The latest Marine Notice from the Department of Transport brings the attention of fishing boat owners, skippers and crew to the safety provisions of the Code of Practice for fishing vessels less than 15m length overall.

It follows the publication last month of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board’s (MCIB) report into an incident on the FV Kayleigh off Sheep’s Head in West Cork in March last year.

The vessel sank after a fire broke out in its engine compartment on the night of 3 March 2020.

Two crew with burn injuries caused by a fireball were recovered from a life raft at the scene and the vessel was abandoned, presumed to have sunk the following day.

In its analysis of the incident, the MCIB found that the crew’s injuries “may have been avoided if [they] had remembered to carry out the procedures for entering a compartment known to contain a fire”.

Marine Notice No 04 of 2021 outlines pertinent information for fishing vessel owners, skippers and crew including firefighting training requirements, and guidelines for fire detection and alarm systems on board.

The full notice is available to download below.