Statutory guidance

Small craft codes

Safety codes of practice for small (up to 24m) vessels

Documents

Code of practice for the safety of small workboats and pilot boats (brown)

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 infoline@mcga.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Code of practice for the safety of small commercial motor vessels (yellow)

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 infoline@mcga.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Code of practice for the safety of small commercial sailing vessels (blue)

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 infoline@mcga.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Code of practice for the safety of small vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure operating from a nominated departure point (NDP) (red)

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 infoline@mcga.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

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.

The codes apply to:

  • small motor vessels
  • small sailing vessels
  • small workboats and pilot boats
  • small commercial vessels used for sport/pleasure
  • workboat code
  • MGN 280

Updates to this page

Published 6 May 2014
Last updated 24 February 2021 + show all updates
  1. Removed The Workboat Code Edition 2, IPV COP, MGN 280, Workboat Code Industry working group Technical Standard 2014 and Stability guidance booklets which have now moved to a new collection page

  2. Guidance notes removed

  3. Workboat Edition 2 added

  4. New IPV code added

  5. New guidance booklets added

  6. New documents uploaded

  7. Updated to include the Workboat Code and MGN 280

  8. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page