Article 6 Marking of fishing vessels

F1A F2United Kingdom fishing vessel shall be marked as follows:

1. (a)

   the letter(s) of the port or district in which the United Kingdom fishing vessels is registered and the number(s) under which it is registered shall be painted or displayed on both sides of the bow, as high above the water as possible so as to be clearly visible from the sea and the air, in a colour contrasting with the background on which they are painted;

2. (b)

   for United Kingdom fishing vessels over 10 metres length overall and less than 17 metres length overall, the height of the letters and numbers shall be at least 25 centimetres with a line thickness of at least 4 centimetres. For United Kingdom fishing vessels of 17 metres length overall or more, the height of the letters and numbers shall be at least 45 centimetres, with a line thickness of at least 6 centimetres;

3. (c)

   F3a fisheries administration may require the international radio call sign (IRCS) or the external registration letters and numbers to be painted on top of the wheelhouse, so as to be clearly visible from the air, in a colour contrasting with the ground on which it is painted;

4. (d)

   the contrasting colours shall be white and black;

5. (e)

   the external registration letters and numbers painted or displayed on the hull of the United Kingdom fishing vessel shall not be removable, effaced, altered, illegible, covered or concealed.

F4As from 1 January 2016, the International Maritime Organisation ship identification number scheme, as adopted by Resolution A.1078(28) on 4 December 2013 and as referred to in Chapter XI-1, Regulation 3 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, shall apply to:

1. (a)

   United Kingdom fishing vessels or fishing vessels controlled by United Kingdom operators under a chartering arrangement, of 100 tons of Gross Tonnage or 100 tons of Gross Registered Tonnage and above, or 24 metres length overall and above, operating exclusively inside United Kingdom waters;

2. (b)

   all United Kingdom fishing vessels or fishing vessels controlled by United Kingdom operators under a chartering arrangement, of 15 metres length overall and above, operating outside United Kingdom waters;

3. (c)

   all third country fishing vessels authorised to carry out fishing activities in United Kingdom waters.