The Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2015

Contents

1Citation and Commencement#

These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2015 and come into force on 6th April 2015.

2Revocation#

The Instruments listed in the Schedule are revoked.

3Interpretation#

(1)In these Regulations—• “the Act” means the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;• “anniversary date” means the day and the month of each year which correspond to the date of expiry of the relevant certificate;• “Antarctic Area” has the meaning given to it in regulation 1 of Chapter XIV;• “Arctic waters” has the meaning given to it in regulation 1 of Chapter XIV;• “cargo ship” means any ship that is not a—(a) passenger ship;(b) ship of war;(c) fishing vessel; ^note...(d) pleasure vessel;(e) high speed cargo craft; or(f) special purpose ship;• “Cargo Ship Safety Certificate”, “Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate”, “Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate”, “Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate” and “Passenger Ship Safety Certificate” means the certificates of those names issued pursuant to regulation 13;• “Certifying Authority” has the meaning given by regulation 4;• “Chapter XIV” means Chapter XIV in the Annex to the SOLAS Convention (safety measures for ships operating in polar waters) and includes the amendments adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.532(107);• “Chapter X” means Chapter X in the Annex to the SOLAS Convention (safety measures for high speed craft);• “Class II(A) ship” means a passenger ship engaged on voyages other than international voyages, which is not—(a) a ship of Classes III to VI(A) as defined in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1998 ^note; or(b) a ship of Class A, B, C or D as defined in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000 ^note which is a new ship, engaged on domestic voyages, for the purposes of those Regulations;• Class IX(A) ship” and “Class IX(A)(T) ship” have the same meanings as in the Merchant Shipping (Boatmasters' Qualifications, Crew and Hours of Work) Regulations 2015 ^note;• “Convention Certificate” means a certificate issued in accordance with the requirements of the SOLAS Convention; and, except in regulation 23(2) (availability of certificates on board a ship registered in a country to which the SOLAS Convention applies), includes a Polar Ship Certificate;, Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate or a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate• “the Directive” means Directive 2009/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6th May 2009 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships;• “Exemption Certificate” means the certificate of that name issued pursuant to regulation16;• “gross tons” means gross tonnage ascertained under the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations 1997 ^note;• “high speed cargo craft” means a high speed craft carrying not more than 12 passengers;• “high speed craft” has the meaning given to it in regulation 1.3 of Chapter X;• “HSC Code” means the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000 described in regulation 1.2 of Chapter X and includes the amendments adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.537(107);• “HSOSC” means a craft to which the Merchant Shipping (High Speed Offshore Service Craft) Regulations 2022 apply (see regulation 3 of those Regulations);• “HSOSC Code” means the Secretary of State’s Code for High Speed Offshore Service Craft (of less than 500GT carrying up to 60 persons), published on 9th February 2022, and includes any document amending or replacing it which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and which is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice;• “HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft” means the certificate of that name issued pursuant to regulation 13A;• “IMO” means the International Maritime Organization, which is a special agency of the United Nations responsible for shipping safety and security and the prevention of pollution;• “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 offshore facilities;• “Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate” means the certificate of that description, including the record of equipment, contained in the Appendix to the IP Code, and which confirms that a ship complies with each requirement of the IP Code applicable to it and issued in respect of—(a) a United Kingdom ship pursuant to regulation 13C (issue of Industrial Personnel Safety Certificates in respect of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft); or(b) a ship flying the flag of a State other than the United Kingdom which is a party to the SOLAS Convention, by that State;• “international voyage” means a voyage from a port in one country to a port in another country, either of the countries being a country to which the SOLAS Convention applies;• “IP and SPS Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Safety Measures for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel and Special Personnel) Regulations 2025;• “IP Code” means the International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel;• “Maritime and Coastguard Agency” means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport;• “Merchant Shipping Notice” means a Notice described as such, issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and includes a reference to any document amending or replacing that Notice which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice;• “mile” means an international nautical mile of 1852 metres;• “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;• “passenger” means a person other than—(a) the master and the members of the crew or other persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship on the business of that ship;(b) industrial personnel;(c) special personnel;(d) a child under one year of age; or(e) a person on board the ship either in pursuance of the obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed or other persons, or by reason of any circumstance which the master, owner or charterer, if any, could not have prevented;• “Passenger Certificate” means the certificate of that name issued pursuant to regulation 14;• “passenger ship” means a ship carrying more than 12 passengers;• “pleasure vessel” means—(a) any vessel which at the time it is being used is—(a) in the case of a vessel wholly owned by—(aa) an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner; or(bb) a body corporate, used only for sport or pleasure and on which the persons on board are employees or officers of the body corporate, or their immediate family or friends; and(b) on a voyage or excursion which is one for which the owner does not receive money for or in connection with operating the vessel or carrying any person, other than as a contribution to the direct expenses of the operation of the vessel incurred during the voyage or excursion; or(b) any vessel wholly owned by or on behalf of a members’ club formed for the purpose of sport or pleasure which, at the time it is being used, is used only for the sport or pleasure of members of that club or their immediate family, and for the use of which any charges levied are paid into club funds and applied for the general use of the club,where, in the case of any vessel referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), no other payments are made by or on behalf of users of the vessel, other than by the owner; and in this definition “immediate family” means, in relation to an individual, the spouse or civil partner of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the individual’s spouse or civil partner; and “relative” means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant;• “Polar Code” means the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters as described in regulation 1 of Chapter XIV (safety measures for ships operating in polar waters) and includes the amendments adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.538(107);• “Polar Code Safety Regulations” means the Merchant Shipping (Polar Code) (Safety) Regulations 2025;• “Polar Ship Certificate” means the certificate of that description, including the record of equipment, contained in Appendix 1 to the Polar Code and which confirms that a ship complies with each requirement of part 1-A of the Polar Code (safety measures) applicable to it and issued in respect of—(a) a United Kingdom ship pursuant to regulation 13B (issue of Polar Ship Certificate); or(b) a ship flying the flag of a State other than the United Kingdom which is a party to the SOLAS Convention, by that State;• “polar waters” means Arctic waters and the Antarctic Area;• “proper officer” means a consular officer appointed by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and, in relation to a port in a country outside the United Kingdom which is not a foreign country, includes an officer exercising in that port functions similar to those of a superintendent;• “radio installations” means any radio equipment other than radio navigational equipment on board a ship or provided in relation to the ship's life-saving appliances;• “ship of war” has the same meaning as in the SOLAS Convention;• “short international voyage” means an international voyage in the course of which—(a) a ship is not more than 200 miles from a port or place in which the passengers and crew could be placed in safety; and(b) the distance—(i) between the last port of call in which the voyage begins and the final port of destination; or(ii) of the return voyagedoes not exceed 600 miles, where the final port of destination is the last port of call in the scheduled voyage at which the ship commences its return voyage to the country in which the voyage began; and• “SOLAS Convention” means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974;• “special personnel” means a person who is carried on board a ship in connection with the special purpose of that ship or because of special work being carried out on board that ship, but who is not a member of the crew;• “special purpose ship” means a ship which is not a passenger ship and which carries on board an aggregate of more than 12 persons consisting of special personnel and passengers where at least one person is special personnel;• “Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate” means the certificate of that description, including the record of equipment, contained in the Appendix to the SPS Code 1983 or the Annex to the SPS Code 2008, whichever is applicable, and which confirms that a ship complies with each requirement of the SPS Code 1983 or the SPS Code 2008, as the case may be, applicable to it and issued in respect of—(a) a United Kingdom ship pursuant to regulation 13D (issue of Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate); or(b) a ship flying the flag of a State other than the United Kingdom which is a party to the SOLAS Convention;• “SPS Code 1983” means the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 1983, and includes the amendments adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.542(107);• “SPS Code 2008” means the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008, and includes the amendments adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.543(107);• “statement of compliance” is a document which—(a) in the case of a United Kingdom ship, confirms compliance by the ship with each requirement of Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 1983 or Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 2008 that applies to it and is provided by a Certifying Authority; or(b) in the case of a ship which is not a United Kingdom ship, confirms compliance with each requirement of Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 1983 or Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 2008 that applies to it and is provided by the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly.

(2)For the purpose of these Regulations, the Classes for passenger ships not engaged on international voyages are as defined in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000.

(3)References in the Directive to Conventions or Codes in their up to date versions which—

(a)relate to all or any of the purposes set out in section 85(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;

(b)are considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time; and

(c)are specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice;

have effect in so far as they are so specified.

(4)In these Regulations, any reference to Chapter XIV, the Polar Code or the SOLAS Convention is to be construed—

(a)as a reference to Chapter XIV, the Polar Code or the SOLAS Convention as modified from time to time; and

(b)as, if Chapter XIV, the Polar Code or the SOLAS Convention is replaced, a reference to the replacement.

(5)For the purposes of paragraph (4), Chapter XIV, the Polar Code or the SOLAS Convention is modified or replaced if the modification or replacement takes effect in accordance with Article VIII of the SOLAS Convention.

(6)A modification or replacement of Chapter XIV, the Polar Code or the SOLAS Convention has effect at the time such modification or replacement comes into force in accordance with Article VIII of the SOLAS Convention.

(7)In these Regulations, any reference to the IP Code is to be construed—

(a)as a reference to the IP Code as modified from time to time; and

(b)as, if the IP Code is replaced, a reference to the replacement.

(8)For the purposes of paragraph (7), the IP Code is modified or replaced if the modification or replacement takes effect in accordance with Article VIII of the SOLAS Convention.

(9)A modification or replacement of the IP Code has effect at the time such modification or replacement comes into force in accordance with Article VIII of the SOLAS Convention.

(10)Any reference in these Regulations to the SPS Code 1983 or SPS Code 2008 includes any amendment or replacement of that Code which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and which is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice.

4Certifying Authorities#

(1)In these Regulations, “Certifying Authority” means the Secretary of State or any person authorised by the Secretary of State.

(2)Authorisation under paragraph (1) may be given conditionally or unconditionally and is subject to paragraph (4).

(3)Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2), conditions may impose limitations on any person's authorisation relating to—

(a)individual ships;

(b)classes of ships; and

(c)the extent of any survey to be carried out by that person.

(4)The Secretary of State may direct, in relation to an individual case or to a class of cases, that a survey, or part of a survey, for the purpose of these Regulations is carried out by the Secretary of State and not by another Certifying Authority.

(5)A Certifying Authority other than the Secretary of State is not to be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown and its property is not to be regarded as property of, or held on behalf of, the Crown.

5Application and exemption#

(1)Subject to paragraph (2) these Regulations apply to United Kingdom ships wherever they may be and to other ships while they are in United Kingdom waters.

