Explanatory note

These Regulations require passenger ships of Classes III to VI(A) (which are generally known as “small passenger ships”), operating within domestic waters, to develop and implement a Safety Management Code, the details of which are contained in Merchant Shipping Notice 1754(M).

The Regulations provide in particular for the issue of Domestic Ship Safety Management Certificates by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (regulation 6), for the ship to be operated in accordance with the requirements of the Code by its owner, master and operator (regulations 5, 7, and 8), for enforcement (regulation 9), and for offences and penalties (regulation 10).

The Regulations also make minor drafting corrections to the Merchant Shipping (ISM Code) (Ro-Ro Passenger Ferries) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/3022) and the Merchant Shipping (International Safety Management (ISM) Code) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/1561).

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.

Merchant Shipping Notices are obtainable from Iforce, Delta House, Imber Court Business Park, Orchard Lane, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BN (telephone 020 8957 5028).