Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers - 2025 Edition - Online reference only

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) provides regulatory framework and best-practice guidance to improve health and safety aboard UK-registered merchant ships. Endorsed by key industry and seafarer organizations, it targets all onboard personnel and shore-based safety responsibilities. This 2025 edition is intended for online reference only, not for onboard use, and includes updated structure, simplified language, and modernized design features to support quicker reference and consistent understanding.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages544

Reading Time22 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

About this Code

General

How to use this document

Key reference features

Managing occupational health and safety

Safety induction for personnel working on ships

Living on board

Emergency drills and procedures

Fire precautions

Security on board

Workplace health surveillance

Personal protective equipment

Safety signs and their use

Manual handling

Safe movement on board ship

Noise, vibration and other physical agents

Safety officials

Permit to work systems

Entering enclosed spaces

Hatch covers and access lids

Work at height

Provision, care and use of work equipment

Lifting equipment and operations

Work on machinery and power systems

Hazardous substances and mixtures

Boarding arrangements

Food preparation and handling in the catering department

Hot work

Painting

Anchoring, mooring and towing operations

Roll-on/roll-off ferries

Dry cargo

Tankers and other ships carrying bulk liquid cargoes

Port towage industry

Ships serving offshore oil and gas installations

Ships serving offshore renewables installations

Ergonomics

Shipyard safety

Appendix 1 Regulations, marine notices and guidance

Appendix 2 Other sources of information

Appendix 3 Standards and specifications referred to in this Code

Appendix 4 Acknowledgements

Glossary

Index

Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers 2025 Edition There is a legal requirement for the Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers (COSWP) to be carried, and readily accessible, onboard UK flagged merchant ships. This document includes the text and images from the COSWP 2025 edition. It does not match the published version and is intended for online reference only; it is not suitable for onboard use and inspection. The fully designed published version [is available to purchase from tsoshop.co.uk](is available to purchase from tsoshop.co.uk) Published by TSO (The Stationery Office), part of Williams Lea, and available from: Online [www.tsoshop.co.uk](www.tsoshop.co.uk) [Mail](Mail), Telephone & E-mail TSO PO Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN Telephone orders/General enquiries: 0333 202 5070 E-mail: [customer.services@tso.co. uk](customer.services@tso.co. uk) Textphone: 0333 202 5077 © Crown Copyright 2025. Published by The Stationery Office Limited, for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, under licence from the Controller of His Majesty’s Stationery Office. You may re-use the content in this document/publication free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. The design, cover design, images, photos, logos, and typographical arrangements are NOT subject to open government licence terms and cannot be reused. To view this licence, [visit www. national archives.gov. uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/](visit www. national archives.gov. uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/), or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, [and/or email: psi@national archives.gov. uk](and/or email: psi@national archives.gov. uk). ISBN 978 0 11 554153 7 Printed in the United Kingdom for The Stationery Office Limited. SD000253 Contents About this Code v How to use this document x 1 Managing occupational health and safety 1 2 Safety induction for personnel working on ships 29 3 Living on board 35 4 Emergency drills and procedures 53 5 Fire precautions 71 6 Security on board 75 7 Workplace health surveillance 79 8 Personal protective equipment 85 9 Safety signs and their use 99 10 Manual handling 117 11 Safe movement on board ship 129 12 Noise, vibration and other physical agents 143 13 Safety officials 163 14 Permit to work systems 185 15 Entering enclosed spaces 205 16 Hatch covers and access lids 227 17 Work at height 233 18 Provision, care and use of work equipment 249 19 Lifting equipment and operations 279 20 Work on machinery and power systems 309 21 Hazardous substances and mixtures 337 22 Boarding arrangements 349 23 Food preparation and handling in the catering department 365 24 Hot work 377 25 Painting 393 26 Anchoring, mooring and towing operations 397 27 Roll-on/roll-off ferries 415 28 Dry cargo 429 29 Tankers and other ships carrying bulk liquid cargoes 441 30 Port towage industry 447 31 Ships serving offshore oil and gas installations 451 32 Ships serving offshore renewables installations 465 33 Ergonomics 471 34 Shipyard safety 479 Appendix 1 Regulations, marine notices and guidance issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency 485 Appendix 2 Other sources of information 499 Appendix 3 Standards and specifications referred to in this Code 509 Appendix 4 Acknowledgements 517 Glossary 521 Index 525 Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers About this Code v About this Code General 1. This Code is published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and endorsed by the National Maritime Occupational Health and Safety Committee, UK Chamber of Shipping, Nautilus International and the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) as best practice guidance for improving health and safety on board ship. 2. It is intended primarily for merchant seafarers on UK-registere

FAQs

What is the purpose of the COSWP 2025 Code for merchant seafarers?

It provides regulatory framework and best-practice guidance to improve health and safety aboard ship, supporting safe working through practical information and safety management guidance.

Who is the COSWP intended for on ships and ashore?

It is intended primarily for merchant seafarers on UK-registered ships and is addressed to everyone on board regardless of rank, as well as those ashore responsible for safety and implementation.

Can the COSWP 2025 online version be used onboard for inspection?

No. The document notes it does not match the published version and is intended for online reference only, not suitable for onboard use and inspection.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick