations to enable them to fulfil their statutory obligations.
The information will only be shared with other organisations where there is a legal obligation to do so, or with the agreement of the vessel owners or their representatives.
Further details on ship registrations’ privacy policy can be found at our personal information charter page.
Carving and Marking
On receiving your application, the vessel will be issued with a Carving and Marking note. The vessel must be carved and marked and measured by an Authorised Measurer. A measurement of vessels:
- 15 metres in length and over is carried out by one of the classification society surveyors, who complete a certificate of measurement and an International Convention certificate 1969
- under 15 metres in length in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is carried out by a local Coastguard - in Scotland measurement is carried out by a local fishery officer and a certificate of measurement only is issued for these vessels
What you need to do
The Carving and Marking note and the measurement certificate should then be returned to the UK Ship Register in Cardiff, along with the appropriate fee.
When you apply to register, you must have a list of nominated names for the vessel. These names must be unique to the port that you wish to register under. A Certificate of Registry is valid for five years and must be renewed if you want to continue to fish for profit.
Fishing vessel survey
A fishing vessel must be surveyed before it can be registered. MGN 628 and MGN 629 set out construction standards for fishing vessels of less than 15m Length Overall (LOA) and 15m LOA to less than 24m Registered Length respectively. MGN 630 (M+F) Amendment 2 fishing vessels: Pre-registration surveys for fishing vessels contains information about the survey requirements for vessels of less than 15m Registered Length built before 16 July 2007 and existing vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length wishing to join the Register. Vessels over 24m must meet the Construction Rules of a Classification Society. All vessels must meet the requirements of the applicable Code of Practice.
In most cases surveys against the Codes of Practice are carried out by a UK Ship Register surveyor. However, under certain circumstances, surveys can be carried out by a Class surveyor on our behalf.
To avoid any lost time, a transfer of flag survey can be arranged to suit the working pattern of your vessel.
The Principal Consultant Fishing Vessels Surveyor will request a copy of all existing statutory certification in order that new certificates can be prepared prior to survey.
If, during a survey, your vessel meets international standards of safety and pollution prevention, a short-term certification can be issued immediately. Full term certification would then follow in due course.
Details of certification, plans and operational information will be discussed by the owner and the Principal Consultant Fishing Vessel Surveyor.
A list of UK Ports of registry is available, relating to vessels registering on parts I and IV of the UK Ship Register.
Please contact your local marine office to find a list of authorised surveyors/inspectors of marks.
Fishing vessel certifying authorities charge a fee for the survey of existing vessels. To arrange work by a Fishing Vessel Certifying Authority, you should contact the Authority direct.
Small fishing vessel survey
If you want to register a vessel of up to 15 metres on the UK register, you must demonstrate its seaworthiness and safety.
If your vessel was built after 16 July 2007 and does not conform to the relevant standard you will not be able to register it. In order to conform:
- a) For vessels built before 21 July 2020, Seafish must have overseen the construction
- b) For vessels built on or after 21 July 2020:
- If the vessel is under 12m Registered Length, a Fishing Vessel Certifying Authority must have provided a construction and, if applicable, outfit certificate
- If the vessel is 12m Registered Length to less than 15m Length overall, the MCA must have provided a construction and outfit certificate
- c) After 30 October 2023:
- Vessels less than 7m LOA
- Fishing Vessel Certifying Authority construction certificate
- Vessels between 7m LOA and 12m RL
- Fishing Vessel Certifying Authority construction and outfit certificates
- 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;
- Fishing Vessel Certifying Authority construction and outfit certificates 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.
- Vessels less than 7m LOA
Further details on survey of small fishing vessels
See the list of fishing vessel certifying authorities who are authorised to conduct new build surveys of fishing vessels of less than 12m in registered length in accordance with MGN 628 (M+F) and registration surveys in accordance with MGN 630.
The UK Registry will examine the authorised surveyor’s report and either:
- allow registration
- ask you to address areas of concern
- reject the vessel. If there are any areas of concern, you will have to address them before registration can proceed.
Engine power
- Since 10 January 2000, you need to declare the maximum continuous or permanently de-rated engine power (MCEP) to be able to register or re-register a UK fishing vessel.
- MCEP is the total power you can get at the flywheel of each engine that can be used to propel the vessel.
- Further information on engine power is available from Fishing vessel engine power: database for checking and declaring.
Hull construction certificate, outfit compliance certificate and safety inspection tables
Table for Hull Construction Certificate, Outfit Compliance Certificate and Safety Inspection on new vessels built since 16 July 2007 and 20 July 2020.
| Vessel length | Hull construction certificate issued by a certifying authority | Outfit compliance certificate issued by a certifying authority | Safety checklist (Annex 1.1-1.6) | Stability information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 7 metres (LOA) | Yes | Recommended | Yes | See Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
| 7 metres (LOA) to less than 12 metres (L) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
| 12 metres (L) to less than 15 metres (LOA) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
Table for Hull Construction Certificate, Outfit Compliance Certificate and Safety Inspection on new vessels built from 21 July 2020
| Vessel length | Hull construction certificate issued by a fishing vessel certifying authority (FVCA) or MCA | Outfit compliance certificate issued by a fishing vessel certifying authority (FVCA) or MCA | Safety checklist (Annex 1.1 - 1.6) | Stability information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 7 metres (LOA) | Yes (FVCA) | Recommended | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
| 7 metres (LOA) to less than 12 metres (L) | Yes (FVCA) | Yes (FVCA) | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
| 12 metres (L) to less than 15 metres (LOA) | Yes (MCA if vessel was under construction or plan approval prior to 30/10/23)(FVCA if Plan Approval commenced after 30/10/23) | Yes (MCA if vessel was under construction or plan approval prior to 30/10/23)(FVCA if Plan approval commenced after 30/10/23 | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
To register a fishing vessel built before 16 July 2007, the following is required:
| Vessel length | Registration inspection by a fishing vessel certifying authority (or for vessels whose registration survey commenced before 31 December 2020) | Safety checklist (Annex 1.1 - 1.16) | Stability information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 7 metres (LOA) | Yes | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
| 7 metres (LOA) to less than 12 metres (L) | Yes | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
| 12 metres (L) to less than 15 metres (LOA) | Yes | Yes | Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2. |
Before buying an existing vessel, you should get professional advice on whether it is suitable to be registered as a fishing vessel.
Updates to this page
Published 21 April 2021Last updated 30 October 2023 + show all updates
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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.
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Stability information updated to include MSN 1871 Amendment 2 in hull construction certificate, outfit compliance certificate and safety inspection tables
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First published.