The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has opened an industry wide consultation on a new marine guidance note (MGN) to replace MGN 12 and is calling on all owners, skippers and crew of fishing vessels to get involved.

The note describes measures implemented by the Royal Navy to minimise the risk to fishing vessels operating in areas of submarine activity. It also explains how to obtain information about submarine activity and what action fishing vessel skippers need to take when operating in areas of submarine activity, particularly in the event of power from main, auxiliary and emergency power sources being lost.

This is necessary as in the event of a total power failure, there would be no radiated noise from the fishing vessel for a submarine to detect. As a result, before carrying out fishing operations in a known submarine exercise area, skippers are strongly urged to make use of the special broadcasts announcing submarine activity.

Comments should be forwarded to . This consultation will close on 21 March 2017.

This consultation and the comments received will be posted on the consultations page

Gov.uk.