# The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements) Regulations 2020, Regulation 20: Offences and penalties

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(1) If a ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea or on any voyage, or arrives within United Kingdom waters, in breach of any of the requirements of these Regulations, Part B of Chapter III or Merchant Shipping Notice 1676 (Amendment 1) applicable to that ship, the owner and the master are each guilty of an offence in respect of each case of non-compliance.
(2) An offence under paragraph (1) is punishable—
(a) on summary conviction–
(i) in England and Wales by a fine; or
(ii) in Scotland or Northern Ireland by a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or
(b) on conviction on indictment by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.
(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this regulation to prove that the person charged took all reasonable steps to avoid the commission of the offence.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/501/regulation/20 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-life-saving-appliances-and-arrangements-regulations-2020/regulation-20
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.