MCA

MCA propose a new code of practice to allow pleasure vessels to be temporarily used for business purposes and as race support boats

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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking feedback from the public on a new code of practice for intended pleasure vessels (IPV)

The MCA would like feedback on a new proposal to allow pleasure craft to be temporarily used for business purposes and as race support boats.

The organisation has been working with British Marine, RYA, and the Yacht Brokers, Designers and Surveyors Association (YBDSA) to develop the new code of practice which is due to be published on 1 January 2019.

The code is divided into parts. The first refers to intended pleasure vessels (IPV) to be used for temporary commercial reasons and the second for said craft to be used to support race boats.

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Code of practice for UK fishing vessel safety set for implementation from October 2019

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Enforced via Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) certification, the new code is called the Marine Safety Notice (MSN) 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. It replaces the existing MSN 1813 on this subject.

The main changes from MSN 1813 in the new code MSN 1871 are:

– Liferafts required on open vessels of 7m registered length (L) to less than 15m (LOA) and decked vessels of 7m (L) to less than 10m (L), to Continue reading “Code of practice for UK fishing vessel safety set for implementation from October 2019”

UK MCA and RNLI test drones for search and rescue

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Image credit: RNLI / Nigel Millard
Image credit: RNLI / Nigel Millard

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have run a special week-long event to test the use of drones along a stretch of coastline at St Athan, Wales. The testing took place between 23 and 27 April. A selection of drones were used in four different search and rescue scenarios to explore how they could be used to help save lives in the future.

The scenarios were a shoreline search for a casualty, an offshore search for multiple casualties in the sea, a mud rescue and a communications blackspot where a drone is required to relay information between rescue teams and a casualty on a cliff.

Featuring RNLI lifeboats and an HM coastguard search and rescue helicopter, the scenarios explored Continue reading “UK MCA and RNLI test drones for search and rescue”

Maritime & Coastguard Agency CEO Sir Alan Massey announces his retirement

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Maritime & Coastguard Agency CEO Sir Alan Massey announces his retirement
Maritime & Coastguard Agency CEO Sir Alan Massey announces his retirement

After eight years in charge, the chief executive officer of the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), Sir Alan Massey KBC CBE, has announced his intention to retire from the role towards the end of 2018.

Sir Alan joined the MCA in July 2010 after a 33-year career with the Royal Navy, where he left as second sea lord.

During his eight-year tenure, Sir Alan has successfully steered the MCA through changes to modernise Her Majesty’s Coastguard, new arrangements for the UK’s search and rescue helicopter capability, a transformed survey and inspection capability and a more commercially responsive approach to how the UK Ship Register operates. Sir Alan will continue his role until late 2018, to allow the appointment process for a successor to take place.

Bernadette Kelly, permanent secretary of the Department of Transport, said Continue reading “Maritime & Coastguard Agency CEO Sir Alan Massey announces his retirement”

MCA amends its Code of Safe Working Practices

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The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published an updated version of the ‘Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers’. The amendments give advice on improving health and safety of seafarers, primarily for those on board UK registered ships. But surveyors should also take note.

The Code provides guidance on safe working practices for the many and numerous situations that occur on ships.

However, it should not be considered a comprehensive guide to safety and its advice should always be considered in conjunction with the Continue reading “MCA amends its Code of Safe Working Practices”

MCA issues MGN 578 about conducting overside work on yachts and other vessels

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MGN 578 has been released by the UK MCA
MGN 578 has been released by the UK MCA

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has published a Marine Guidance Note – MGN 578 – about the use of equipment while undertaking work on commercial yachts, small commercial vessels and loadline vessels.

The aim of Marine Guidance Note MGN 578 is to provide guidance on the use of “rail and trolley” and similar systems while conducting overside work on yachts and other vessels. The key points are the following:

– To ensure that new systems comply with the current BS/EN Standards,
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Risks of using non SOLAS or non-pyrotechnic distress flares highlighted in new MCA MIN

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The UK MCA has released a marine notice, MIN 542, which highlights the specific risks of using non SOLAS or non-pyrotechnic distress flares, for example Electronic Visual Distress Signals (EVDS).

To be effective, distress signals need to be internationally recognised. Not all EVDS provide a distress signal listed in COLREGS Annex IV (such as SOS), and the MCA knows of no EVDS device which is compliant with the SOLAS technical performance standards for distress flares. Consequently, the international carriage requirements do not recognise EVDS and the UK national carriage requirements have not been amended to formally recognise them either.

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MCA releases a bulletin about a quality issue with fire doors

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The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has released a bulletin to notify vessel operators and surveyors that a quality issue has been discovered relating to fire doors manufactured by COSMO Co Ltd.

The MCA makes reference to an advice letter issued by the manufacturer, which urges particular attention of doors rated A-60, A-0 and B-15. Following an internal investigation, it was found that some delivered and installed doors have some insulation missing from part of the door fitment. As a result of the missing missing insulation, the doors do not comply with their type approval certification.

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Effectiveness of lifejackets called into question by MAIB report on the foundering of fishing vessel Louisa

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Photograph of Louisa recovery
Photograph of Louisa recovery

Early on 9 April 2016, the fishing vessel Louisa foundered, with the loss of three lives, while anchored close to the shore in Mingulay Bay in the Outer Hebrides.

The skipper and crew, who had been working long hours before anchoring late the previous evening, had woken suddenly as the vessel was sinking rapidly by the bow. They were able to escape to the aft deck, activate the emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and to don lifejackets. However, they were unable to inflate the liferaft as they abandoned the vessel.

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Lack of surveyors at UK MCA highlighted as a programme of modernisation gets underway

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The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) is modernising the way the UK Ship Register operates with a number of new initiatives being rolled out as the Agency is also addressing the issue of lack of surveyors on its books.

At the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maritime and Ports, attendees were informed that the MCA is considering increasing the fee structure for the UK Ship Register to above 2016 levels.

The registry is working to improve the response time for enquiries to one working day, while for complex issues it will take three working days. Increasing ship registry fees would match the higher levels of service being offered, the MCA said. The register also plans to roll out a package fee option in April 2018. Further, a new online ship registry service is expected to be completed by Christmas this year. Continue reading “Lack of surveyors at UK MCA highlighted as a programme of modernisation gets underway”

The MCA has launched a consultation on its fees

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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is required to comply with the guidance set out in HM Treasury’s publication Managing Public Money when recovering the full cost of the fee-funded services it provides in its role as a regulator which covers direct and indirect costs associated with delivering services to the public. The full cost recovery norm to fees ensures Government neither profits at the expense of consumers nor makes a loss for taxpayers to subsidise.

Since September 2006, the MCA has not changed its fee level and has consequently absorbed increases in ship registrations, ship surveys and merchant navy training costs. As a result, the industry has paid below-cost fees so the services which the industry has received have been publicly subsidised. There has been a shortfall between income and costs for the services provided in each year since 2010-11 (and likely since 2006). The shortfall for 2010-11 (the base year) is estimated at £3.7m (in 2010 prices). MCA efficiency improvements have helped maintain standards while keeping costs down.

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MCA issues MGN 432: Safety during transferring persons

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The UK MCA has issued Marine Guidance Note 432 in order to provide advice for all vessels engaged in transfers of persons at anchor or underway. It gives guidance on taking the necessary precautions, the use of trained persons and carriage of requisite equipment to aid a safe transfer and rapid recovery of a casualty from the water.

Pilots and Pilotage Authorities regularly undertake transfer of persons between vessels at sea, and it is recommended that this guidance should be read in conjunction with SOLAS Ch V, Regulation 23. However this guidance is predominantly aimed at those who are not experienced in such

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