(2)These Regulations do not apply to—

(a)fishing vessels,

(b)pleasure vessels,

(c)high speed craft which are certified in accordance with regulation 13(2) of the Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022 unless they are subject to the IP and SPS Regulations,

(d)passenger ships to which the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Safety Code for UK Categorised Waters) Regulations 2010 ^note apply,

(e)vessels to which the Merchant Shipping (Technical Requirements for Inland Waterway Vessels) Regulations 2010 ^note apply, ^note...

(f)Class IX(A) and Class IX(A)(T) ships, and

(g)nuclear ships, as defined in regulation 2(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Nuclear Ships) Regulations 2022

(3)The Secretary of State may grant exemptions from all or any of the provisions of these Regulations on such terms (if any) as he may specify and may, subject to giving reasonable notice, alter or cancel any such exemption.

6Surveys of passenger ships#

(1)Subject to paragraph (4), a United Kingdom passenger ship shall be subject to the inspections and surveys mentioned in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2)Those inspections are an annual inspection of the ship's bottom, of which two inspections within any five year period are to take place out of the water at intervals not exceeding 36 months.

(3)Those surveys are–

(a)before the ship is put in service, a passenger ship initial survey, and

(b)before the end of every period of 12 months following the issue of the ship's Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, a passenger ship renewal survey.

(4)A United Kingdom passenger ship to which the Directive applies shall be subject to a passenger ship initial survey, and to periodical and additional surveys, as set out in the Directive.

7Surveys of cargo ship safety equipment#

A United Kingdom cargo ship of 500 gross tons or more engaged on international voyages shall be subject to the following surveys of its life-saving appliances and other equipment—

(a)before the ship is put in service, a cargo ship safety equipment initial survey;

(b)at the intervals specified in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1751 a cargo ship safety equipment renewal survey;

(c)within three months before or after the second or third anniversary date of a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, a cargo ship safety equipment periodical survey; and

(d)within three months before or after each anniversary date of the ship's Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, other than where a periodical survey is required to be carried out within that period, an annual survey.

8Surveys of cargo ship radio installations#

A United Kingdom cargo ship of 300 gross tons or more engaged on international voyages shall be subject to the following surveys of its radio installations—

(a)before the ship is put in service, a cargo ship radio installations initial survey;

(b)at the intervals specified in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1751 a cargo ship radio installations renewal survey; and

(c)within three months before or after each anniversary date of the ship's Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate, a cargo ship radio installations periodical survey.

9Surveys of cargo ship structure, machinery and equipment#

(1)A United Kingdom cargo ship of 500 gross tons or more shall be subject to the following surveys of its structure, machinery and equipment, other than equipment to which regulations 7 and 8 apply—

(a)before the ship is put in service, an initial survey ;

(b)at the intervals specified in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1751 a cargo ship structure renewal survey;

(c)within three months before or after the second or third anniversary date of a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, a cargo ship structure etc intermediate survey;

(d)within three months before or after each anniversary date of the ship's Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, other than where a cargo ship structure etc renewal or intermediate survey is required to be carried out within that period, a cargo ship structure etc annual survey ; and

(e)subject to paragraph (2), two inspections of the ship's bottom to take place out of the water within any five year period, and at intervals not exceeding 36 months.

(2)For the purpose of paragraph (1)(e), where a cargo ship structure etc renewal survey takes place within three months after the end of the five year period of validity of a Convention Certificate, and that certificate has been extended in accordance with regulation 17(3) or (4), the period of extension of the certificate shall be deemed to be within the five year period.

(3)An oil tanker to which this regulation applies and which is engaged on international voyages, must be subjected to the enhanced programme of inspections required by the ESP Code during a survey required by these Regulations.

(4)In this regulation, any reference to the ESP Code is to be construed—

(a)as a reference to the ESP Code as modified from time to time; and

(b)as, if the ESP Code is replaced, a reference to the replacement.

(5)For the purposes of paragraph (4), the ESP Code is modified or replaced if the modification or replacement takes effect in accordance with Article VIII of the SOLAS Convention.

(6)A modification or replacement of the ESP Code has effect at the time such modification or replacement comes into force in accordance with Article VIII of the SOLAS Convention.

(7)In this regulation—• “ESP Code” means the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011;• “oil tanker” has the meaning given to it in regulation 1 of Annex I to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973.

9ASurveys of HSOSC#

(1)An HSOSC is subject to the following surveys of its structure, safety equipment, radio installations and other equipment—

(a)before the HSOSC is put in service or before the HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft is issued for the first time, an initial survey;

(b)at the intervals specified in the HSOSC Code, a renewal survey;

(c)within three months before or after each anniversary date of a HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft, a periodical survey; and

(d)an additional survey as the occasion arises.

(2)This regulation does not apply to an HSOSC which is not a United Kingdom ship but which is registered with a State with which the Secretary of State has entered into an administrative arrangement to accept certificates of a particular name or description which are equivalent to an HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft.

9BSurveys of ships operating in polar waters#

(1)A United Kingdom ship which is—

(a)

(i)a passenger ship; or

(ii)a cargo ship of 500 gross tons or more; and

(b)operating, or intending to operate, in polar waters,

must be subject to the surveys specified in paragraph (2), and each such survey must be carried out for the purpose of assessing compliance with each requirement of the Polar Code Safety Regulations that applies to it.

(2)The surveys referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a)an initial survey, before the ship operates in polar waters for the first time; and

(b)a survey at the same time as any survey required in respect of the ship under regulations 6 to 10 (surveys of passenger ships and cargo ships).

(3)Subject to paragraph (4), in the case of a category C polar ship which is a cargo ship, where—

(a)an assessment has been undertaken in accordance with regulation 10(2)(a)(ii) of the Polar Code Safety Regulations (operational assessment); and

(b)that assessment concludes, in writing, that the ship does not require any additional equipment or structural modification for the purposes of compliance with each requirement of the Polar Code Safety Regulations applicable to it,

a survey is not required for the purposes of issuing a Polar Ship Certificate in respect of that ship.

(4)Where a Polar Ship Certificate has been issued in respect of a category C polar ship in accordance with paragraph (3), the ship must be subjected to an onboard survey at the next scheduled survey.

(5)In this regulation—• “category A polar ship” means a ship designed for operation in polar waters in at least medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions;• “category B polar ship” means a ship designed for operation in polar waters in at least thin first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions;• “category C polar ship” means a ship designed to operate in open waters or in ice conditions less severe than those in which a category A polar ship or a category B polar ship operates;• “first-year ice” means sea ice of not more than one winter’s growth developing from young ice with thickness from 0.3 to 2.0 metres;• “medium first-year ice” means first-year ice of 70 to 120 centimetres thickness;• “old ice” means sea ice which has survived at least one summer’s melt;• “open waters” means a large area of freely navigable water in which sea ice is present in concentrations of less than 10 per cent and no ice of land origin is present;• “sea ice” means any form of ice found at sea which has originated from the freezing of sea water; and• “thin first-year ice” means first-year ice of 30 to 70 centimetres thickness.

9CSurveys of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft carrying industrial personnel#

(1)A United Kingdom cargo ship to which the IP and SPS Regulations apply and which is engaged on international voyages must be subject to the surveys specified in paragraph (2), and each such survey must be carried out for the purpose of assessing compliance with each requirement of the IP Code that applies to it.

(2)The surveys referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a)an initial survey, before the ship carries the persons referred to in paragraph (7) for the first time; and

(b)a survey at the same time as any survey required in respect of the ship under regulations 7 to 10 (surveys of cargo ships).

(3)A United Kingdom cargo ship to which the IP and SPS Regulations apply and which is engaged on voyages which are not international voyages, must be subject to the surveys specified in paragraph (4), and each such survey must be carried out for the purpose of assessing compliance with each requirement of the IP Code that applies to it.

(4)The surveys referred to in paragraph (3) are—

(a)an initial survey, before the ship carries the persons referred to in paragraph (7) for the first time; and

(b)a survey at the same time as any survey required in respect of the ship under regulations 7 to 10, as if that ship were engaged on international voyages.

(5)A United Kingdom high speed cargo craft to which the IP and SPS Regulations apply must be subject to the surveys specified in paragraph (6), and each such survey must be carried out for the purpose of assessing compliance with each requirement of the IP Code that applies to it.

(6)The surveys referred to in paragraph (5) are—

(a)an initial survey, before the high speed cargo craft carries the persons referred to in paragraph (7) for the first time; and

(b)a survey at the same time as any survey required by section 1.5 of the HSC Code (surveys of high speed craft).

(7)The persons referred to in paragraphs (2)(a), (4)(a) and (6)(a) are an aggregate of more than 12 persons consisting of industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers where at least one person is industrial personnel.

9DSurveys of special purpose ships#

(1)A United Kingdom special purpose ship to which the IP and SPS Regulations apply and which is engaged on international voyages must be subject to the surveys specified in paragraph (2), and each such survey must be carried out for the purpose of assessing compliance with each requirement of—

(a)Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 1983; or

(b)Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 2008,

that applies to it.

(2)The surveys referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a)an initial survey, before the ship is put into service as a special purpose ship for the first time; and

(b)a survey at the same time as any survey required in respect of the ship under regulations 7 to 10 (surveys of cargo ships).

(3)A United Kingdom special purpose ship to which the IP and SPS Regulations apply and which is engaged on voyages which are not international voyages, must be subject to the surveys specified in paragraph (4), and each such survey must be carried out for the purpose of assessing compliance with each requirement of—

(a)Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 1983; or

(b)Chapters 2 to 9 of the SPS Code 2008,

that applies to it.

(4)The surveys referred to in paragraph (3) are—

(a)an initial survey, before the ship is put into service as a special purpose ship for the first time; and

(b)a survey at the same time as any survey required in respect of the ship under regulations 7 to 10, as if that ship were engaged on international voyages.

10Responsibilities of owner and master#

(1)The owner and master of every ship to which this regulation applies shall ensure that–

(a)the ship and its equipment is maintained so as to ensure that the ship in all respects remains fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board;

(b)after any survey of the ship required by these Regulations has been completed, no change shall be made in the structural arrangements, machinery, equipment and other items covered by the survey, without the approval of the Certifying Authority, except by direct replacement; and

(c)whenever an accident occurs to a ship or a defect is discovered, either of which affects the safety of the ship or the efficiency or completeness of its life-saving appliances or other equipment–

(i)it is reported at the earliest opportunity to the Certifying Authority, or a proper officer, and

(ii)if a United Kingdom ship is in such a case in a port outside the United Kingdom it is also reported to the appropriate authorities of the country in which the port is situated.

(2)If a report is made under paragraph (1)(c)(i), the Certifying Authority or proper officer shall determine whether a survey is necessary, and if so, require one to be carried out.

(3)If the survey referred to in paragraph (2) shows that repairs are required, or if any important repairs or renewals are otherwise made to the ship or its equipment, a further survey shall be carried out on the completion of those repairs or renewals.

