#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport (DTTAS) reminds all fishing vessel owners, agents, skippers and crew to service their launching and release gear for survival craft on their vessels.

Marine Notice No 60 of 2012 points to the amendments to Chapter III of the SOLAS Convention as outlined in Marine Notice No 37 of 2009 regarding "the operational readiness, maintenance and inspections of launching appliances and on-load release gear for survival craft and rescue boats on board vessels.

"The safety and operational readiness of such equipment fitted on-board fishing vessels is of critical importance and the Department wishes to advise that surveyors from the Marine Survey Office will verify that the requirements for servicing... have been followed as appropriate, during the safety surveys of fishing vessels."