Survey and Inspection of Fishing Vessels – Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall and Over
This guidance provides details on how to book a survey or inspection, how to prepare your vessel and different survey procedures.
Survey and Inspection
Booking a fishing vessel survey or inspection
Apply early to your local Marine Office. Your inspection or survey can begin up to six months before your Fishing Vessel Certificate expires. Your local Marine Office can advise you of this date of expiry if you are unsure. Organise your inspection or survey to limit the number of visits the inspector or surveyor must make. If your vessel is well prepared, then most inspections or surveys can be completed in one visit. Download MSF 5100 Application for Survey and Inspection of ships and fishing vessels.
Prepare for survey or inspection
Preparing and presenting your vessel properly for inspection or survey will save you both time and money. Forward planning and preparation could make the difference between success and failure. Read the following guidance to help ensure that your next inspection or survey is a successful one. The MCA provides guidance for owners of fishing vessels on preparing for surveys. Download the MCA Fishing Vessels Survey and Inspection – Prepare for your next MCA visit.
For greater detail on how the MCA surveyor will conduct their survey or inspection, read the MCA Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors for Fishing Vessel Surveys and Inspections.
A FREE online safety folder has been developed by industry, which may save you time and money during your visit and avoid the need for a return visit, which is chargeable. It can help to record risk assessments, help you to comply with ILO188 regulation, keep track of crew training and certification, provides reminders of equipment certification and servicing and vessel maintenance.
Fishing vessel survey and inspection requirements
To pass the inspection, your fishing vessel must meet a range of safety requirements and carry the following documents:
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a list of crew on all fishing vessels over 12.2 metres (40ft) in length, with a copy kept at an address within the UK
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MSNs relevant to fishing vessels (these may be shown to be accessible through electronic means)
Vessels 15 to 24 metres overall length
The MCA surveys all UK commercial fishing vessels above 15 metres in overall length in order to make sure they comply with legal safety requirements. Once your vessel has passed the survey, it will be provided with the relevant safety certificate. For vessels of 15 metres in length to less than 24 metres, the required certificate is the United Kingdom Fishing Vessel Certificate. To remain in force the vessel needs to have an inspection between 24 and 36 months after the certificate is issued and an annual self certification carried out each year. Any modifications carried out without the approval of the MCA may also invalidate the certificate. All commercial fishing vessels need the appropriate Fishing Vessel Certificate before they can go to sea. For commercial fishing vessels 15-24 metres in length, the survey requirements cover safety standards set out in MSN 1872 Amendment 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.
Download a survey/inspection checklist for fishing vessels of 15-24 metres.
Vessels over 24 metres
The MCA surveys all UK commercial fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over above 15 metres in overall length in order to make sure they comply with legal safety requirements. Once your vessel has passed the survey, it will be provided with the International Fishing Vessel Certificate (IFVC). For this to remain in force you need to make sure that there is:
- an annual survey of the vessel - by a classification society if the vessel is classed
- an annual survey of the vessel - by the MCA to the standards of a classification society if the vessel is not classed
- an intermediate survey three months either side of the second anniversary of the certificate
All commercial fishing vessels need the appropriate Fishing Vessel Certificate before they can go to sea. For fishing vessels over 24 metres, the survey requirements cover the safety standards set out in MSN 1873 (F) Amendment 1: The code of practice for the construction and safe operation of fishing vessels of 24m registered length and over
A survey and inspection checklist can be found in MGN 439(F) Survey standards for 24m and over registered length fishing vessels and a survey/inspection checklist for vessels over 24m can be found here.
Fishing vessel survey procedure
A vessel can be surveyed to make sure it meets safety standards up to six months before its existing certificate expires. The survey can be completed in two visits - although additional visits may be necessary depending on the surveyors’ findings. You should have all your records and certification ready for inspection before the survey begins. For fishing vessels of 15 metres in length and above the procedure involves applying using form MSF 5100 together with your fee deposit. When the MCA surveyor visits, they will need external and internal access to all areas of the vessel. They will only allow exemptions from the survey standards if they can see that equivalent materials or systems are in place. Renewal surveys usually need two visits from the surveyor, one out of water and one afloat, to carry out operational and stability tests. If the surveyor isn’t satisfied with the survey, they will provide a list of defects and may return later to check that they have been resolved. The MCA surveyor may also decide to detain the vessel. If the vessel passes the survey, the MCA will issue the relevant fishing vessel certificate which covers a specific period. In order to make sure the certificate is still valid during this period, the MCA or Classification Society will carry out intermediate inspections or annual and intermediate surveys, dependent on the size of the vessel. Vessels of 15-24 metres in length are also required to conduct annual self certifications.
Enforcement measures
If your vessel contravenes the relevant code or conditions for exemptions, you will face a fine or imprisonment if convicted.
Flag-in fishing vessels surveys
You can find information on the flag-in process for fishing vessels in MSIS27 Chapter 1 Annex 9.
During the survey
The two main elements of a fishing vessel survey are:
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an ‘out of water’ survey
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an ‘afloat’ survey, including stability checks
Out of water survey
You can prepare your fishing vessel for an ‘out of water’ survey by:
- pressure washing the hull
- carrying out ultra-sonic tests on the total hull area and any suspect areas on steel vessels
- removing and cleaning sea valves, - inlets and overboard
- checking draft marks
- checking propeller shaft clearances by lifting the shaft and using a clock gauge or feeler gauges
- checking the propeller hub condition and operation – for example, if it’s a controlled pitch propeller
- recording rudder pintle bearing clearances
- ensuring safe access for the surveyor to all areas of vessel
- having a shipwright present during the survey visit to discuss any action needed with the surveyor if the vessel is wooden
Afloat survey
An afloat survey will include:
- a lightship check
- an inclining or roll test
- a stability assessment
Radio survey
A radio survey should also be booked as part of the overall survey. It must be carried out before a UKFVC or IFVC can be issued to the vessel owner. The MCA provides a list of organisations authorised to survey radio installations on fishing vessels. Download contact information for authorised surveyors of radio installations on passenger ships, fishing vessels and unclassed cargo vessels.
On board survey
During an on board survey of a fishing vessel, the surveyor will check areas such as the:
- wheelhouse
- wheelhouse top
- casing top
- shelter top
- accommodation
- main deck
- fish room
- engine room
- equipment tests
- vessel operations and drills
Except for remote winch stops, fishing gear is not tested during a UKFVC or IFVC inspection.
Fishing gear
Fishing gear is tested independently of UKFVC/IFVC certification under the regulations:
Documents for survey
To pass a survey, vessels must carry the relevant documents. For example:
- all fishing vessels over 16.8 metres (55 feet) - an official log-book
- all fishing vessels - a list of crew, with a copy kept at an address within the UK
- Merchant Safety Notices (MSNs) relevant to fishing vessels