Two UK Codes cover small commercial vessels under 24 m. They look similar but apply to different operations. Here's the plain-English test for which one is yours.
The one-line answer
Workboat Code Edition 3 covers commercial workboats — vessels used for work, not for paying passengers in a sport or pleasure context. MCA Sport & Pleasure Vessel Code 2025 covers chartered yachts, sport boats and motor cruisers — vessels used for pleasure, sport or instruction with paying passengers on board.
If your operation is taking passengers out for a day's sailing, a fishing trip, dolphin-watching, or instruction — you're SPV Code. If your operation is moving cargo, supporting offshore infrastructure, towing, pilot transfer, dive support, or commercial inshore fishing — you're Workboat Code.
The grey areas (and how to resolve them)
Charter RIBs — sport or work?
A RIB used for fast-passage passenger thrill rides falls under the SPV Code (sport / pleasure). The same hull used for wind-farm crew transfer falls under Workboat Code. The use determines the Code, not the hull.
Dive boats
If you're carrying paying recreational divers, you're SPV Code (pleasure). If you're carrying commercial divers as crew supporting underwater works, you're Workboat Code (work).
Sailing schools
Instructed-charter on a sailing school yacht is SPV Code. The instruction is the pleasure-vessel use case. Same vessel rented as a bareboat charter is also SPV Code.
Angling charters
Paying anglers being taken to fishing grounds is SPV Code. Commercial fishing as the operator's own business is fishing-vessel rules (different framework altogether — neither Workboat nor SPV).
Side-by-side
What about Irish vessels?
Irish coded vessels operate under the Marine Survey Office's Passenger Boat Licence (PBL) Classes P1–P6, which is independent of the UK Codes. If your vessel operates in both UK and Irish waters, you'll typically need both — the UK Code for UK operations and the Irish PBL for Irish operations. We cover this in detail in Irish PBL Classes P1–P6 explained.
Still unsure? Two questions
- Are the people on board paying for the experience? If yes → SPV Code (almost always).
- Is the vessel doing work that requires the crew on board? If yes → Workboat Code.
For edge cases — coastguard support, training vessels, hybrid charter / commercial operations — the recognised route is to ask your YDSA or MCA-recognised surveyor. They'll cite the specific paragraph in either Code that applies.
One app, both Codes
CodedOK loads the MCA SPV Code 2025, the Workboat Code Edition 3 and the Irish PBL as jurisdictions per vessel. Pick yours; the right schedule loads automatically.
Start free →Independent recordkeeping aid. Not endorsed by or affiliated with the MCA, YDSA or Marine Survey Office. Always consult your recognised surveyor on Code-specific questions.