The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has published a new Fisheries Information Notice (FIN) for fishing vessel Masters on safe access and boarding ladders. The FIN can be accessed on the SFPA website or by clicking on the following link: Safe Access and Boarding Ladders
Masters of fishing vessels are required to facilitate the safe embarkation and disembarkation of Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers (SFPOs), in port and at sea, for the purpose of carrying out official controls. Where access to a fishing vessel requires a climb of 1.5 metres or more, Masters must provide a compliant boarding ladder. This FIN outlines the responsibilities of vessel Masters during boarding and disembarkation and sets out the technical specifications applicable to boarding ladders.
All vessel Masters should review the FIN and familiarise themselves with their obligations. Masters with boarding ladders should ensure that ladders are properly maintained and comply with the material, spacing, and structural requirements outlined in the FIN. Compliance with these requirements is vital to ensuring the safety of SFPOs.
The SFPA is committed to supporting compliance with both new and existing legislation and is available to provide further guidance, if required.
For further assistance or details on this FIN, please contact sfpafood&fisheriessupport@sfpa.ie
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About the SFPA
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the sea-fisheries and the sea-food production sectors. It promotes compliance with the EU Common Fisheries Policy, sea-fisheries law and food safety law relating to fish and fish products, verifies compliance and, where necessary, enforces it. Its mandate covers all fishing vessels operating within Ireland’s 200-mile limit, over 2,000 Irish registered fishing vessels wherever they operate, and all seafood produced in Ireland’s seafood processing companies. The SFPA operates through a network of regional port offices situated at Ireland’s main fishery harbours. For further information visit www.sfpa.ie