(4)This regulation applies to–

(a)United Kingdom ships, and

(b)except as regards paragraph (1)(a), other ships which have been surveyed pursuant to these Regulations.

11Surveys and inspections – general#

(1)References in regulations 6(1) and 7 to 10 to surveys or inspections of a particular description which are required to be carried out on a ship are to the surveys or inspections, as the case may be, of those descriptions as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1751 , subject to paragraph (2).

(2)References in regulations 9A and 10 to surveys or inspections of a particular description which are required to be carried out on an HSOSC are to the surveys or inspections, as the case may be, of those descriptions as set out in the HSC Code, with any additions or exceptions as set out in the HSOSC Code.

12Procedure to be adopted when the ship is deficient#

(1)Where a surveyor determines that the condition of a ship to which this regulation applies does not correspond substantially with the particulars on one or more of the certificates referred to in these Regulations or is such that the ship is not fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board, the surveyor shall advise the owner or master of the corrective action which in the surveyor's opinion is required, and shall notify the Certifying Authority.

(2)If such corrective action is not taken within such reasonable period as a surveyor may specify, the surveyor, or Certifying Authority, shall notify the Secretary of State who may suspend the validity of the particular certificate issued to the ship.

(3)The Secretary of State shall give notice of any such suspension to the owner, to the surveyor, and to the Certifying Authority who in turn shall notify the master.

(4)This regulation applies to United Kingdom ships and other ships which have been surveyed pursuant to these Regulations

13Issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships engaged on international or short international voyages#

When a survey to meet the requirements set out in these Regulations has been satisfactorily completed in respect of a ship engaged on international voyages, the Certifying Authority shall issue–

(a)in the case of a passenger ship, a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, unless the ship is only engaged on short international voyages when a short international voyage Passenger Ship Safety Certificate shall be issued;

(b)in the case of a cargo ship of 300 gross tons or more, a Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate; and

(c)in the case of a cargo ship of 500 gross tons or more—

(i)a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate or, as the case may be, a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate; or

(ii)after an initial or renewal survey in accordance with regulations 7 to 9 a Cargo Ship Safety Certificate.

13AIssue of certificates to HSOSC#

(1)When an initial survey or a renewal survey to meet the requirements set out in these Regulations has been satisfactorily completed in respect of an HSOSC, the Certifying Authority must issue an HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft.

(2)This regulation does not apply to an HSOSC which is not a United Kingdom ship which is, or is to be, certified with a certificate of a particular name or description which is equivalent to an HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft and which is specified as such in a Merchant Shipping Notice.

13BIssue of Polar Ship Certificate#

(1)Where a Certifying Authority is satisfied that the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met in respect of a United Kingdom ship, the Certifying Authority must—

(a)issue a Polar Ship Certificate in respect of that ship; or

(b)endorse the Polar Ship Certificate issued in respect of the ship under paragraph (a).

(2)The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that—

(a)a survey for the purpose of assessing the ship’s compliance with the Polar Code Safety Regulations has been satisfactorily completed;

(b)the ship has been issued with the certificate or certificates applicable to it under regulation 13 (issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships engaged on international or short international voyages); and

(c)the master, chief mate and all officers of the navigational watch hold a certificate of proficiency as required by regulation 16A or 16B of the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022 (requirements for a certificate of proficiency).

13CIssue of Industrial Personnel Safety Certificates in respect of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft#

(1)Where a Certifying Authority is satisfied that the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met in respect of a United Kingdom ship, the Certifying Authority must—

(a)issue an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate in respect of that ship; or

(b)endorse the Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate issued in respect of the ship under paragraph (a).

(2)The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that—

(a)a survey for assessing the ship’s compliance with Part 2 of the IP and SPS Regulations (requirements for cargo ships and high speed cargo craft carrying industrial personnel) has been satisfactorily completed; and

(b)the ship has been issued with any certificate or certificates applicable to it under regulation 13 (issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships engaged on international or short international voyages).

(3)Where an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate has been issued in respect of a ship under paragraph (1)(a), any statement of compliance held by that ship ceases to be valid.

13DIssue of Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate#

(1)Where a Certifying Authority is satisfied that the conditions set out in paragraph (2) are met in respect of a United Kingdom ship, the Certifying Authority must—

(a)issue a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate in respect of that ship; or

(b)endorse the Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate issued in respect of the ship under paragraph (a).

(2)The conditions referred to in paragraph (1) are that—

(a)a survey for assessing the ship’s compliance with regulation 11 of the IP and SPS Regulations (requirements for special purpose ships) has been satisfactorily completed; and

(3)Where a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate has been issued in respect of a ship under paragraph (1)(a), any statement of compliance held by that ship ceases to be valid.

14Issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships not engaged on international voyages#

When a survey of a United Kingdom passenger ship to meet the requirements set out in these Regulations has been satisfactorily completed in respect of a ship not engaged on international voyages, the Certifying Authority shall issue a Passenger Certificate appropriate to its class.

15Duration and validity of certificates#

(1)Subject to paragraph (2), a Convention Certificate or HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft shall be issued from the date of the completion of the relevant survey and shall be issued for a period of validity as follows–

(a)a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate , a short international voyage Passenger Ship Safety Certificate and a Polar Ship Certificate issued in respect of a passenger ship shall be issued for a period of validity not exceeding 12 months, and

(b)a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate , Cargo Ship Safety Certificate , HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft , Polar Ship Certificate issued in respect of a cargo ship, Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate or Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate shall be issued for a period of validity not exceeding five years.

