Explanatory note

These Regulations apply to United Kingdom passenger ships operating as passenger ships of Classes III, IV, V, VI, and VI(A), and require the operation of passenger counting and recording systems for all voyages on which passengers are carried. They require documentation to be retained for future inspection by persons duly authorised by the Secretary of State. It is to be an offence under the Regulations for a ship to put out before the total number of passengers on board has been determined by means of a passenger counting system and the master informed and a record of the number of passengers and the number of crew on board on a particular voyage placed or communicated ashore before departure. It is also to be an offence for any person to make a false statement in connection with the passenger counting system, or to falsify the documentation.