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Statutory guidance

Survey and inspection of fishing vessels chapters 1 to 17 (MSIS 27)

Instructions for the guidance of surveyors, which covers the survey of fishing vessels.

Updates to this page

From:
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Published:
17 April 2014
Last updated:
21 July 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated Rev 07.26 uploaded to replace Rev 10.22

  2. Updated Rev 11.25 uploaded to replace Rev 09.21

  3. MSIS27.1 R09/25 added MSIS27.14 R09/25 added

  4. MSIS 27.1 has been updated to R05.25

  5. MSIS27.1 R12.24

  6. Added new versions - MSIS27.1 R07.24 MSIS27.4 R07.24 MSIS27.14 R07.24 Removed old versions

  7. MSIS 27.1 R04.24, and, MSIS 27.4 R04.24 added and old versions removed

  8. Updated MSIS27 Chapter 14 (Rev 04.24).

  9. MSIS27 Chapter 3 Part A updated with a 12.23 revision. Updated links within for MSF Forms 1378, 1380, 1382.

  10. Replaced Chapter 1 with MSIS27.1 R11.23 pdf.

  11. Chapter 14 - CREW QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING now rev 10/23

  12. Updated Chapters 1 and 3C. Amendments made to update information regarding new arrangements for the Plan Approval, Construction and Outfit and Certification of New build fishing vessels from 30 October 2023.

  13. Revision of MSIS 27 Chapter 2 Rev 03.23

  14. Updated revision for MSIS27 Chapter 1 R01.23 added

  15. MSIS 27 Chapter 2, Chapter 3 (part A, B & C), Chapter 4, Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 attachments all updated to R12/22.

  16. MSIS 27.2 , 27.3 part A, 27.3 part C r11.22 all added

  17. Chapter 12: Radio installations (MSIS 27) Rev 11/22 replaces Rev 09/21 as requested

  18. Chapter 11: Drills, prevention of man overboard and musters (MSIS 27) PDF rev 10/22 uploaded to replace previous 21 version

  19. Rev 08.22 replaced with Rev 10.22 (MSIS27.1_R10.22 - Instructions for the guidance of surveyors on chapter 1)

  20. MSIS 27.15 has been updated to rev.10/22

  21. A new version of Chapter 3 Stability part A (MSIS 27) has been uploaded.

  22. Chapters 2, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4 ,6 and 7 have been updated to Rev 08/22 versions.

  23. Uploaded new version of chapter 13 R08.22

  24. MSIS 27.7 R04.22 added, and MSIS 27.9 R04.22 added

  25. Chapter 1 R01 22 re uploaded with missing text included

  26. uploaded revised version of chapter 3 R05 22

  27. msis 27.1 r 01.22 added

  28. MSIS27.2 01.22 updated version added.

  29. added updated version 01.22 of MSIS27.3

  30. MSIS 27.2 updated to r01.22

  31. Chapter 15 changed to PDF Chapter 3 updated

  32. uploaded new versions of chapter 1 and 3

  33. Uploaded new version of Chapter 14 R10.21

  34. Uploaded new versions of Chapters 1 to 13

  35. Uploaded revised chapter 11 revision 03/21

  36. Uploaded revised version of Chapter 13 R05.21

  37. Updated version added to Chapter 10 R02/21.

  38. Uploaded revised version of MSIS27 Chapter 17 Rev 03/21

  39. Uploaded revision of Chapter 12 R03/21

  40. 01/21 edition uploaded for Chapter 1.