(2)Where a renewal survey has been completed within a period of three months before the expiry of the relevant Convention Certificate or HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft, the new certificate may be issued–

(a)in the case of a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or a Polar Ship Certificate issued in respect of a passenger ship, for a period of validity not exceeding 12 months from the date of expiry of the existing certificate, and

(b)in the case of any other certificate, for a period of validity not exceeding five years from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.

(3)Except in special circumstances as determined by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, where a renewal survey has been completed after the expiry of the relevant Convention Certificate or HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft, the new certificate shall be issued:

(b)in the case of any other certificate, for a period of validity not exceeding five years from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.

(4)Where an annual, intermediate or periodical survey or a survey required at the same time as any such survey under regulation 9B(2)(b), 9C(2)(b), 9C(4)(b), 9C(6)(b), 9D(2)(b) or 9D(4)(b); is completed before the period prescribed as respects such a survey in regulations 6 to 9D:

(a)the anniversary date shown on the relevant certificate shall be amended by endorsement to a date which shall not be more than three months later than the date on which the survey was completed,

(b)subsequent annual, intermediate or periodical surveys required under regulations 6 to 9Aor a survey required at the same time as any such survey under regulation 9B(2)(b), 9C(2)(b), 9C(4)(b), 9C(6)(b), 9D(2)(b) or 9D(4)(b); shall be completed at the intervals prescribed by those regulations using the new anniversary date, and

(c)the expiry date may remain unchanged provided one or more annual, intermediate or periodical surveys , or a survey required at the same time as any such survey under regulation 9B(2)(b)9C(2)(b), 9C(4)(b), 9C(6)(b), 9D(2)(b) or 9D(4)(b), as appropriate, are carried out so that the maximum intervals between the surveys prescribed by regulations 6 to 9D are not exceeded.

(5)A Passenger Certificate issued under regulation 14 shall be issued for a period of validity not exceeding 12 months.

(6)A Convention Certificate , a HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft and a certificate issued under regulation 14 shall cease to be valid:

(a)if its period of validity has been exceeded and the certificate has not been extended by the appropriate Certifying Authority in accordance with regulation 17 or otherwise in accordance with the 1988 Protocol by the government of a country to which the 1974 SOLAS Convention applies,

(b)if the relevant surveys and inspections have not been completed within the periods specified under regulations 6 to 9D or otherwise in accordance with the 1988 Protocol by the government of a country to which the 1974 SOLAS Convention applies, and the certificate has either not been extended in accordance with regulation 17 or otherwise in accordance with the 1988 Protocol by the government of a country to which the 1974 SOLAS Convention applies, or the period of any such extension has expired,

(c)upon transfer of the ship to the flag of another State, or

(d)if the vessel no longer substantially complies with the requirements of the certificate.

(7)In this regulation, “1988 Protocol” means the Protocol of 1988 to the SOLAS Convention.

16Issue and duration of Exemption Certificates#

(1)When an exemption is granted to a ship in accordance with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship, an Exemption Certificate shall be issued in addition to any Certificate issued under regulation 13 , 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D or 14.

(2)The period of validity of an Exemption Certificate shall not be longer than the period of validity of the certificate to which it refers.

(3)An Exemption Certificate shall be subject to the same extension and other provisions as the certificate to which it refers.

17Extension and other provisions#

(1)Where a Convention Certificate other than a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or a Polar Ship Certificate issued in respect of a passenger ship,or HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft has been issued for a period of validity of less than five years and the surveys required under regulations 6(1) and 7 to 9D have been satisfactorily completed, the Certifying Authority may extend the validity of that Certificate so that the certificate is valid for a maximum period of five years.

(2)Where a renewal survey required under regulations 6(1) and 7 to 9 to 9Aor a survey required at the same time as such renewal survey under regulation 9B, 9C or 9D has been satisfactorily completed before the expiry of the relevant Convention Certificate or an HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft but the new certificate cannot be issued or placed on board the ship before the expiry of the existing certificate, the Certifying Authority may endorse the existing certificate as valid for a period not exceeding 5 months from the expiry date.

(3)Where a renewal survey required under regulations 6(1) and 7 to 9 to 9Aor a survey required at the same time as such renewal survey under regulation 9B, 9C or 9D has not been satisfactorily completed before the expiry of the relevant Convention Certificate or HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft and at the time of expiry the ship is not in a port in which it is to be surveyed, the Certifying Authority may, where it appears to it proper and reasonable to do so, extend the validity of the certificate solely for the purpose of allowing the ship to complete its voyage to its port of survey.

(4)Where no other extension has been granted, the Certifying Authority may extend the validity of a Convention Certificate or HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft of ships engaged on short voyages for a period of no more than one month.

(5)An extension of validity under paragraph (1) or (2), and, except in special circumstances as determined by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an extension of validity under paragraph (3) or (4), shall be disregarded for the purposes of determining the date of expiry of an existing Convention Certificate or HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft under regulation 15(2) or (3).

18Issue and endorsement of Certificates by another Government#

(1)The Secretary of State may request the Government of a country to which the SOLAS Convention applies to survey a United Kingdom ship and, if satisfied that the requirements of the Convention are complied with, to issue or authorise the issue to the ship the certificates referred to in regulations 13 and 13Bto 13D.

(2)A certificate issued in accordance with such a request shall contain a statement that it has been so issued and shall have the same effect as if it was issued by the Secretary of State.

