1. Scope
1.1 The obligations set forth in this appendix apply to new fishing vessels, considering:
a) the operational characteristics for which they were designed;
b) the maximum operating distance;
c) the navigation and fishing time autonomy;
d) the safety requirements of the workplaces or fishing activities; and
e) the circumstances or evidence of risks on board.
2. Seaworthiness and Stability
2.1 The vessel must be kept in good seaworthy condition and equipped with appropriate equipment for its intended use.
2.2 Information about the vessel’s stability characteristics, when required, must be available on board and accessible to the service personnel.
2.3 Every vessel must maintain its intact stability for the intended service conditions, and it is the responsibility of the fishing master to take necessary precautionary measures.
2.4 The instructions regarding the vessel’s stability must be strictly observed.
3. Installations
3.1 Electrical Installations
3.1.1 The electrical installations must be designed and assembled safely, ensuring:
a) the protection of the crew and the vessel against electrical hazards;
b) the proper functioning of the equipment necessary to maintain the vessel in normal operating and habitability conditions, without resorting to an emergency power source; and
c) the operation of essential electrical equipment for safety in emergency situations.
3.1.2 The vessel must be equipped with an emergency power source.
3.1.2.1 The emergency power source must be located outside the engine room and designed in all cases to ensure, in the event of fire or failure of the main electrical installation, the simultaneous operation for at least 3 hours of:
a) the internal communication system, fire detectors, and emergency signs;
b) navigation lights and emergency lighting;
c) the radiocommunication system; and
d) the emergency electric pump for fire or flooding, if present.
3.1.2.2 When the accumulator battery is used as a source, it must be automatically connected to the emergency power distribution panel and ensure uninterrupted power for 3 hours to the systems referred to in items “a”, “b”, and “c” of subitem 3.1.2.1.
3.1.3 The main electricity distribution panel and the emergency panel must:
a) be installed in such a way as not to be exposed to water or fire;
b) have clear indications; and
c) be periodically checked regarding the fuse boxes and supports to ensure that fuses with a current rating suitable for the circuit’s current intensity are used.
3.1.4 The compartments where the electrical accumulators are housed must be adequately ventilated.
3.2 Other Installations
3.2.1 The electronic navigation devices must be frequently tested and kept in perfect working condition.
3.2.2 The radiocommunication installation must be capable of contacting, at any time, at least one coastal or inland station, taking into account the normal propagation conditions of radio waves, in compliance with the technical requirements established by maritime authority regulations.
3.2.3 The traction, loading, and unloading equipment and similar accessories must be kept in good working condition, periodically inspected, and annually certified.
3.2.4 Refrigeration installations and compressed air systems must be adequately maintained and subjected to periodic inspections.
3.2.5 Kitchen equipment and household appliances using gases should only be used in ventilated spaces.
3.2.6 Cylinders containing flammable or other dangerous gases must be clearly marked with their contents and stored in open spaces.
3.2.6.1 The pressure regulator valves and piping connected to the cylinders must be protected against damage from impact.
4. Emergency Routes and Exits
4.1 The routes and exits to be used in an emergency must:
a) always remain unobstructed;
b) be easily accessible and adequately signed, with clear indications of the exit direction; and
c) lead as directly as possible to the upper level or a safety zone and from there to the rescue boats, so that workers can quickly evacuate work and accommodation areas in maximum safety conditions.
4.1.1 The number, distribution, and dimensions of the routes must be in accordance with the use, equipment, and maximum number of people who may be in those locations.
4.1.2 The signs must be placed in suitable places and be durable.
4.2 The exits that may be used as emergency exits and must remain closed must allow easy and quick opening by any worker or rescue team.
4.3 The doors and other emergency exits must:
a) maintain weather or water tightness, depending on the location, considering their specific functions in relation to safety; and
b) offer the same fire resistance as the partitions.
4.4 The emergency routes, means of abandonment, and exits that require lighting must be equipped with an emergency lighting system of sufficient intensity in case of failure of the normal system.
5. Fire Detection and Fighting
5.1 The accommodations and enclosed workplaces, including the engine room and fishing holds, must have adequate firefighting devices and, if necessary, fire detectors and alarm systems, according to the dimensions and use of the vessel, the equipment it is equipped with, the physical and chemical characteristics of the substances on board, and the maximum number of people who may be on board.
5.1.1 The firefighting devices must be:
a) installed in easily accessible, unobstructed, and signed locations; and
b) kept in perfect working condition.
5.1.2 Workers must be informed about the location, operation mechanisms, and usage of firefighting devices.
5.1.3 It is mandatory to verify the presence of extinguishers and other firefighting equipment on board before any vessel departs from port.
