Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations repeal and revoke, as appropriate, and re-enact the requirements for the survey and certification of passenge ships and cargo ships previously contained in the following Acts and instruments:
The Merchant Shipping Act 1894;
The Merchant Shipping Act 1906;
The Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Conventions) Act 1932;
The Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Act 1949;
The Merchant Shipping Act 1964;
The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Act 1970;
The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1981;
The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Survey) Regulations 1981;
The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984;
The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction and Survey) Regulations 1984;
The Merchant Shipping (Radio and Radio-Navigational Equipment Survey) Regulations 1991.
2. The Regulations give effect to the requirement as to surveys and the issue of certificates contained in the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974, as amended, and also contain similar requirements for ships not subject to the Convention.
3. Other than the changes resulting from the consolidation of these requirements into a single set of regulations, the main changes from the previous provisions relate to the delegation of some passenger ship surveys to the Classification Societies, and to ships on international voyages ceasing to require a Passenger Certificate as well as a (SOLAS) Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, from 31st December 1995.
4. The Regulations provide for appeals against surveys by an arbitration procedure, (regulation 25); and make consequential amendments in the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Act 1970 and the Merchant Shipping Act 1979.
5. Merchant Shipping Notices are obtainable from the Marine Information Centre, Marine Safety Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 1EG. The SOLAS Convention, its Protocol and amendments are obtainable from the International Maritime Organisation, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR.