In response to Marine Casualty Investigation Board recommendations, a Marine Notice has been issued to remind masters, owners, users, charterers, skippers and crew of fishing vessels of previous safety advice and requirements issued by means of Marine Notices and supply links[1] to such Notices; and to inform the sector of several recommendations in relation to smaller vessels and that they are under consideration for inclusion in the next revision of the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation of Small Fishing of less than 15m in Length overall.
Reminder of Marine Notices
- Carriage of Inflatable Liferafts onboard Fishing Vessels of less than 15 metres in length – Marine Notice No. 33 of 2016;
- Monitoring of Bilges on Fishing Vessels – Marine Notice No. 35 of 2016;
- Fatal Incident Caused by the Inhalation of Toxic Gases onboard a Fishing Vessel – Marine Notice No. 43 of 2016;
- Helicopter Search and Rescue Hi-Line Technique – Marine Notice No. 3 of 2017;
- Correct Use of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) – Marine Notice No. 34 of 2017 (which contains links to earlier more comprehensive information on PFD requirements);
- Use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations and systems on merchant vessels, fishing vessels, pleasure craft and other marine craft – Marine Notice No. 37 of 2017;
- Drills and Musters on all Fishing Vessels and Man Overboard Recovery Systems on Fishing Vessels – Marine Notice No. 40 of 2018;
- Safety of small vessels engaged in potting operations – Marine Notice No. 17 of 2019;
- MCIB Recommendations as a Result of a Fatal incident involving small fishing vessel – Marine Notice No. 38 of 2019; and
- Fatal incident involving small fishing vessel engaged in potting operations – Marine Notice No. 39 of 2019
Recommendations under consideration for the next revision of the Code of Practice for Fishing Vessels <15m
Links to the current Code of Practice and to the current panel of surveyors are available on this page of our website.
In recent years the MCIB have made several recommendations some of which were incorporated in the most recent revision of the Code of Practice (most notably in relation to a requirement for all such fishing vessels to carry an automatic, float-free Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and for all fishers to carry Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)). Some recommendations required further consideration and additional recommendations have since been made including:
- Improvement of stability standards (including freeboard and freeing ports in small decked vessels);
- Consideration of stating a minimum height of rails/bulwarks;
- A mandatory requirement for fishing vessels to be fitted with smoke/fire detection systems in engine rooms and for fuel and hydraulic oil pipes to be constructed out of fire-resistant material;
- A requirement to carry safety harnesses for each person on board; and
- Making mandatory the holding of emergency drills for vessels less than 12 metres.
NB – owners are reminded that the nature and extent of any major repairs or major structural modifications to their vessel must comply with the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation of Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length overall (Section 1.5.4.4).
[1] If any of the links in this Notice fail to work please contact the Maritime Safety Policy Division of the Irish Maritime Administration (contact details at foot of notice)
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