The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

1.  These Regulations replace the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Regulations 1980 and the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984, and their amendments, so far as they related to ships of Classes III to VI(A). They also replace a number of other Regulations relating to the Construction of Passenger Ships. They implement in part EC Directive 94/57/EC (common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisation and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations (regulation 5).

2.  The Regulations contain requirements for ships of Classes III to VI(A) of all dates of construction. A number of details of technical requirements are now contained in a Merchant Shipping Notice.

3.  The principal changes from previous Regulations are—

(a) (i) revised requirements as to sounding pipes and gauges to tanks containing petrol, lubricating oil and some inflammable oil; and

(ii) the scanning of high pressure fuel delivery lines;

(b) implementation in part of EC Directive 94/57/EC with respect to approved standards (regulation 5).

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.

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.

6.  Merchant Shipping Notices are obtainable from EROS Marketing Support Services, Delta House, the Imber Court Business Park, Orchard Lane, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BN (Telephone number 0181 957 5028). British or International Standards are obtainable from the British Standards Institution, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL and the Institute of Electrical Engineers Regulations from the Institute at Savoy Place, London WC2.