19Requests made by other SOLAS Governments#

(1)The Secretary of State may, at the request of a government of a country to which the SOLAS Convention applies, survey a ship registered in that country.

(2)If the Secretary of State is satisfied that the requirements of the Convention are complied with and that a survey has been satisfactorily completed in accordance with these Regulations, the Secretary of State may issue to the ship one or more of the certificates referred to in regulations 13 and 13Bto 13D, and, where appropriate, endorse such certificates in accordance with the requirements of the Convention.

(3)A certificate issued in accordance with a request mentioned in paragraph (1) shall contain a statement that it has been so issued and shall have the same effect as if it was issued by that government and not by the Secretary of State.

(4)Where a memorandum, issued by or under the authority of the government concerned, is attached to a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or a valid short international voyage Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, in respect of a ship to which the SOLAS Convention applies, which modifies the certificate in respect of the persons that may be carried for a particular voyage, the certificate shall have effect for the purpose of the voyage as if it was modified in accordance with the memorandum.

(5)A surveyor may go on board a ship to which the SOLAS Convention applies for the purpose of verifying that there is in force any certificate required by these Regulations, that the hull, machinery and equipment correspond substantially with the particulars shown on the certificate and that the provisions of regulation 10 are being complied with.

20Passenger ships which are not United Kingdom ships#

(1)When a survey of a passenger ship which is not a United Kingdom ship, and which is not engaged on international voyages, is completed in accordance with these Regulations, the Certifying Authority shall issue a Passenger Certificate appropriate to its Class.

(2)Such certificates shall be subject to the requirements of these Regulations as though they were issued under regulation 14.

21Cancellation of a certificate#

(1)The Secretary of State may cancel a certificate issued to a United Kingdom ship where there is reason to believe that—

(a)the certificate was issued on false or erroneous information; or

(b)since any survey required by these Regulations, the structure, equipment or machinery has sustained damage or is otherwise deficient.

(2)The Secretary of State may require that a certificate issued to a United Kingdom ship which has expired or has been cancelled be surrendered.

(3)No person shall—

(a)intentionally alter a certificate referred to in these Regulations;

(b)intentionally make a false certificate referred to in these Regulations;

(c)in connection with any survey required by these Regulations, knowingly or recklessly furnish false information;

(d)with intent to deceive, use, lend, or allow to be used by another, a certificate referred to in these Regulations; or

(e)fail to surrender a certificate required to be surrendered under paragraph (2).

22Availability of certificates#

The owner and master of every ship issued with a Convention Certificate , HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft or equivalent certificate described in regulation 23(5B)(b), or a certificate or document, as the case may be, described in regulation 23(5D)(b), (5E)(b), (5F)(b), (5G)(b) or (5H)(b) shall ensure that it is readily available on board for examination at all times.

23Prohibition on proceeding to sea without the appropriate documentation#

(1)No United Kingdom ship engaged on international voyages shall proceed to sea unless it has been surveyed and there is in force the following certificate or certificates—

(a)in the case of a passenger ship, a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, or, if the ship is only engaged on short international voyages, a short international voyage Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;

(b)in the case of a cargo ship of 300 gross tons or more, a Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate;

(c)in the case of a cargo ship of 500 gross tons or more—

(i)a Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate, a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate and a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate; or

(ii)a Cargo Ship Safety Certificate.

(2)No ship registered in a country to which the SOLAS Convention applies shall proceed to sea from a port in the United Kingdom unless there is in force such Convention Certificates that would be required if the ship were a United Kingdom ship.

(3)Regulation 17 applies to the Convention Certificates mentioned in paragraph (2) as if the ship were a United Kingdom ship.

(4)No cargo ship of 500 gross tons or more not engaged on international voyages shall proceed to sea from any port in the United Kingdom unless it has been surveyed and there is in force a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate.

(5)No ship registered in a country to which the SOLAS Convention does not apply shall proceed to sea from any port in the United Kingdom unless the ship is in possession of documentation which shows that the ship has been surveyed for compliance with regulations 6 to 9 as if it were a United Kingdom ship.

(5A)No United Kingdom HSOSC may proceed to sea unless it has been surveyed and there is in force an HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft.

(5B)No HSOSC which is not a United Kingdom HSOSC may operate in United Kingdom waters unless it has been surveyed and there is in force—

(a)an HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft, or

(b)a certificate of a particular name or description which is equivalent to an HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft and which is specified as such in a Merchant Shipping Notice.

(5C)No United Kingdom ship which intends to operate in polar waters and to which regulation 10 of the Polar Code Safety Regulations applies (requirements for passenger ships and cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage or more), may proceed to sea unless there is in force a Polar Ship Certificate.

(5D)No ship which is not a United Kingdom ship which intends to commence a voyage from a port in the United Kingdom and as part of that voyage intends to operate in polar waters, may proceed to sea from that port unless there is in force—

(a)in the case of a ship registered in a country to which the SOLAS Convention applies, a Polar Ship Certificate; or

(b)in the case of a ship registered in a country to which the SOLAS Convention does not apply, a certificate that demonstrates compliance with each requirement of the Polar Code referred to in regulation 10(2) of the Polar Code Safety Regulations that applies to it.

(5E)No United Kingdom cargo ship or high speed cargo craft which carries an aggregate of more than 12 persons consisting of industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers where at least one person is industrial personnel, may proceed to sea unless there is in force—

(a)an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate; or

(b)until such time as a Certifying Authority issues an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate under regulation 13C(1)(a), a statement of compliance confirming compliance with the SPS Code 2008 only.