5.1.4 Portable firefighting devices must be easily accessible and operable and be clearly signed.
5.1.4.1 The signs must be placed in suitable locations and permanently maintained.
5.2 Fire detection and alarm systems must be regularly tested and kept in good working condition.
5.3 Firefighting drills involving the entire crew must be conducted at least once a year and whenever necessary.
6. Workplaces
6.1 Work Environments
6.1.1 Enclosed workplaces must have sufficient ventilation, according to the working methods and the physical demands placed on workers.
6.1.1.1 Mechanical ventilation must be kept in good working condition.
6.1.2 The temperature in workplaces must be appropriate to the human body during working hours, taking into account the working methods employed, the physical demands placed on workers, and the prevailing or possible weather conditions in the area where the vessel operates.
6.1.3 Workplaces, as far as possible, must receive sufficient natural light and be equipped with artificial lighting suitable for fishing circumstances that do not endanger the workers’ safety and health or the navigation of other vessels.
6.1.3.1 The lighting installations of workplaces, stairs, and corridors must be chosen in such a way as not to pose risks of accidents for workers or hinder the vessel’s navigation.
6.1.3.2 Workplaces where workers are particularly exposed to risks in case of artificial lighting failure must have emergency lighting of adequate intensity, kept in effective working condition and periodically tested.
6.1.3.3 Workstations must be provided with sufficient acoustic and thermal insulation, considering the type of tasks and the physical activity of professional fishermen.
6.2 Floors, Partitions, and Ceilings
6.2.1 All areas accessible to workers must have non-slip floors or fall protection devices and be free of obstacles.
6.2.2 The surfaces of floors, partitions, and ceilings must be easy to clean.
6.3 Doors
6.3.1 Doors, especially sliding doors when indispensable, must operate with maximum safety for workers, especially in adverse sea and weather conditions.
6.3.2 All doors must be openable from the inside without the need for specific devices, such as keys or similar.
6.3.3 Doors must be openable from both sides in work compartments.
6.4 Circulation Paths and Hazardous Areas
6.4.1 An embarkation ladder, gangway, or similar device providing appropriate and safe access to the vessel must be available.
6.4.2 Corridors, intersections, outer parts of compartments, and all circulation paths on the vessel must be equipped with handrails, handholds, or other means ensuring the crew’s safety during their activities on board.
6.4.3 If there is a risk of workers falling through the hatchway or from one deck to another, adequate guardrails must be installed in all necessary locations.
6.4.3.1 The guardrails must have a minimum height of 1.20 m (one meter and twenty centimeters), intermediate protections, and a 0.20 m (twenty centimeters) toe board.
6.4.4 Access openings to deck or superstructure areas used for installation maintenance must be designed to ensure workers’ safety.
6.4.5 Bulwarks and other means installed to prevent falls overboard must be kept in good condition and allow for quick drainage of water.
6.4.6 In stern trawling systems equipped with a ramp on the upper part, there must be a gate or other safety device of the same height as the bulwarks to protect workers from falling.
6.4.6.1 The device must be easily opened and closed, preferably by remote control, and opened only to deploy or retrieve the net.
7. Operational Safety
7.1 Work areas must be prepared for their purpose and provide adequate protection for workers against falls on board or overboard.
7.1.1 Fish handling areas must be sufficiently spacious in terms of height and working area, considering the number of professional fishermen required for the operation.
7.2 Engine controls must be installed in a specific, separate location with acoustic and thermal insulation.
7.2.1 When located in the engine room, engine controls must have independent access.
7.2.2 The bridge is considered a location that meets all the requirements mentioned in item 7.2.
7.3 Traction equipment controls must:
a) be installed in a sufficiently wide area, designed to facilitate operation;
b) allow easy visualization of the work area; and
c) ensure that operators are not exposed to accident risks from cables and moving parts.
7.4 Traction equipment must be equipped with emergency stop devices located where they can be directly operated by the operator or other professional fishermen.
7.5 The operator of traction equipment controls must have an adequate view of the equipment’s movement and the workers engaged in the task.
7.5.1 When traction equipment is operated from the bridge, the operator must have a clear view of the equipment’s movement area and the workers involved in the task, either directly or by other adequate means.
7.6 The communication system between the bridge and the work deck must be adequate and reliable.
7.7 Strict vigilance must be maintained, as well as an audible and visual alert system for the crew, regarding the imminent risk of wave strikes during fishing operations or when work is being performed on deck.
7.8 The uncovered moving parts of winches, trawl cables, and equipment components must be protected by appropriate mechanisms.
7.9 Load movement control systems must be installed, especially in trawling systems, including:
a) mechanisms to lock the trawl net door; and
b) mechanisms to control the trawl net’s cup swing.
7.10 Personal protective equipment used as clothing or worn over clothing must be in bright colors to contrast with the marine environment and be highly visible.
