Guidance

Fishing vessel stability guidance booklet

This booklet provides guidance on how to assess the stability of your vessel and is intended to help you understand the principles of stability, the associated risks and hazards and what you can do to minimise them.

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Published: 15 March 2018
• Last updated: 6 July 2020 — See all updates

Documents

Fishing vessel stability guidance booklet

Ref: MCA/263

PDF, 497 KB, 40 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email [email protected]. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Documents

Fishing Vessel Roll and Heel Tests

Fishing Vessels can assess their stability by conducting Roll and Heel Tests as set out in MGN503. For further information, click here.

Using the Wolfson Method to assess vessel safety

MGN526 provides guidance to help fishermen make decisions regarding the operation of their vessel using the Wolfson Stability Guidance Method. For further information click here.

Fishing Vessel Stability Guidance

This booklet is written in two sections.

Part 1 is aimed at everyone, from the crew member to the skipper, the owner and anyone involved in the management and operation of the vessel. It provides simple information on the basics of stability, the risks and hazards and what action you can take to ensure the vessel stays safe.

Part 2 is aimed at skippers and is intended to provide greater detail on the more advanced concepts of stability.

Printed copies

Printed copies of the Fishing vessel stability guidance booklet can be ordered online from the MCA’s Safety materials ordering service.

The publication reference number MCA/263 can be quoted in any correspondence.

Published 15 March 2018
Last updated 6 July 2020 + show all updates

1. 6 July 2020

   New text and links added

2. 31 January 2020

   Added additional text

3. 22 March 2018

   Typing error rectified

4. 22 March 2018

   Typing error rectified

5. 15 March 2018

   First published.