{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-passenger-ships-on-domestic-voyages-regulations-2000/regulation-3A",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-passenger-ships-on-domestic-voyages-regulations-2000/regulation-3A.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2000/2687",
  "legislation_title": "The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-passenger-ships-on-domestic-voyages-regulations-2000",
  "path": "regulation/3A",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "3A",
  "heading": "Categorisation of sea areas",
  "text": "(1) For purposes of these Regulations sea areas are categorised as follows—\n(a) Area A is a sea area other than Areas B, C and D;\n(b) Area B is a sea area other than Areas A, C and D, the geographical coordinates of which are at no point more than 20 miles from the line of the coast, corresponding to the medium tide height;\n(c) Area C is a sea area other than Areas A, B and D, where the probability of significant wave heights exceeding 2.5 metres is less than 10% over a period of one year for all year round operation, or over a specific restricted period of the year for operation exclusively in such period, and the geographical coordinates of which are at any point no more than 5 miles from the line of the coast, corresponding to the medium tide height;\n(d) Area D is a sea area other than Areas A, B and C, where the probability of significant wave heights exceeding 1.5 metres is less than 10% over a period of one year for all year round operation, or over a specific restricted period of the year for operation exclusively in such period, and the geographical coordinates of which are at any point no more than 3 miles from the line of the coast, corresponding to the medium tide height.\n(2) For the purposes of the categorisation of sea areas in accordance with the criteria set out in paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall—\n(a) maintain and update when necessary Merchant Shipping Notice 1747(M), containing a list of sea areas under United Kingdom jurisdiction which includes the limits of the inner border of the sea areas closest to the lines of the coast and the limits of zones for all year round operation and, where appropriate, for periodical operation; and\n(b) publish that Merchant Shipping Notice in its updated version and in a public database available on the Internet site of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Regs. 3, 3A substituted for reg. 3 (1.1.2021) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1222), regs. 1, 2(4)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/2687/regulation/3A",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T08:13:03.462690+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}