The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

Requirement to provide information to passengers at certain times

10.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, an operator must ensure that a passenger who arrives at a port on a relevant service has been provided with the required information contained in the appropriate Part of the Schedule, in the required manner specified in regulation 11, at each of the times specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The times are—

(a) where prior to departure a booking was made for the passenger to travel on the relevant service, before the booking was made,

(b) where, at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the relevant service, a booking was made for the passenger to travel on it, between 24 and 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of that service,

(c) where prior to departure the passenger was checked in to travel on the relevant service, at the time of check-in,

(d) while the passenger was on board the vessel or aircraft.

(3) If another person (A) made the booking on behalf of the passenger (whether or not A is also a passenger on the relevant service), the information requirement is to be treated as complied with, as regards the time set out in paragraph (2)(a), if the required information was provided to A in the required manner before the booking was made, along with a written request that A provide that information to the passenger unless A considers that, by virtue of age or mental capacity, the passenger is unlikely to be capable of understanding it.

(4) If another person (B) made the booking on behalf of the passenger (whether or not B is also a passenger on the relevant service), the information requirement is to be treated as complied with, as regards the time set out in paragraph (2)(b), if the required information was provided to B in the required manner between 24 and 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the relevant service, along with a written request that B provide that information to the passenger unless B considers that, by virtue of age or mental capacity, the passenger is unlikely to be capable of understanding it.

(5) If another person (C) checked in on behalf of the passenger (whether or not C is also a passenger on the relevant service), the information requirement is to be treated as complied with, as regards the time set out in paragraph (2)(c), if the required information was provided to C in the required manner at the time of check-in, along with a written request that C provide that information to the passenger unless C considers that, by virtue of age or mental capacity, the passenger is unlikely to be capable of understanding it.

(6) An operator who fails to comply with the information requirement is guilty of an offence.

(7) An offence under paragraph (6) is punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding £10,000.

(8) In relation to the requirement to provide the required information at the time set out in paragraph (2)(a) to (c), it is a defence for the purposes of paragraph (6) if the operator can demonstrate that—

(a) the booking or check-in process was not managed directly by the operator; and

(b) the operator took reasonable steps to ensure that the person managing the process would provide the required information at that time and in the required manner.

(9) If, following the coming into operation of any provision which amends the information required to be provided by regulation 11, an operator provides information to a passenger that would have complied with the information requirement but for the coming into operation of that amending provision, it is a defence for the operator to show that it was not reasonably practicable for the amended information to be provided.

(10) This regulation only applies in respect of a passenger who arrives at a port on a relevant service on a vessel, if the vessel is 24 metres or more in length.