Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Passenger Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2723) (“the principal Regulations”) and the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Ships Other than Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2721). They come into force on 2001.

Regulations 2 and 3 of these Regulations implement the recommendation at paragraph 27.38 of Lord Justice Clark’s report on the Thames Safety Inquiry. Regulation 2, by revoking regulation 4(2) of the principal Regulations, ensures that all passenger ships to which the principal Regulations apply will carry life-saving appliances which meet the standards of the principal Regulations, rather than being allowed to continue to use equipment approved in accordance with earlier Regulations. Regulation 3 amends regulation 4(3) of the principal Regulations so as to provide that the Secretary of State may grant ships exemptions from the principal Regulations only where their life-saving appliances will meet standards of safety equivalent to those provided for by the principal Regulations.

Regulation 4, by substituting new provisions for regulation 7(6)(a) of the principal Regulations, provides that certain Class V ships shall carry emergency communications equipment which can make contact with the emergency services for the area in which the ship is operating. (In the case of ships operating on some inland waters, it may be appropriate to contact the police by telephone rather than the coastguard by VHF radio.) Regulation 4 also applies the requirements of regulation 7(6) and (7) to Class V ships operating within Category A and B waters.

Regulation 5 provides for ships of Classes IV, V, VI and VI(A) to broadcast emergency alarms over a suitable public address system rather than a general emergency alarm system.

Regulation 6 makes minor corrections to the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances for Ships Other Than Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/2721).

A Regulatory Impact Assessment was not considered necessary in relation to these Regulations, as they will not impose any new costs on operators.

Merchant Shipping Notices are obtainable from Iforce Marketing Support Services Ltd, Delta House, Imber Court Trading Estate, Orchard Lane, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BN (tel. 020-8957 5028).