Fishing Safety Guides and Bulletins
Seafood Cornwall Training work with a number of partners to help improve safety and wellbeing in the fisheries sector in Cornwall. On this page you will find Marine Guidance Notices (MGNs) from the Maritime and Coastguard Association (MCA), bulletins from the Marine Accident Investigations Branch (MAIB) and details of the Home and Dry Campaign run by the Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG).
Fishing safety is a topic that affects everyone in the seafood sector and Seafood Cornwall Training works with partners across the sector. If you have a safety issue, or a question please do get in touch:
Marine Guidance Notices (MGNs)
Marine Guidance Notices (MGNs) are published by the MCA and offer guidance on important issues such as safety procedures on board, lifesaving equipment, pollution and stability.
Here are a few of those that are more commonly used:
- MGN 628F Construction and outfit standards for Fishing Vessels
- MGN 266F Interpretation of SOLAS for Fishing Vessels
- MGN 267F Location, storage of life rafts and radio beacons
- MGN 281F Fishing Vessel freeboard and stability booklet
- MGN 309F Fishing Vessels: the dangers of enclosed spaces
- MGN 310F Fishing Vessels: risk of fire, explosions and burning
- MGN 313F Keeping a safe navigational watch
The full list of active Marine Guidance Notes is available here:
Monthly Drills
EMERGENCY DRILLS – SCT grasps the nettle!
SCT Drills Cards give you an easy answer and are useful to work through on your regular monthly drill practice with the whole crew. Call SCT to get your Drill Cards. (These Drill Cards work for Single Handed Fishing as well as large crews.)
The law requires that the whole vessel crew are practicing emergency drills every month and at a Vessel Inspection MCA Surveyor will want to confirm the records showing what drills have been practiced. They may also want to observe anchoring at a safe anchorage.
SCT has a handy DRILL CARD PACK as well as the DRILL RECORD FORM which you can download here.
The emergency drills to practice each month are:- Abandon Ship, Man Over Board recovery, Firefighting, Sinking or Grounding,
And you are expected to run the practice when new crew join your vessel.
Our safety project has workshops ready to run on board your vessel to go through drill practice with your crew. Call SCT to book this on board workshop
Upcoming Courses
Health and Safety for New Entrants – 19 MAY 2025
Small Ships Navigation & Radar
Basic First Aid and Elementary First Aid (STCW) – 20 MAY 2025
Firefighting and Fire Prevention for Fishermen – 21 MAY 2025
STCW Personal Survival Techniques/Sea Survival – 22 MAY 2025 – NOW FULL
Proficiency in Medical Care – 26-30 MAY
GMDSS VHF Short Range Certificate – POSTPONED TBC
Stability Awareness for Experienced Fishermen – 28 MAY 2025
STCW Personal Survival Techniques/Sea Survival – 29 MAY 2025 – WOMAN ONLY
Advanced Stability Awareness – 29 MAY 2025
Upcoming Courses
Health and Safety for New Entrants – 19 MAY 2025
Small Ships Navigation & Radar
Basic First Aid and Elementary First Aid (STCW) – 20 MAY 2025
Firefighting and Fire Prevention for Fishermen – 21 MAY 2025
STCW Personal Survival Techniques/Sea Survival – 22 MAY 2025 – NOW FULL
Proficiency in Medical Care – 26-30 MAY
GMDSS VHF Short Range Certificate – POSTPONED TBC
Stability Awareness for Experienced Fishermen – 28 MAY 2025
STCW Personal Survival Techniques/Sea Survival – 29 MAY 2025 – WOMAN ONLY
Advanced Stability Awareness – 29 MAY 2025
Upcoming Courses
Health and Safety for New Entrants – 19 MAY 2025
Small Ships Navigation & Radar
Basic First Aid and Elementary First Aid (STCW) – 20 MAY 2025
Firefighting and Fire Prevention for Fishermen – 21 MAY 2025
STCW Personal Survival Techniques/Sea Survival – 22 MAY 2025 – NOW FULL
Proficiency in Medical Care – 26-30 MAY
GMDSS VHF Short Range Certificate – POSTPONED TBC
Stability Awareness for Experienced Fishermen – 28 MAY 2025
STCW Personal Survival Techniques/Sea Survival – 29 MAY 2025 – WOMAN ONLY
Advanced Stability Awareness – 29 MAY 2025

MAIB Bulletins
The Marine Accident Investigations Branch (MAIB) frequently post safety bulletins and lessons on accidents at sea on commercial and fishing vessels. To read the latest safety digest, visit the MAIB website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/marine-accident-investigation-branch

Home and Dry Campaign
Home and Dry is run by the Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG), with support from the fishing industry.
The FISG is a stakeholder group, focused on improving the safety of commercial fishing at sea. The FISG aims to reduce the number of serious accidents and vessels lost at sea due to health and safety issues.
They have a vision to ensure zero preventable deaths at sea by 2028.
For more information please visit their website: www.homeanddry.uk
CFPO Fathom Podcast
The Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation (CFPO) represents the collective views and opinions of its members and discusses important issues on its Fathom Podcast.
You can listen to the Fishing Vessel Safety episodes of the Podcast here: www.cfpo.org.uk/the-fathom-podcast