Explanatory note

These Rules further amend the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Rules 1975 by prescribing:—

(1)requirements for lifebuoy marker smoke signals (Schedule 10A);

(2)different requirements for line-throwing appliances (Schedule 12);

(3)different requirements for parachute distress rocket signals for lifeboats and liferafts (Schedule 14 Part III) and for fishing vessels (Schedule 18);

(4)different requirements for hand held distress flare signals for lifeboats and liferafts (Schedule 14 Part IV);

(5)different requirements for buoyant smoke signals for lifeboats (Schedule 14 Part V).

The same amendments are being made for merchant ships, which will come into operation at the same time as these Rules, in the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances) (Amendment) Rules 1978. (S.I. 1978/1874).