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 — See all updates

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
• MIN 698 Amendment 1 (M) Workboat Code Edition 3 – standards and guidelines for best practice
  • 1 January 2025
  • 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
  • 18 November 2025
  • 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
• Intended Pleasure Vessels (IPV) code
  • 17 December 2018
  • Statutory 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

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.