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Electronic logbooks and how to claim

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are administering a scheme that can fund the costs of the purchase of an approved software system.

Regulatory requirements

The obligation for the installation of an electronic logbook system is set out in Council Regulations 1966/2006, 1006/2008, Commission Regulation 1077/2008 and Council Regulation 1224/2009, and require that electronic logbooks are implemented according to the following schedule:

  • Vessels over 24 metres overall length: 1 January 2010.
  • Vessels over 15 metres overall length operating outside of Community waters: 1 January 2011.
  • Vessels over 15 metres overall length: 1 July 2011.

Vessels should install electronic logbook software so that recording and submission of fishing activity can occur electronically by the specified dates. The introduction of electronic logbooks will provide a simplification of recording and onward transmission of information, and will replace the current paper logbook system. It may be possible to integrate the system with your current on-board communication and computer systems.

Vessels over 24 metres overall length will be expected to have operational logbooks before 1 October 2010 and should therefore promptly register and install an approved software system.

We wrote to the over 24 metre fleet in December 2009 and June 2010 to raise awareness of this requirement.

Funding

A government scheme to assist with the funding of electronic logbooks has been agreed and will be administered in England by the MMO. Grant aid may be payable up to a limit of £2,000. Vessels will be able to apply for the funding once an order has been placed with an approved electronic logbook software supplier. The scheme gives vessels from 15 to 24 metres the option to adopt electronic logbooks early and benefit from government funding.

Funding is likely to be time limited and we would encourage applications to be submitted before 31 March 2011.

Approved electronic logbook software systems

Electronic logbook reports will only be accepted by the MMO from software systems that have been validated and approved by our agent, the National Computing Centre. Details of approved suppliers.

Your next steps

  1. Complete the Details of suppliers form (AP201) (PDF 831 KB). This form will set you up on our finance system so that you will be able to receive your grant in aid.
  2. Complete the Primary vessel owner registration form (ELB2a) (PDF 170 KB). This form will register you on the UK Electronic Reporting System (ERS) so that you have access to log your records and the ability to submit electronic landing declarations online.
  3. Complete the Electronic logbook grant claim form (ELB3) (PDF 177 KB). This will allow to apply for funding of up to £2,000 to reimburse the costs of installing the software from an approved supplier. This form must be sent in with the original supplier invoice and proof of payment.

More information: Electronic logbooks questions and answers (PDF 45 KB).

These documents are in the portable document format (PDF) for downloading. Adobe Acrobat Reader can be freely downloaded from www.adobe.co.uk