Sea: Standards for living and working conditions

New legislation to improve safety conditions for UK fishing vessel crews will come into force this week.

The new Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) rules cover both living and working conditions for fishermen working on boats.

The legislation centres on the provision of decent crew accommodation, the regular payment of wages, medical fitness, medical care and the health and safety of all fishermen working on board vessels.

Personal flotation devices (PFDs) will now need to be worn by all crew members while working on the deck unless a written risk assessment demonstrates that the risk of going overboard can be eliminated.

The owners of all fishing vessels over 24 metres will need to comply with the new legislation, including all non-UK registered vessels calling in UK ports.

David Fenner, MCA’s head of fishing safety, said: “There are lots of measures which the fishing industry has already taken to improve safety and reduce the number of severe injuries and deaths to crew.

“Whilst the first priority should be to prevent anyone going into the water, if the worst happens and crew are lost overboard, wearing a PFD is the single most effective step to improve the chance of a successful recovery.

“Added to this, it’s important to note that personal flotation devices are available in a number of different designs and it is possible to choose one that suits you and your type of fishing.”

Katy Ware, the MCA’s director of maritime safety and standards, said the new International Labour Organization’s Work In Fishing Convention legislation would also enshrine better employment conditions into UK law.

She said: “Fishermen are working in the most dangerous industry in the UK.

“We will work with fishermen to bring crew accommodation standards on all fishing vessels where crew stay on board up to basic standards for safety, sanitation, heating, ventilation and maintenance.”