The Fishing Vessels (Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Fishing Vessels) Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length to comply with the requirements of the “Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Fishing Vessels” published by the MCA. They also provide for the amendment of the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975 and the Fishing Vessels (Life-Saving Appliances) Regulations 1988 so that those instruments no longer apply to fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length (regulations 4–6).

The Regulations provide that if a vessel proceeds or attempts to proceed on any voyage without complying with the Code of Practice, that is an offence on the part of the owner and the skipper (regulation 8), and the vessel is liable to be detained (regulation 9).

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been produced and a copy placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament. Copies may be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone number 023 8032 9297).

Copies of the Code of Practice referred to in these Regulations may be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency at the above address.

These Regulations were notified in draft to the European Commission in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC of 22nd June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (OJ L 204, 21/7/1998, p. 37–48).