8. Habitability and Living Areas on Board
8.1 Basic Requirements
8.1.1 The location, structure, acoustic and thermal insulation, and layout of the living areas on board, including dormitories, dining areas, sanitary facilities, recreational areas, laundry, and access to these, must provide adequate protection against weather and sea conditions, vibrations, noise, and emanations from other areas that may disturb workers during their meals and rest periods.
8.1.2 The living areas on board must have adequate free height.
8.1.2.1 In areas where workers must stand for prolonged periods, the height must not be less than 1.9 m (one meter and ninety centimeters).
8.1.2.2 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), the free height in the living areas must not be less than 2.0 m (two meters).
8.1.2.3 The maritime authority may allow a reduction in the free height in living areas if reasonable and if it does not result in discomfort for professional fishermen.
8.1.3 The living areas designated for dormitories must not directly connect to fish storage holds or engine rooms, except through openings to be used exclusively as emergency exits.
8.1.3.1 If reasonable and feasible, direct communication between dormitory areas and kitchen, pantry, collective sanitary facilities, and laundry areas should be avoided.
8.1.3.2 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), the dormitory areas must not directly connect to fish holds, engine rooms, kitchens, pantries, laundries, and collective sanitary facilities, except through openings exclusively intended as emergency exits.
8.1.4 The living areas must be adequately insulated, and the materials constituting the interior partitions, dividers, and floor coverings must be suitable to ensure a healthy environment on board.
8.1.5 The living areas must have a water drainage system.
8.1.6 All spaces in the living areas together must have at least two emergency exits on opposite sides.
8.1.7 The temperature in dormitories, service areas, dining rooms, and first aid stations must be appropriate to the specific use of each place.
8.1.8 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred) must have leisure facilities, games, books, and other appropriate entertainment means.
8.1.9 Workers on board must have access to available communication equipment at a cost not exceeding the cost price.
8.1.10 The living areas for fishermen must be kept in adequate cleanliness conditions, and the storage of material or merchandise other than personal use items by their occupants is not allowed in these areas.
8.2 Thermal and Acoustic Comfort
8.2.1 Noise levels in living areas must be minimized.
8.2.1.1 In the dormitory areas of professional fishermen, noise levels must be limited to a maximum of 65 dB(A).
8.2.2 The living areas must be protected against vibration transmission from engines, lifting equipment, and the engine room.
8.2.3 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred) must have living areas with acoustic insulation and vibration absorption systems to ensure a maximum noise level of 65 dB(A).
8.2.3.1 In the dormitory areas of professional fishermen on vessels referred to in subitem 8.2.3, the maximum noise levels must be 60 dB(A).
8.2.4 The ventilation of living areas must consider the climatic conditions of the operational area provided for in the vessel’s design, continuously providing an adequate air renewal in relation to the maximum number of workers on board.
8.2.4.1 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred) must be equipped with an artificial ventilation system in the living areas capable of continuously regulating air circulation in any atmospheric and climatic conditions.
8.2.5 The living areas of vessels designed to operate outside the Tropical Zones or subject to temperatures below 15ºC must have a heating system capable of ensuring an adequate level of heating.
8.2.5.1 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), an air conditioning system must be installed in the living areas, command bridge, radio room, and central engine control rooms, as well as in workplaces where necessary, except those regularly operating in areas where climatic conditions render thermal control measures unnecessary.
8.3 Dormitories
8.3.1 When the design, dimensions, or operational fishing characteristics for which the vessel was designed permit, dormitories must be located near the vessel’s center of gravity, where the effects of movement and acceleration are minimized, and their installation forward of the collision bulkhead is not permitted.
8.3.2 The dormitory areas, excluding spaces occupied by beds and wardrobes, must provide professional fishermen with adequate space and comfort, considering the duration of the fishing operations for which the vessel was designed.
8.3.2.1 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) but less than 50.0 m (fifty meters), or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred) but less than 500 (five hundred), must have a minimum free area of 1.0 m² (one square meter) per worker on board in dormitories, excluding spaces occupied by beds and wardrobes.
8.3.2.2 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 50.0 m (fifty meters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 500 (five hundred), the free area must be 1.5 m² (one meter and fifty centimeters squared) per worker.
8.3.3 The maximum number of workers per dormitory shall not exceed six.
8.3.3.1 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), the maximum number of workers shall not exceed four, and the number of officers shall not exceed two per dormitory.
8.3.3.2 The maritime authority may allow exceptions to subitems 8.3.3 and 8.3.3.1 of this Appendix in particular cases where their application is unreasonable or unfeasible, according to the type of vessel, its dimensions, and the service for which it is intended.
8.3.4 The maximum number of people per dormitory must be indicated legibly and indelibly in an easily visible place at the dormitory entrance.
8.3.5 Professional fishermen must have individual beds of appropriate dimensions with mattresses made of suitable materials.
8.3.5.1 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), bed dimensions must not be less than 1.90 x 0.68 m (one meter ninety by sixty-eight centimeters).
8.3.6 Dormitories must be equipped with furniture that facilitates cleaning and provides comfort to professional fishermen, including beds, individual wardrobes, and a desk in each dormitory.
8.3.6.1 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), dormitories must be separated by gender.
8.3.6.2 On smaller vessels, dormitories must be managed to provide men and women on board with an adequate level of privacy.
8.3.7 There must be coat racks or wardrobes outside the dormitory areas for hanging used work clothes or waterproof coats.
8.3.8 The shipowner must provide the vessel with appropriate bedding for each bed on board.
8.4 Sanitary Facilities
8.4.1 Vessels with dormitories must be equipped with sanitary facilities consisting of sinks, toilets, and showers protected against rust and slippage, easy to clean, and in sufficient number for the number of workers, in accordance with maritime and health authority regulations.
8.4.1.1 The sanitary facilities must:
a) be ventilated with free air independent of any other part of the living areas;
b) be designed and operated to eliminate the risk of contamination of other areas of the vessel;
c) provide privacy for workers in their use; and
d) have sufficient fresh, hot, and cold water to ensure adequate hygiene for workers during their entire stay on board.
8.4.1.2 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), fishermen occupying dormitories with private sanitary facilities must have at least one shower, one toilet, and one washbasin for every four people.
8.5 Dining Rooms
8.5.1 Dining rooms must be close to the kitchen.
8.5.1.1 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), dining rooms must be separate from dormitories.
8.5.2 The dimensions and equipment of the dining room must be adequate to accommodate at least 1/3 (one-third) of the workers on board at a time.
8.5.3 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), workers must have access to a refrigerator of adequate volume and the possibility to prepare hot and cold drinks.
8.6 Kitchen, Food Preparation Area, and Pantry
8.6.1 All vessels must have an adequate place with the necessary utensils and equipment to prepare food.
8.6.1.1 Whenever possible, a kitchen should be installed in a separate area exclusively for this purpose.
8.6.1.2 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred) must be equipped with a separate kitchen.
8.6.2 The kitchen or food preparation area must be of adequate dimensions, well lit, ventilated, and properly maintained.
8.6.3 When liquefied gas is used for cooking, the containers must be properly stored in the external area of the vessel.
8.6.4 There must be an adequate place, of sufficient size, properly ventilated and dry, for storing provisions to prevent their deterioration during the trip.
8.6.4.1 Vessels without refrigerators must be equipped with other devices that can be used to keep food stored at low temperatures.
8.6.4.2 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred) must have a pantry and refrigerator or another specific place for storing food at low temperatures.
8.6.5 The kitchen, pantry, and food preparation areas must be kept in good hygiene conditions.
8.6.6 All waste and food scraps must be deposited in closed containers, kept out of food handling areas, and disposed of according to current environmental regulations.
8.6.7 Sufficient provisioning of food and potable water must be ensured in quantity, quality, variety, and nutritional value, considering the number of fishermen on board, their religious and cultural dietary requirements, as well as the duration and nature of the trip.
8.6.7.1 The competent authority may establish minimum requirements for the nutritional value of the food and the minimum quantities of food and water to be taken on board.
8.7 Laundry
8.7.1 Vessels with dormitories must have facilities for washing and drying clothes as necessary, considering the vessel’s usage conditions.
8.7.1.1 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred) must have facilities for washing, drying, and ironing clothes.
8.7.1.2 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 50.0 m (fifty meters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 500 (five hundred), facilities for washing, drying, and ironing clothes must be separate from dormitories, dining rooms, sanitary facilities, and must be in a sufficiently ventilated place equipped with ropes or other means for drying clothes.
8.8 Health Care Facilities
8.8.1 Whenever necessary, an isolated dormitory must be provided for a sick or injured fisherman.
8.8.1.1 Vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 50.0 m (fifty meters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 500 (five hundred) must have a separate infirmary, adequately equipped and maintained in hygienic conditions.
8.8.2 All vessels must have first aid supplies in accordance with maritime and health authority regulations.
9. Periodic Inspections
9.1 On vessels with a total length equal to or greater than 26.5 m (twenty-six meters and fifty centimeters) or Gross Tonnage equal to or greater than 100 (one hundred), the fishing master or another professional fisherman authorized by him must conduct periodic inspections to ensure that the living areas are in adequate habitability and safety conditions.
9.1.1 Periodic inspections must verify if the vessel has sufficient food and potable water in good condition.
9.1.2 The inspection results must be recorded in the logbook, along with the measures taken to address any detected anomalies.