Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers

Code: BHMSO110

COSWP is a comprehensive set of guidelines and best practices designed to ensure the safety and health of seafarers working on merchant vessels.

Weight(kg): 1.90
£26.95 ex VAT


The code has undergone a comprehensive redesign and modernisation process aimed at improving its structure, ensure consistency, and simplify its language. The use of recurring design features will facilitate quicker reference and enhance overall clarity and ease of understanding. 

One notable change is the transition of the physical format from loose-leaf to bound. This shift is intended to enhance the end-user experience, eliminate the need for annual manual updates, and provide a more cost-effective and sustainable solution. 

Industry played a central role throughout the review process. Industry focus groups, representing diverse user groups, were convened to assess concepts of design and address feedback. Further engagement on the proposed adaptation was made with industry through holding a stakeholder engagement exercise. This collaboration between MCA and industry effort led to collective agreement on actions required to reform the code into a new edition. 

COSWP is a comprehensive set of guidelines and best practices designed to ensure the safety and health of seafarers working on merchant vessels. It provides practical guidance on safe working practices and procedures to be followed on board ships to minimise risks and prevent accidents. 

It is a statutory requirement for the current edition of the code to be carried on board all UK ships, other than fishing vessels and pleasure craft. The code contains essential health and safety information, and it must be made available to any seafarer on board the ship who requests it.
FREE DELIVERY for non-trade customers for orders £75 or over to any address in the UK or Ireland.

UK Standard Delivery – Usually 2-3 days

UK Next Day Special Delivery – Next day before 1pm (Sundays Excluded)

UK Express Courier – Next working day before 5pm

Ireland Express Courier – Next working day before 5pm

Europe Economy Courier – Usually 5-7 days

Europe Express Courier – Usually 1-2 days

Worldwide Express Courier – Usually 2-5 days depending on your exact location

If you live in a remote area, a ‘remote area surcharge’ may be applicable when booking your order on with a courier service for dispatch. A remote area surcharge is an additional fee that is added by a courier service for delivery to a remote location. We will always contact you about this should it ever happen, as it is not a fee that applies during the checkout phase of the online ordering process, but you will be expected to pay it should you wish to receive your order.

Orders placed with us will be dispatched within one to two working days. Dispatch is dependent upon the time when the order is received and provided that all goods ordered are immediately available. If any items are temporarily out of stock, we will endeavour to dispatch the complete order within 7 working days. We always endeavour to ship complete orders and try our best not to ship part orders as a general rule, but on occasion this rule may have grounds for it to be broken due to the varying nature of orders received. We will always try our best to communicate the status of your order should any issue arise that we feel you need to be made aware of.

Sign up for our newsletter

We only use your email address to add you to our mailing list for receiving our newsletters(monthly). This information is only kept in our mailing list and not for any other purposes than for contacting you with our newsletters.

Thank you for your submission! You will hear from us soon.