Collection

Small commercial vessel codes of practice

Collection of documents relating to the codes of practice for the safety of small (up to 24m) vessels in commercial use

• From: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
• Published: 25 February 2021
• Last updated: 20 November 2025
  Show all updates

  1. 20 November 2025

     Amendments to links and changing of wording, collection page edited.

  2. 27 November 2023

     The Workboat Code Edition 3 and accompanying MIN 698 added to collection.

  3. 25 February 2021

     First published.

Small commercial vessels operating under the UK flag and in UK waters must comply with the merchant shipping regulations or an MCA code of practice.

• small workboats and pilot boats

• small vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure

Workboat code

• The Workboat Code Edition 3
  • 22 January 2025
  • Statutory guidance

The sport or pleasure vessel code

• The sport or pleasure vessel code
  • 20 November 2025
  • Statutory guidance
• MIN 724 (M) The sport or pleasure vessel code – standards and guidelines for best practice
  • 6 March 2026
  • Guidance

Previous versions of the small commercial vessel codes of practice

• The workboat code edition 2 - amendment 1
  • 24 February 2021
  • Statutory guidance
• MGN 280 (M) Construction standards for small vessels in sport use
  • 28 October 2004
  • Guidance
• Small craft codes
  • 24 February 2021
  • Statutory guidance

Stability guidance booklets

• Stability guidance booklets for powered and sailing vessels
  • 17 July 2024
  • Guidance

Other information booklets

• Small vessels in commercial use
  • 12 February 2021
  • Guidance