{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-submersible-craft-operations-regulations-1987/regulation-5",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-submersible-craft-operations-regulations-1987/regulation-5.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/1987/311",
  "legislation_title": "The Merchant Shipping (Submersible Craft Operations) Regulations 1987",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-submersible-craft-operations-regulations-1987",
  "path": "regulation/5",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "5",
  "heading": "Owners of submersible craft",
  "text": "(1) The owner of a submersible craft which is engaged or about to engage in a submersible operation shall make adequate arrangements for the safe conduct of the submersible operation and in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing shall—\n(a) ensure that there is a safe and suitable platform or other area of the parent craft from which the submersible craft can be launched, recovered or supported;\n(b) ensure that all plant and equipment necessary for the safe conduct of the submersible operation is available for use;\n(c) ensure that there are adequate and effective means of communication and means of recording communications between the submersible craft and the place from which the submersible operation is controlled;\n(d) appoint in writing a person to control the submersible operation (in these Regulations called“the operations controller”); such person shall be competent and have adequate knowledge of the techniques to be used in the submersible operation;\n(e) appoint in writing to command the submersible craft one or more persons who are qualified under regulation 9 to pilot that submersible craft;\n(f) appoint sufficient personnel other than those required by sub-paragraphs (d) and (e) of this paragraph to enable the submersible operation to be carried out in a safe manner;\n(g) subject to the provisions of regulation 2(3) require all persons engaged in the submersible operation to obey the instructions of the operations controller;\n(h) issue an operations manual relating to the matters specified in this regulation and Schedule 1 for regulating the safety and conduct of all persons engaged in the submersible operation (under his control);\n(i) where the submersible operation includes diving operations from a diver lock out submersible craft, ensure that the operations controller is provided with a copy of the diving manual or Rules issued in accordance with the relevant Diving Operation Regulations applicable at that time;\n(j) provide the operations controller with an operations log book;\n(k) prepare a contingency plan taking into account all rescue services which are readily available and that can be called upon in an emergency, and make copies of that plan available to the operations controller, the master, the pilot and to all the authorities and rescue services necessary for its effective execution;\n(l) where the submersible craft is a one-man submersible craft, provide—\n(i) a second fully operational submersible craft capable of operating in the maximum depth of water in which the craft is to be located together with a pilot, present at the work site; or\n(ii) a second fully operational submersible craft and pilot capable, together with all necessary equipment, of being transported to the work site and being ready to dive within a period of not more than one third of the life support time which would remain on completion of any planned operation of the submersible craft originally taking part in the operation or within 24 hours of the emergency arising whichever is the shorter; or\n(iii) an operational diving team fully mobilised at the work site capable of diving into the depth in which the submersible craft is to operate within a period of 10 hours; or\n(iv) an equivalent proven effective arrangement approved by the Secretary of State available for immediate deployment and capable of effecting a recovery within the time limits prescribed in sub-paragraph (ii) of this paragraph;\n(m) inform any harbour or marine traffic control authority whose authority extends to the area where the submersible operation is to take place of the nature and proposed time and location of the submersible operation;\n(n) ensure that there are in force in respect of the submersible craft and supporting equipment the safety certificates issued under regulation 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Submersible Construction and Survey) Regulations 1981;\n(o) ensure a list is maintained of all personnel involved in the submersible operation which shall include the following information about each person:—\n(1) his name;\n(2) his address;\n(3) capacity in which he is employed;\n(4) the name, address and relationship of his next of kin.\n(2) The owner of a submersible craft shall retain the operations log-book referred to in regulation 5(1)(j) for at least two years after the date of the last entry made therein.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "S.I. 1981/1098, amended by S.I. 1987/306."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1987/311/regulation/5",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T16:31:47.806875+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."
}