  41. Uploaded revised MSIS 27 Chapter 2 Rev 10/20

  42. Updated title of link to MSIS 27 Chapters 1 Annexes 1 to 26

  43. Updated chapters 1, 2, 3 ,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 16

  44. attachments updated

  45. MSIS27.2 Updated attachment from Rev 11/19 to R01.20 MSIS27.5 Updated attachment from Rev 11/17 to R01.20

  46. Replaced MSIS27 Chapter 3 R01/19 with R01/20 and replaced MSIS27 Chapter 8 R10/17 with Rev 01/20.

  47. Incorrect link previously added. Correct link for MSIS27.1 added

  48. Added amended version.

  49. Uploaded revised version of Chapter 1

  50. Updated revised version of Chapter 9

  51. Added updated version of MSIS27 Ch 2

  52. Uploaded revised MSIS 27 Chapter 1

  53. Revision 09/19 of Chapter 1 added

  54. Updated Chapter 9 added

  55. Added a revised Chapter 1

  56. Uploaded revised chapter 1

  57. Chapter 1 has been updated

  58. Latest Chapter 7 added.

  59. Latest Chapter 1, 3, 11 and 16 added.

  60. Updated document list

  61. Updated chapter 1

  62. Latest Chapter 1 added

  63. Updated chapter 11 to rev 07/18

  64. Revised Chapters 1, 2 and 10 added

  65. Revised Chapter 9 added

  66. Updated MSIS 27 Chapter 10

  67. Revised Ch 10 added

  68. New Chapter 1 added (Rev 04/18)

  69. New Chapter 8 uploaded

  70. Annexes added

  71. Revised documents added

  72. Updated reversion of Chapter 14

  73. Amendment and additions to Chapter 2

  74. Chapter 3 Revision uploaded

  75. Chapter 9 Revision Uploaded

  76. Updated Chapter 7: Fire safety structural fire protection rev 2014 (MSIS 27)

  77. Chapter 17 Revision Uploaded

  78. Chapter 1 Revision Uploaded

  79. Updated Chapter 1 rev 12 Surveys and Inspections (MSIS 27)

  80. Added: Chapter 1. Link to annexes 1 - 19 (including four aid memoir under annex 17)

  81. Update Chapter 8 Rev 01.15: Fire safety, fire appliances and detection

  82. Updated versions of Chapter 1 (Annex 13), Chapter 6 & Chapter 10 (13 11 14)

  83. First published.

Documents

Chapter 1: General instructions to surveyors (MSIS 27)

Ref: R 09.25

PDF, 998 KB, 65 pages

Chapter 2: Construction, watertight and weathertight integrity (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 03/23

PDF, 2.23 MB, 70 pages

Chapter 3: Stability part A (MSIS 27)

Ref: 12/23

PDF, 689 KB, 19 pages

Chapter 3: Stability part B (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 12/22

PDF, 1.59 MB, 61 pages

Chapter 3: Stability part C (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 10.23

PDF, 1.65 MB, 30 pages

Chapter 4: Machinery (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 05/25

PDF, 817 KB, 53 pages

Chapter 5: Bilge pumping arrangements (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 09/21

PDF, 376 KB, 16 pages

Chapter 6: Electrical equipment and installations (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 12/22

PDF, 619 KB, 18 pages

Chapter 7: Structural fire protection (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 12/22

PDF, 559 KB, 21 pages

Chapter 8: Fire appliances (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 11/25

PDF, 429 KB, 20 pages

Chapter 9: Protection of the crew (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 04/22

PDF, 1.25 MB, 49 pages

Chapter 10: Life-saving appliances (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 09/21

PDF, 581 KB, 56 pages

Chapter 11: Drills, prevention of man overboard and musters (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 10/22

PDF, 2.76 MB, 45 pages

Chapter 12: Radio installations (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 11/22

PDF, 574 KB, 51 pages

Chapter 13: Nautical equipment (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 08/22

PDF, 440 KB, 16 pages

Chapter 14: Crew qualifications and training (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 09/25

PDF, 609 KB, 21 pages

Chapter 15: Pollution prevention arrangements (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 07.26

PDF, 292 KB, 9 pages

Chapter 16: Survey of crew accommodation in fishing vessels (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 06/20

PDF, 547 KB, 77 pages

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

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Chapter 17: Basic fishing methods (MSIS 27)

Ref: Rev 03/21

PDF, 157 KB, 6 pages

MSIS 27 chapter 1 appendix A

PDF, 583 KB, 49 pages

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MSIS 27 chapter 1 appendix B

PDF, 442 KB, 40 pages

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Details

This guidance is for:

  • marine surveyors and inspectors
  • fishing vessel owners
  • fishing vessel builders
  • others who need to know how Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) surveys, inspects and certifies fishing vessels

Chapter 1. Annexes 1 - 26 with four aide-memoires under annex 17 can be accessed here

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