{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-small-workboats-and-pilot-boats-regulations-2023/regulation-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-small-workboats-and-pilot-boats-regulations-2023/regulation-4.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2023/1216",
  "legislation_title": "The Merchant Shipping (Small Workboats and Pilot Boats) Regulations 2023",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-small-workboats-and-pilot-boats-regulations-2023",
  "path": "regulation/4",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Application",
  "text": "(1) Subject to paragraph (2), these Regulations apply to the following vessels—\n(a) workboats which are United Kingdom vessels wherever they may be,\n(b) other workboats operating from United Kingdom ports whilst in United Kingdom waters,\n(c) pilot boats, not being workboats, which are United Kingdom vessels wherever they may be, and\n(d) remotely operated unmanned vessels—\n(i) which are United Kingdom vessels wherever they may be, or\n(ii) operating from United Kingdom ports whilst in United Kingdom waters.\n(2) These Regulations do not apply to—\n(a) a workboat or pilot boat carrying more than 12 persons consisting of passengers and industrial personnel;\n(b) hovercraft or submersible vessels;\n(c) vessels carrying bulk cargo.\n(3) These Regulations only apply where the owner or master of a vessel applies for certification of the vessel exclusively under these Regulations.\n(4) For the purposes of this regulation—\n“industrial personnel” means a person who is transported or accommodated on board a ship for the purpose of offshore industrial activities performed on board other ships or on offshore facilities; and\n“offshore industrial activities” means the construction, maintenance, decommissioning, operation or servicing of offshore facilities related, but not limited to, exploration and exploitation of resources by the renewable or hydrocarbon energy sectors, aquaculture, ocean mining or similar activities.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Reg. 4(2)(a) substituted (19.1.2026) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Measures for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel and Special Personnel) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1298), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 25(a) (with reg. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Reg. 4(4) inserted (19.1.2026) by The Merchant Shipping (Safety Measures for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel and Special Personnel) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1298), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 25(b) (with reg. 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 4 in force at 13.12.2023, see reg. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1216/regulation/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T21:38:38.808529+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."
}