Statutory guidance

The workboat code edition 2 - amendment 1

The safety of small workboats and pilot boats - a code of practice

Documents

The workboat code technical standard

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

This Code must, from the date of publication (31 December 2018), be used for new workboats and pilot boats. Existing workboats and pilot boats may also use the Workboat Code Edition 2, as an updated standard to the requirements of:-

  • “The Safety of Small Workboats and Pilot Boats – A Code of Practice”, published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 1998, in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Merchant Shipping (Small Workboats and Pilot Boats) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998 No.1609); or,
  • The technical Annex of MGN 280.

If this option is chosen, such existing vessels must comply fully with the requirements for construction, equipment and operation set out in the Workboat Code Edition 2.

Alternatively, such existing vessels may continue to be operate and issued with Certification under the previous standards mentioned above.

Please note that the “Workboat Code Industry Group Technical Standard”, published in 2014, is no longer recognized, and must not be used after the end of the relevant phase-in period, as described in MSN 1892 that gives legal force to this Code.

It should also be noted that, where any existing vessel upgrades, and phases-in, to the Workboat Code Edition 2 regime, it must do so fully. A vessel cannot meet a combination of the Workboat Code Edition 2 standards and those of earlier codes or standards.

This Code should be read in conjunction with MSN 1892 and SI 1998 No. 1609.

This amendment contains no technical changes from the original document

Published 29 August 2019
Last updated 24 February 2021 + show all updates
  1. Added workboat code technical standard

  2. First published.