Vessel inspection and risk assessment
Accidents at sea in small-scale fisheries are common. Small‑scale fishers need safe fishing vessels, but the design, construction, seaworthiness and safety equipment of small fishing vessels are not regulated in most countries. Small fishing vessel design and construction guidance is provided in various FAO/ILO/IMO documents. Practical guidance for conducting seaworthiness and safety inspections of decked fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length and undecked fishing vessels was missing so far.
Therefore, FAO, in close collaboration with IMO, vessel inspectors and naval architects, developed in 2024 - 2025 the Guidelines for the seaworthiness and safety inspection of small fishing vessels. These guidelines contribute to the prevention of accidents with small fishing vessels; reduce damage and loss in small‑scale fisheries; and make commercial fishing a safer profession. Moreover, these Guidelines facilitate the supply of insurance services for small fishing vessels worldwide, with an emphasis on small‑scale fishers in developing countries.
The document provides practical guidance for conducting safety inspections of small fishing vessels, covering several hull materials, structural integrity checks, machinery, vessel stability and test procedures, safety equipment, reporting and documentation. It also helps fishing vessel owners to assess the safety and seaworthiness of their vessels themselves, thereby contributing to increased safety awareness and risk management within small-scale fisheries.
A second set of guidelines was prepared in parallel by FAO with the Africa Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA), Asia‑Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), fishing vessel insurers and boat builders. The Guidelines for insurance value and risk assessment of small fishing vessels have been developed to facilitate the provision of insurance services to the small‑scale fisheries sector worldwide. The purpose of these guidelines is to enable the insurance industry to develop tailored products for small-scale fishers and to support collaboration and sharing of information among insurance providers. The guidelines focus on motorized small fishing vessels, defined as those up to 12 metres in length and typically using outboard motors or inboard engines.
The document describes the existing methods for value and risk assessment of small fishing vessels. It provides recommended value and risk assessment methods for small fishing vessels, engines and onboard equipment. The guidelines recommend a standardized, rule-based fast-track assessment process, suited for low- risk vessels which represent most small fishing vessels.
The guidelines development process was supported by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation through its financing of the FAO project on “Guidelines for the inspection and valuation of small‑scale fishing vessels to facilitate insurance” (MTF/GLO/1161/LRF). The process involved an expert workshop in 2024 and a guidelines validation meeting in 2025, and review and endorsement processes in FAO, IMO, APRACA and AFRACA.
Both guidelines complement the 2015 Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small‑Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines).