Firmās business boost from embracing Workboat Code Edition 3
Safety, simplicity and support for new technology. Those were the goals of the new Workboat Code Edition 3 when it was launched by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 2023.
For Marine Plant Hire (UK) Ltd, based in Dawlish, Devon,Ā andĀ operatingĀ around the UK, thereĀ hasĀ alsoĀ beenĀ aĀ clearĀ bottom-lineĀ business benefit.Ā
Ben Wheatley, the companyāsĀ Marine Superintendent, sharesĀ his experienceĀ as the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)Ā andĀ Workboat Association issueĀ a joint message to the sector,Ā encouragingĀ operators to get ready forĀ the next step of the Codeās implementation.Ā
TheĀ adviceĀ is:Ā checkĀ the code,Ā prepareĀ the vessel,Ā bookĀ the survey.
Read moreĀ aboutĀ the 13 DecemberĀ 2026Ā transition date and who it applies to: United message forĀ Workboat CodeĀ Edition 3 deadline:Ā āCheck. Prepare. Bookā
Ben, whose background is aĀ certifiedĀ Master,Ā believesĀ embracing the CodeĀ is an āinvestmentāĀ that, with forward planning,Ā hasĀ strengthened clientsā confidenceĀ inĀ Marine Plant Hire (UK)Ā LtdāsĀ capabilitiesĀ and fueled its expansion.Ā
He said:
Essentially, itĀ makes you more commercially resilient ā clients are seeing the value in the Code.
ø鱚²¹»åĢżWorkboat Code Edition 3: The safety of small workboats and pilot boats - a code of practice.
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AsĀ Workboat Code Edition 3 approached,Ā Marine Plant Hire (UK) LtdĀ understood howĀ advantageousĀ it would be to lead the sector with vessels properly coded, andĀ theĀ strong position it would put the company in.
We grew and grewĀ rapidly;Ā we invested in tonnage.Ā All of that requires a comprehensiveĀ approach to safety management and coding.
Marine Plant Hire (UK) LtdĀ sprang from its sister company, TMS Maritime, a marine and civil engineering contractor, andĀ now has about 24 vessels. Half of those to which the Code applies have now been fully certified, including required crew training. The restĀ areĀ expected to be compliant by 13 December this year.Ā
PlottingĀ theĀ courseĀ to confident complianceĀ literallyĀ startedĀ withĀ BenĀ getting out calendarsĀ āĀ clearly marking whenĀ vessels needed certifying, as well as budget and other factors, and treating the process asĀ a distinctĀ part of the business.Ā
BenĀ accepts there is expense butĀ notes the potential savings and improved crew welfare through safety gains and maintenance efficiencies.Ā Ā
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I personally believe theĀ Workboat Code Edition 3Ā is guiding operators into a more seamanlike, professional manner ā the kind I saw during my career as Master on bigger ships.
WeĀ cannot know how many accidents weĀ haveĀ not hadĀ because of how we improved the vesselsĀ andĀ crewĀ skills,Ā suchĀ asĀ passageĀ planning.Ā YouāreĀ alsoĀ reducing the riskĀ ofĀ pollution,Ā incidentsĀ and damage āĀ saving you moneyĀ justĀ fromĀ avoidingĀ breakdowns.
āStart nowāĀ is Benās advice:
Get your calendars out with the dates for each workboat and allow for that in your business model so you are not caught out.Ā ItāsĀ a project.
ThereāsĀ no need to panic. There is lots of help interpreting the Code from industry organisations, like the Workboat Association.Ā Have a call with a surveyor for guidance. Find online guidance from certifying authorities.
He concluded:
Marine Plant Hire (UK)Ā Ltd has decidedĀ itāsĀ worth making the investment ā and the most efficient way to do that is not to start in December 2026.