2.—(1) These Regulations apply to sea-going United Kingdom ships and to other sea-going ships while they are within the United Kingdom or the territorial waters thereof—
Provided that these Regulations shall not apply to United Kingdom ships while they are within the Great Lakes of North America and their connecting and tributary waters as far east as the lower exit of the St Lambert Lock at Montreal in the Province of Quebec, Canada.
(2) These Regulations shall not apply to—
(a)troopships not registered in the United Kingdom;
(b)ships not propelled by mechanical means;
(c)pleasure craft;
(d)fishing vessels;
(e)cargo ships of less than 300 tons.
(3) Every ship constructed before 1st February 1995 shall—
(a)during the period 1st February 1992 to 31st January 1999 inclusive comply with either—
(i)the requirements of Part II of these Regulations, or
(ii)the requirements of Part III of these Regulations and in addition on and after 1st August 1993 with the requirements of regulations 8(1)(d) (NAVTEX) and 8(1)(f) (satellite EPIRB); and on and after 1st February 1995 with the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Regulations 1991(1) relating to the carriage of radar transponders;
(b)on or after 1st February 1999 comply with the requirements of PartII of these Regulations.
(4) Every ship constructed on or after 1st February 1995 shall comply with the requirements of Part II of these Regulations.
(5) For the purpose of this regulation the expression “ships constructed” means “ships the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction” and the expression “a similar stage of construction” means the stage at which—
(a)construction identifiable with a specific ship begins; and
(b)assembly of that ship has commenced comprising at least 50 tons of 1% of the estimated mass of all structural material, whichever is less.