COSWP Chapter 34 — A Giant Leap for Shipyard Safety

In the 2025 edition of COSWP — the UK’s authoritative guide on health and safety at sea — Chapter 34 represents a new chapter not just in the book, but in how we think about shipyard and onboard safety.

What’s New About Chapter 34?

This chapter is dedicated to guidance on shipyard safety. It brings structured, up-to-date best practice for working safely in environments where vessels are built, maintained, repaired or otherwise serviced. It’s practical, modern, and designed to speak directly to the realities of today’s maritime workplaces.

Why This Matters

Between heavy machinery, enclosed spaces, moving vehicles, and a global workforce with diverse backgrounds, there’s no room for ambiguity when it comes to safety.

Chapter 34 helps sharpen that focus in several ways:

• Clarity – It pulls together safety principles specifically for shipyard operations.

• Modernisation – Reflects current industry expectations and safety challenges.

• Usability – Designed to be easier to reference and apply than older guidance.

A Culture of Safety

One of the biggest wins with Chapter 34 isn’t the rules themselves — it’s the signal it sends to the maritime community: safety evolves with practice and experience. It’s not stagnant, it’s not outdated, and it certainly isn’t optional.

It reinforces something every seafarer knows instinctively: your safety matters — because your life and your crew depend on it.

Introduction of the Interface Document

Effective communication and coordination between the shipyard and ship’s staff are essential for the management of safety on board.

The interface document should include:

● identification of personnel, roles and responsibilities

● communications and safety procedures

● cross-references to the works’ project plan

● emergency plans.

The interface document is the cornerstone of safe shipyard operations, acting as the single point of truth for how the ship’s staff and the shipyard work together without anyone making dangerous assumptions.

Its purpose is to clearly define who is responsible for what, how information is shared, and how safety is managed while the vessel is under construction or repair. At a minimum, it should identify key personnel and their roles, set out agreed communication and safety procedures, cross-reference the shipyard’s project plan, and detail emergency arrangements.

To be effective, the document must be written in the working language(s) used both on board and within the yard, formally approved by the shipowner, and kept under joint review by the ship and shipyard—especially when there are changes to personnel, the working environment, or work processes, or following any incident.

Alongside this, the shipyard should provide a safety arrangement plan based on the vessel’s general arrangement, clearly showing fire-fighting equipment, safety gear, muster points, escape routes and emergency procedures. This plan must be prominently displayed, kept up to date, and placed at vessel access points, with all seafarers, contractors and third-party personnel properly briefed and familiarised.

Done properly, the interface document isn’t just paperwork—it’s a living safety tool that keeps everyone aligned and, more importantly, keeps people safe.

A Forward-Looking Step for Seafarers Everywhere

So whether you’re a seasoned Chief Officer, a cadet fresh off the gangway, or a shoreside manager looking to reinforce safety culture across your fleet, Chapter 34 is a welcome addition to COSWP.

It’s a reminder that regulations aren’t just boxes to tick — they’re living guidance, shaped by experience, updated for relevance, and ultimately meant to protect the people who keep our ships moving.

Here’s to safer seas and smarter practices, one chapter at a time.

Plymouth Marine Solutions provides expert vessel compliance services across the UK, supporting operators with everything from the development of Safety Management Systems (SMS) and ISM documentation to bespoke marine consultancy solutions. Find out more here: https://www.plymouthmarinesolutions.com/vesselcompliance