Report on Appointment of Surveyor’s of Jersey Fishing Vessels.
Article 126 of the Shipping (Fishing Vessel Safety Provisions) Jersey Order 2004 requires that all fishing vessels over 12m in length are surveyed and inspected in accordance with parts II and III of that order. Previously this responsibility has been undertaken by Mr R Medler of R J Maritime who was formally appointed by the Harbours and Airport Committee in 2001. Mr Medler is starting to reduce his work load in preparation for retirement so it has become necessary to appoint a new surveyor/s.
Mr Medler is associated with MECAL who are a UK based, MCA approved, Certifying Authority and survey organisation. MECAL (Jersey) Ltd is a branch within MECAL who are already the appointed surveyors and Certifying Authority for Jersey Commercial Vessels under the Jersey Commercial Vessels COP and are on the Shipping Registrar’s Technical Committee.
It is proposed therefore that MECAL (Jersey) Ltd is best placed to take on the survey regime of Jersey Registered Fishing Vessels. Mr Medler has agreed to be available to MECAL to provide advice on the Jersey Fishing Fleet as he knows the boats and operators well, having been involved with the Jersey Fleet since the early 1990’s.
MECAL have a quality control system which identifies the standard of qualification and experience a surveyor must reach prior to being appointed to carry out a specific survey task this standard is approved of by Jersey Harbours and the registrar
The proposal is that MECAL Jersey Ltd are formally appointed as surveyors under Part 10 article 154(2), of the Shipping (Jersey) Law 2002, as amended, and articles 124(2), 127 and 134 of the Shipping (Fishing Vessel Safety Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2004 as Surveyors of Jersey Fishing Vessels.
As a result of this appointment, MECAL (Jersey) Ltd will be responsible in particular for the full survey and interim inspection regime for Jersey fishing vessels of 12 metres in length or over. MECAL (Jersey) Ltd will use only appropriately qualified and trained surveyors. They also undertake to check compliance with other relevant maritime legislation such as the Shipping (Employment of Young People) (Jersey) Order 2007 and the Shipping (Fishing Vessels – Safety Training) (Jersey) order 2004.
MECAL (Jersey) Ltd will in the first instance bring issues of suspected or actual non-compliance to the attention of the Harbour Master, keeping the Registrar of Shipping informed as appropriate.
Jersey Harbours will continue to administer the legislative compliance of vessel under 12m in length who operate in Jersey.
The Assistant Registrar will continue to have oversight to ensure only fishing vessels that comply fully with the Shipping (Registration) (Jersey) Regulations 2004 are registered.
Report Compiled By;
Captain P Lawrence Assistant Harbour Master Jersey Harbours
Date 3 rd June 2009