The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8(1) of, and paragraph 21 of Schedule 7 to, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in order to address failures of retained EU law to operate effectively and other deficiencies (in particular under section 8(2)(a) of that Act) arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

This instrument fixes inoperable provisions contained in the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016, which implements EU Directive 2014/90 EU. In particular, this instrument establishes a United Kingdom conformity assessment procedure for marine equipment placed or to be placed on board a United Kingdom ship. It provides for the application of international standards for equipment placed on United Kingdom ships and for the enforcement of those standards. This is achieved by requiring marine equipment to comply with the international design, construction and performance standards contained in the International Maritime Organisation (“IMO”) International Conventions, and that equipment be approved as such by a United Kingdom approved body. The instrument also provides for the acceptance of marine equipment which has been approved in the EU by an EU Notified Body for marine equipment.

Merchant Shipping Notices are published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Copies may be downloaded from the MCA’s website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency.

Copies of the international instruments may be obtained from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) at www.imo.org/Publications.

Digital and hard copies of the ISO standards referred to in these Regulations may be purchased online from the International Organization for Standardization (http://www.iso.org).

Copies of the publications described above are available for inspection during normal office hours at the offices of the Department for Transport at Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no or minimal impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies. A copy of the Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.