More than a quarter of the English inshore fleet has already installed their onboard devices

By the end of this year, government legislation will make I-VMS installation and operation a legal requirement for any vessel fishing in English inshore seas that is under 12 meters in length.

Installation and grant submission deadlines were established for each of the four tranches at the start of the I-VMS project rollout.

By using a phased approach, the I-VMS Hub will provide fishers enough time to select, purchase, schedule installation, and test signal transmission with their suppliers before the end of their tranche.

Later in the roll-out, when the fleet’s smaller ships start purchasing devices, it also accounts for the anticipated rise in demand for devices and installation.

Even though Tranche 3 (6m–7.99m) is making great progress, there are still a few fishers in Tranche 1 (10m–11.99m) and Tranche 2 (8m–9.99m) who have not yet taken action, which could delay obtaining the £650 grant money that is available to aid with purchase and installation costs.

The I-VMS support and engagement team is getting in touch with as many of those fishermen as they can to offer guidance and support so they can take immediate action and apply for the grant funding payments to which all fishermen are eligible.

Transmissions of test signals may have been delayed by any remaining integration problems with the I-VMS Hub, but such difficulties have now now been resolved.

The I-VMS Support and Engagement Team would like to thank the fishermen for their warm welcome, input, and project suggestions after recently conducting a series of informal port visits.

Members of the team joined MMO colleagues on the quayside at North Shields, Scarborough, Whitby, and Plymouth to address concerns and offer guidance to those in the English under-12m fleet who have not yet purchased and installed their preferred vessel monitoring system.

Please keep a watch on MMO’s posts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information about upcoming coastal visits.

Additionally, the MMO has updated the I-VMS webpages and added new online instructions for buying, installing, transmitting test signals, and applying for awards.