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General safety regulations for lifesaving appliances (LSA) and safety equipment on fishing vessels are summarised in the MSN 1467 Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons, Float Free Arrangements for Liferafts and Lifejackets on Fishing Vessels.

Information on Personal Emergency Radio Devices can be found in leaflet MCA313 Personal Emergency Radio Devices for Commercial Fishing Vessels. This leaflet explains the differences between Personal Locator Beacons and Man Overboard Devices.

All types and sizes of fishing vessel should carry enough lifejackets for everyone, and additional lifejackets where this is required by regulations or Codes, on board.

Other general lifesaving equipment requirements include:

• lifejackets to be equipped with lights
• float-free arrangements for liferafts
• provision of emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) of 406 MHz design

Lifesaving requirements for vessels under 15 metres

For fishing vessels of less than 15 metres, safety requirements include:

• liferafts for decked vessels of 7 metres and above
• float-free EPIRBs

Further details of the required lifesaving appliances for vessels of less than 15 metres can be found in the Code of Practice for Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall and the accompanying MSN 1871 (F) Amendment 2.

Lifesaving requirements for vessels of 15 metres to less than 24 metres

For fishing vessels of 15 metres to less than 24 metres, safety requirements include:

• at least two liferafts able to carry all people on board - one of which can be launched from either side of the vessel
• flares and signals
• float-free EPIRBs of an approved type
• lifejackets
• lifebuoys
• means of recovering a person from the water
• line throwing appliance
• VHF Radio

Further details of the required lifesaving appliances for vessels of 15 metres to less than 24 metres can be found in MSN 1872 (F) Amendment 1 The Code of Safe Working Practice for the Construction and Use of Fishing Vessels of 15m Length Overall to less than 24m Registered Length.

Lifesaving requirements for vessels over 24 metres

Details of lifesaving appliances required for vessels of 24 metres and over can be found in MSN 1873 Amendment 1 The Code of Practice for the Construction and Safe Operation of Fishing Vessels of 24m Registered Length and over

Location and stowage of lifesaving equipment

Safety requirements for stowage of these items are listed in MCA document MGN 267 (F). You can find guidance in MGN 267 (F) The location and stowage of liferafts and EPIRBs on fishing vessels.

Guidance on securing, stowage and launching of liferafts, and fitting of hydrostatic release units (HRUs) is listed in MGN 343 (M+F) Hydrostatic Release Units (HRUs) - Stowage and Float Free Arrangements for Inflatable Liferafts.

Guidance is also available on the Correct fitting of a Hydrostatic Release Unit (HRU).

Servicing of lifesaving appliances

Fishing vessel owners and operators should service their lifesaving equipment regularly to ensure that it works properly. Recommendations include:

• annual servicing of all lifesaving appliances
• servicing should be undertaken by approved service stations

You should return MCA-approved Hydrostatic Release Units (HRUs) with an operational life of two years to an authorised service station for a function test at the end of their operational life.

For further information, please see:

• MGN 553 (M+F) Life-Saving Appliances - Inflatable Non-SOLAS Liferafts, Lifejackets, Marine Evacuation Systems, Danbuoys and Lifebuoys - Technical Standards and Servicing Requirements
• MGN 548 (M+F) Life-Saving Appliances Inflatable SOLAS Certificated Liferafts, Lifejackets, Marine Evacuation Systems, and repair of Inflated Rescue Boats Servicing Requirements and Approved Service Stations.

Emergency radio equipment

Safety requirements for maintaining emergency radio equipment on fishing vessels are listed in MSN 1801 (F) Radio equipment: serviceability and maintenance.

Means of recovering an unconscious person from the water

It is critical that when choosing the equipment you carry on the vessel that you consider whether that equipment will recover an unconscious person or someone otherwise unable to help themselves. In UK waters, it can be less than 5 minutes before someone is unable to help themselves, even in summer.

Ensure that when purchasing equipment for recovery purposes, you consider this and that you practice how to recover someone who cannot help in their recovery. Further information can be read in MGN570 Amendment 1 Fishing Vessels Emergency Drills.