{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-standards-of-training-certification-and-watchkeeping-regulations-2022/regulation-56",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-standards-of-training-certification-and-watchkeeping-regulations-2022/regulation-56.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2022/1342",
  "legislation_title": "The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-standards-of-training-certification-and-watchkeeping-regulations-2022",
  "path": "regulation/56",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "56",
  "heading": "Watchkeeping arrangements generally and at sea",
  "text": "(1) The master of a ship must ensure that the watchkeeping arrangements for the ship are at all times adequate for maintaining safe navigational, engineering and radio watches—\n(a) in accordance with STCW Regulation VIII/2, paragraph 2 (watchkeeping arrangements and principles to be observed); and\n(b) taking into account—\n(i) the prevailing circumstances and conditions; and\n(ii) section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code (watchkeeping arrangements and principles to be observed).\n(2) Without prejudice to the duties of a master provided by paragraph (1), a master must give directions to the deck watchkeeping officers responsible for navigating the ship safely during their periods of duty, in accordance with—\n(a) section A-VIII/2, Part 4-1, of the STCW Code (principles to be observed in keeping a navigational watch); and\n(b) any requirements specified in Merchant Shipping Notice 1868 (M) Amendment 1.\n(3) The chief engineer officer of a ship must ensure that the engineering watchkeeping arrangements for the ship are at all times adequate for maintaining a safe watch, in accordance with—\n(a) section A-VIII/2, Part 4-2, of the STCW Code (principles to be observed in keeping an engineering watch); and\n(b) any requirements specified in Merchant Shipping Notice 1868 (M) Amendment 1.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Reg. 56 in force at 10.1.2023, see reg. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Merchant Shipping Notice 1868 (M) Amendment 1 can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/merchant-shipping-notices-msns and in hard copy from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency of Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone 020 3817 2000 and email infoline@mcga.gov.uk) and on https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/1342/regulation/56",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-28T21:51:56.806602+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."
}