(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction) Regulations 1980 and the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984.

They principally—

a

amend the definitions of Classes IV, V and VI ships;

b

provide for minimum required standards of survivability to be applied to ships of Classes III, IV, V, VI and VI(A) according to the number of passengers carried and the area of operation. (These standards are related to the requirements for life-saving appliances as required by the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Passenger Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1992.);

c

provide requirements regarding the provision of stability information, relating to standard of survivability;

d

amend the requirements regarding escapes from the passenger accommoda-tion of ships of Classes III to VI(A); and

e

amend the requirements regarding bilge pumping arrangements by relating these requirements to Class, type of ship, and number of passengers the ship is certified to carry.