# The Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning, Hours of Work and Watchkeeping) (Amendment) Regulations 2000, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning, Hours of Work and Watchkeeping) Regulations 1997.
The Regulations require owners and others responsible for the operation of ships to ensure that not only seamen but also masters hold appropriate certificates or certificates of equivalent competency, and have had the training specified in the Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Regulations 1997. They must also ensure that documentation and data relevant to masters, as well as that relevant to seamen, is maintained and readily available for inspection (regulation 2(2)–(5)).
In relation to non-United Kingdom ships, the Regulations provide for an authorised person to be empowered to inspect a ship for the purposes of verifying not only that all seamen have appropriate certificates where required, but also that the master has such a certificate (regulation 2(6) and (8)). Such a person is also empowered to inspect the ship to assess the ability of the master (as well as the ability of the seamen) to maintain required watchkeeping standards (regulation 2(7)).
Provision is made for the Secretary of State to be able to alter or cancel exemptions (regulation 2(9)).

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/484/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-safe-manning-hours-of-work-and-watchkeeping-amendment-regulations-2000/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.