Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May to Question 185942 on Shipping: Inspections, what steps his Department is taking to shorten the time taken by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to undertake surveys and safety inspections on fishing vessels for first time applicants.

All surveys on fishing vessels require a full check of compliance against Statutory requirements. As these requirements are safety related, all areas of compliance are required to be checked prior to issuing a certificate, the scope of the survey cannot be reduced.

Waiting times around the country for a survey vary depending on the time of year and local demand for this activity. The MCA work closely with applicants to arrange a convenient time and consider other external factors such as tide times.

In 2022, the MCA carried out over 1200 inspections on small fishing vessels and remains committed to reducing fatalities within the sector.

Significant time savings in completing a survey can however be made when a vessel is properly prepared in advance of surveyor attendance.

For this reason, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have produced guidance on how to prepare a vessel for survey. This guidance, which is available online, is of particular value to first time applicants who may be unfamiliar with the requirements and the survey process and if followed will ensure their survey is completed in the most efficient timescale. Links to this guidance along with other useful information related to their vessel is sent to owners of small fishing vessels when they request a survey.