The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport wishes to advise of an amendment to the Department’s publication entitled “Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation of Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length overall”, in relation to measuring the stability of small fishing vessels.
The Code of Practice is currently under review, and a revised version will issue later in the year. In the meantime, please take note of the change in procedure as outlined below, which will take effect immediately.
Background and current requirements
In relation to the Code of Practice for fishing vessels of less than 15m Length overall, existing vessels (keels laid pre-1st May 2004) must comply with the roll test provisions as set out in Chapter 3. This chapter recommends that existing vessels comply with the stability requirements for new vessels, which are set out in Annex 7 of the code. However, they must still comply with the roll test requirements (3.2.2 of the code).
New vessels (post-1st May 2004) must comply with Annex 7. Section 4.3 of Annex 7 requires a roll test to be carried out at the same time as an inclining experiment for comparison of the results and allow development of more accurate roll coefficients to improve the process.
Amendment of the Code of Practice
Therefore, to allow existing vessels to comply with either the Annex 7 criteria or the roll test, the text of Paragraphs 3.2.1 and 3.2.2 of the Code of Practice is amended, as follows:
3.2 Stability Standard
3.2.1 It is strongly recommended that the stability standards described in Annex 7, paragraph 4.2 be applied. If these standards are applied to a pre-2004 fishing vessel, and the vessel complies with the standards, then a roll test as described in Annex 1 shall be carried out at the same time as the inclining experiment required under Annex 7, paragraph 4.2, but the vessel is not required to comply with both Annex 7 and the roll test.
3.2.2 Where a pre-2004 fishing vessel does not apply the stability standards described in Annex 7, paragraph 4.2, then the vessel shall be subjected to a roll test as described in Annex 1. The roll test shall be carried out with the vessel in the “normal departure port condition” and a typical “arrive port condition”.
For any clarification that may be required on the above, please contact the Marine Survey Office by email at mso@dttas.gov.ie.
The full notice can be accessed here
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