Regulation 26 Penalties
If a ship to which these Regulations apply proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea or on a voyage or excursion without complying with the requirements of regulations 6 F1to F29D, the owner and master of the ship shall each be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.
Any contravention of regulation 10(1), 23(1) F3to F4(5H) or 24 shall be an offence by both the owner and master and shall be punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or, on conviction on indictment, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.
Any contravention of regulation 21(3) shall be an offence, punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or conviction on indictment by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or a fine, or both.
If a ship proceeds to sea without regulation 22 being complied with, the owner and master shall each be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction by a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
Any contravention of regulation F525 to 25C shall be an offence by both the owner and master and shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding £50,000 on summary conviction, or on conviction on indictment, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine, or both.
It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under these Regulations to prove that he took all reasonable steps to ensure that the Regulations were complied with.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in reg. 26(1) substituted (9.2.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Offshore Service Craft) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/41), regs. 1(2), 6(12)(a) (with reg. 3)
- F2
Word in reg. 26(1) 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. 14(a) (with reg. 4)
- F3
Words in reg. 26(2) substituted (9.2.2022) by The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Offshore Service Craft) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/41), regs. 1(2), 6(12)(b) (with reg. 3)
- F4
Word in reg. 26(2) 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. 14(b) (with reg. 4)
- F5
Words in reg. 26(5) 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. 14(c) (with reg. 4)