4. Stability for specific types of vessels and floating objects
From the stability point of view, fishing vessels may be treated as special due to a number of design features related to their operational requirements. Fishing vessels are also specific because of a well-known regulatory paradox: despite the fact that fishing is recognized as one of the most hazardous occupations, the major international regulations addressing various aspects of stability and safety are not mandatory for this type of ships.
The problem is particularly evident in case of small fishing vessels whose length does not exceed 24 m. A group of papers dealing with practical measures on how to tackle the safety of such vessels could be distinguished. The safety of small fishing vessels is the subject of the study by Gudmundsson (2013) where the Safety Recommendations for decked fishing vessels of less than 12 m in length and undecked fishing vessels, jointly developed by IMO, ILO and FAO, have been presented. McKay et al. (2012) presented a government-supported educational and advisory programme that does not directly deal with the stability, but primarily addresses the safety-related habits of the crew (the Safest Catch program). On the other hand, the contribution by McCue (2012) presented a cost-efficient iOS-based solution (an app) SCraMP, that supplies the fishing boat crew with a “safety index” (calculated upon measured roll, heave and pitch motions), roll period and metacentric height and warns of risks associated with large amplitude motions.