The General Lighthouse Authorities (Beacons: Automatic Identification System) Order 2006

Statutory Instruments

2006 No. 1977

MERCHANT SHIPPING

The General Lighthouse Authorities (Beacons: Automatic Identification System) Order 2006

Made

19th July 2006

Coming into force

20th July 2006

A draft of this Order was laid before Parliament in accordance with section 223(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(1) and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

Accordingly, the Secretary of State, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 223(3) of that Act, makes the following Order:

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the General Lighthouse Authorities (Beacons: Automatic Identification System) Order 2006 and comes into force the day after the day on which it is made.

Automatic Identification System

2.  All references to a beacon in Part VIII of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 shall be construed as including equipment provided for broadcasts in the frequency range 156.025 – 162.025 MHz where such equipment forms part of a system for providing information —

(a) to ships about the type, position and functioning of aids to the navigation of ships; or

(b) to assist the general lighthouse authorities in the efficient provision of aids to the navigation of ships.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

S J Ladyman

Minister of State

Department for Transport

19th July 2006

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Part VIII of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c. 21) confers on the general lighthouse authorities the superintendence and management of all lighthouses, buoys and beacons within their respective areas. Section 223(3) of the Act provides that the Secretary of State may by order provide that references to a beacon in Part VIII shall be construed as including equipment of a specified kind which is intended as an aid to the navigation of ships. This Order specifies equipment provided for broadcasts in the frequency range 156.025 – 162.025 MHz where such equipment forms part of a system for providing information to ships about the type, position and functioning of aids to navigation or for assisting the general lighthouse authorities in the efficient provision of aids to navigation.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business is available from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR. A copy has also been placed in the Library of each House of Parliament and it may also be accessed on the HMSO website (www.opsi.gov.uk).

(1)

1995 c. 21.