Guidelines for safety and insurance of small fishing vessels validated by experts
On 22 January 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held a virtual validation meeting to discuss the Guidelines for the safety inspection and insurance of small fishing vessels. 2025. The meeting brought together 21 experts in fishing safety, finance, and insurance from Asia, Africa, and Europe. Representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Africa Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA), and the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) also participated.
The meeting discussed the updated draft guidelines, which include:
- Guidelines for seaworthiness and safety inspection of small fishing vessels.
- Guidelines for insurance value and risk assessment of small fishing vessels.
- Checklists for safety and seaworthiness inspection of decked fishing vessels under 12 meters in length and undecked fishing vessels.
Raymon van Anrooy, FAO Senior Fisheries Officer, highlighted the safety issues in small-scale fisheries, noting the high demand for vessel insurance among small fishing vessel owners. He pointed out that barriers on the insurance supply side are hindering services to the sector. “The guidelines will facilitate the supply of insurance services to small-scale fishers worldwide, reduce risks related to small vessel insurance through seaworthiness and safety inspection, reduce insurance transaction costs, facilitate vessel value assessment, and improve risk management,” he said.
Gangcan Rao, Head of Instruments Implementation Support at IMO, praised the guidelines for addressing seaworthiness aspects effectively. He emphasized that fishing vessel safety depends not only on the vessel’s safety and seaworthiness but also on the competency of the captain and crew. “Basic safety training, as required by the IMO STCW-F Convention, will help reduce accidents and fatalities among small-scale fishers,” Rao added.
Prasun Kumar Das, Secretary General of APRACA, underscored the value of the guidelines for insurers in developing insurance products that meet the needs of small-scale fishers.
The validation meeting welcomed the updated draft guidelines and recommended further work on introducing a traffic light approach (green, yellow, red) for the stability, safety equipment, and structural inspection of small fishing vessels. They also suggested updating the HDPE vessel construction standards and using local experienced technicians for vessel surveys, as they are most familiar with traditional types and construction of fishing vessels. It was acknowledged that the type of timber used to construct wooden boats and the build quality of wooden and FRP vessels significantly impact the safety, seaworthiness, and lifespan of the vessels.
The validation meeting was held under the FAO-Lloyd’s Register Foundation Trust Fund project on “Guidelines for Inspection and Valuation of Small-Scale Fishing Vessels to Facilitate Insurance” (MTF/GLO/1161/LRF),