The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A)) Regulations 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations revoke and replace the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Regulations 1980 and the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984, and their amendments which implemented in part the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974 (SOLAS) as amended, and modified by its Protocol. They also replace a number of other Regulations relating to the construction of Passenger Ships. In addition they implement certain recent amendments to SOLAS. They also implement part of EC Directive 94/57/EC with respect to approved standards (regulation 5). U.K.

2.  The Regulations contain requirements for ships of Classes I, II and II(A) of all dates of construction. A number of details of technical requirements are now contained in a Merchant Shipping Notice. U.K.

3.  The principal changes from the previous Regulations are— U.K.

(a) a number of requirements on United Kingdom ships which went beyond existing SOLAS requirements are omitted; and

(b) the new SOLAS amendments implemented are—

(i) amendments made by Resolution MSC 13(57) including, among other matters, revised requirements as to sounding pipes and gauges to tanks containing petrol, lubricating oil and some flammable oil;

(ii) amendments made by Resolution MSC 31(63) relating to the screening of high pressure fuel delivery lines;

(iii) amendments made by Resolution 1 of the Conference on Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems; and

(iv) amendments made by Resolution MSC.27(61) relating to earthing systems and means of communication between the bridge and the engine room.

4.  The Regulations enable the Secretary of State to authorise persons to act as Certifying Authorities for the purpose of the Regulations. Currently so authorised are Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, the British Committee of Bureau Veritas, the British Committee of Det Norske Veritas, the British Committee of Germanischer Lloyd, the British Committee of Registro Italiano Navale and the British Technical Committee of the American Bureau of Shipping. U.K.

5.  A compliance cost assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament. U.K.

6.  Merchant Shipping Notices are obtainable from EROS Marketing Support Services, Delta House, Imber Court Business Park, Orchard Lane, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BN. (Telephone number: 0181 957 5028). The SOLAS Convention, its Protocol and amendments and the Codes and Guidelines referred to in the Regulations are obtainable from the International Maritime Organisation, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR. British or International Standards are obtainable from the British Standards Institution, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL and the Institution of Electrical Engineers Regulations from the Institution at Savoy Place, London WC2. U.K.