FISHING VESSEL REGISTRATION

Guidance
Downloads

GUIDANCE NOTES - FISHING VESSELS

Fishing vessels are subject to three areas of legislation. If you wish to operate a fishing vessel you are required to comply with each part:

1. Registration

The registration of a fishing vessel is dealt with by the Registry of British Ships at the Harbour Office. Opening hours are 8.45 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm.

In order to comply with the law there are three main requirements

1. The vessel is used for fishing for profit. This means that all or part of the catch is occasionally or exclusively sold.
2. The vessel is owned legally and beneficially either by a British subject living in the Bailiwick of Guernsey or a Company registered in and having its principal place of business in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
3. The vessel is fishing from a port in the Bailiwick of Guernsey.

Application will need to be made on the prescribed form (FSG37) and, subject to satisfactory completion, a ‘GU’ number will be allocated.

When the vessel has been marked as required with its GU number and name and port of registry, the Assistant Registrar or an officer representing him will inspect the vessel and, if necessary measure the vessel in accordance with the regulations.

When this has been completed satisfactorily a fishing vessel certificate will be issued and only then is the vessel properly registered to fish.

These requirements do not remove the need to register the vessel on the local register with the Harbour Office. Local registration may be applied for at the same time as Fishing Vessel registration but will not be processed until a GU number has been allocated.

2. Licensing

A fishing vessel licensing scheme for vessels fishing for profit within 3 miles of the Bailiwick coast is in place and further licensing requirements will be introduced for vessels fishing between 3 and 10 miles of the coast in the near future, when the relevant legislation has been enacted in Guernsey.

Owners of vessels with a Fishing Vessel Licence entitlement card issued by the Department of Fisheries will need to check with that Department that their entitlement is sufficient for the vessel to be registered.

Owners of vessels without the above are advised to obtain a licence or entitlement of sufficient capacity for their vessel that will allow the Sea Fisheries Committee to make arrangements for a licence to be issued.

If you have any doubts concerning your position you should contact Andrew Innes, Administrative Office, Department of Fisheries on telephone 235741.

3. Safety Regulations

Registered fishing vessels are required, by law, to have a current safety certificate. The vessel must comply fully with the Small Fishing Vessels (Safety)(Bailiwick of Guernsey) Regulations 2007. Please contact Captain A J B Pattimore, Deputy Harbour Master for further details

The amount of safety equipment and the complexity of the survey will be determined by the length of the vessel. Prospective fishing boat owners are advised to contact Captain A J B Pattimore, Deputy Harbour Master on 720229 in order to understand more fully what will be required for their vessel and whether the vessel will comply with construction standards for commercial fishing vessels.

In the event that the vessel is transferring from the UK and has a current UK certificate, this will need to be presented to the Harbour Office where a Guernsey certificate maybe issued for the balance of the survey period, subject to inspection and approval.

DOWNLOADS

This page contains registry forms in PDF format. You can get PDF reader free at here

This note is not intended to be conclusive in the information given and any questions on registry matters should be sent to the following address

Registry of British Ships
P.O. Box 631
St Julian's Emplacement
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 3DL
Channel Islands

Tel: 01481 705822 / 720229
Fax: 01481 705824 / 714177
E-Mail: shipsregistry@gov.gg