UK code of practice for fishing vessel safety
One global safety expert has used Seawork to highlight the new UK code of practice for the safety of small fishing vessels under 15m.
Orolia Maritime, working with its partner SMG to raise awareness, said that the new code is important because it emphasises the importance of best practice and the necessary equipment needed to reduce the number of fatalities in the UK’s small fishing vessels.
“It is essential that British fishermen are aware of the new requirements. It is important that all vessels have the necessary upgraded safety equipment,” said Gwynne Lewis, maritime product line director, Orolia.
EPIRB requirement
Enforced via Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) certification, the new code is called the Marine Safety Notice 1871 Construction and stipulates the legal requirement for small fishing vessels with an overall length of over 10m to carry an automatic GNSS (GPS) EPIRB.
Smaller vessels may choose this option or may alternatively supply each crew member with an individual PLB with GNSS capabilities. The code also strongly recommends fishermen wear personal flotation devices.
These new requirements will take effect on 23 October 2019 for existing fishing vessels, while vessels that are being registered to become fishing boats for the first time must comply immediately.
Orolia’s award-winning McMurdo SmartFind G8 AIS EPIRBs are the world’s first distress beacons to support four frequencies: international 406 MHz and 121.5MHz alert frequency for beacon transmission, GNSS for location positioning and the localised rescue power of AIS.
By Anne-Marie Causer