(5F)No cargo ship or high speed cargo craft which carries the persons referred to in paragraph (5E) and which is not a United Kingdom ship, may operate in United Kingdom waters unless there is in force—

(a)in the case of a ship flying the flag of a State which is a party to the SOLAS Convention but which is not the United Kingdom, an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate; or

(b)in the case of a ship flying the flag of a State which is not a party to the SOLAS Convention, a certificate that demonstrates compliance with each requirement of the IP Code referred to in regulation 9 or 10 of the IP and SPS Regulations, as the case may be, that applies to it.

(5G)No special purpose ship which is a United Kingdom ship may proceed to sea unless there is in force—

(a)a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate; or

(b)until such time as a Certifying Authority issues a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate under regulation 13D(1)(a), a statement of compliance.

(5H)No special purpose ship which is not a United Kingdom special purpose ship, may operate in United Kingdom waters unless there is in force—

(a)a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate; or

(b)a certificate that demonstrates compliance with each requirement of the SPS Code 2008 that applies to that ship.

(6)If a certificate is issued subject to conditions, or specifies sea areas in which the ship is certified to operate, the owner and master shall ensure that all conditions are complied with, or, as the case may be, that the ship only operates in the specified sea areas.

24Prohibition on proceeding on a voyage or excursion without the appropriate certificate#

(1)A passenger ship of Class II(A), III, IV, V, VI, VI(A), A, B, C or D shall not proceed on a voyage or excursion unless it has been surveyed and there is in force—

(a)a Passenger Certificate appropriate to the ship's Class and applicable to that voyage or excursion; or

(b)in the case of a ship of Class A, B, C or D, a certificate issued by a member State or an EEA State pursuant to article 11 of the Directive.

(2)Where a certificate is issued subject to conditions, the ship shall not proceed on a voyage or excursion unless all the conditions are complied with.

25Limit on the number of passengers on passenger ships#

The owner and master of a passenger ship shall ensure that there is not on board a greater number of passengers than that stated on the ship's Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or Passenger Certificate.

25ALimit on the number of persons on HSOSC#

The owner and master of an HSOSC must ensure that there is not on board a greater number of persons than that stated on the ship’s HSC Code Safety Certificate for Offshore Service Craft or equivalent certificate described in regulation 23(5B)(b).

25BLimit on the number of persons on cargo ships and high speed craft carrying industrial personnel#

The owner and master of a cargo ship or high speed cargo craft must ensure that there is not on board a greater number of persons than that stated on—

(a)the ship’s Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate; or

(b)in the case of a ship flying the flag of a State which is not a party to the SOLAS Convention, the certificate referred to in regulation 23(5F)(b) (certificate demonstrating compliance with the IP Code).

25CLimit on the number of persons on special purpose ships#

The owner and master of a special purpose ship must ensure that there is not on board a greater number of persons than that stated on—

(a)the ship’s Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate; or

(b)in the case of a special purpose ship which is not a United Kingdom ship, a certificate referred to in regulation 23(5H)(b) (certificate demonstrating compliance with the SPS Code 2008).

26Penalties#

(1)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 to 9D, 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.

(2)Any contravention of regulation 10(1), 23(1) to (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.

(3)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.

(4)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.

(5)Any contravention of regulation 25 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.

(6)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.

27Powers to detain#

(1)In any case where a ship does not comply with the requirements of these Regulations, the ship is liable to be detained and section 284(1) to (6) and (8) of the Act (enforcing detention of ship) shall have effect in relation to the ship, subject to the modification that as if for the words “this Act” wherever they appear, there were substituted “ the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2015 ”.

(2)Where a ship is liable to be detained under these Regulations the detaining officer shall serve on the master a detention notice which shall—

(a)state that a surveyor of ships is of the opinion that in relation to that vessel there is a failure to comply with the requirements of these Regulations,

(b)specify the matters which, in the opinion of the surveyor of ships, have the effect that in relation to that vessel those requirements are not met, and

(c)require the terms of the notice to be complied with before the vessel is released by any person mentioned in section 284(1) of the Act.

(3)Sections 96 and 97 of the Act (which relate to arbitration and compensation in connection with the detention of a ship) apply in relation to a detention notice under this regulation as those sections apply in relation to a detention notice under section 95 of the Act, with the following modifications—

(a)the arbitrator shall have regard in coming to a decision to any other matters not specified in the detention notice which appear to be relevant to whether or not the ship was in breach of a requirement of these Regulations; and

(b)the arbitrator shall include in the decision a finding whether there was or was not a valid basis for the detention of the ship as not complying with the requirements of these Regulations.

28Arbitration#

(1)If an applicant is dissatisfied for any reason with the outcome of a survey carried out in respect of a United Kingdom ship, that person may serve a written notice on the responsible person within 21 days of receiving notice of that outcome—

(a)stating that there is a dispute in relation to the survey, and

(b)requesting that the dispute be referred to a single arbitrator.

(2)Subject to paragraphs (3), (4) and (6), an arbitrator referred to in paragraph (1) must be appointed by agreement between the parties.

(3)In default of agreement between the parties, the arbitrator is such person as may be appointed by the President or Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators following a request by——

(a)a party, after giving written notice to the other party, or

(b)the parties jointly,

but this paragraph does not apply in relation to Scotland.

(4)No person is to be an arbitrator under this regulation unless that person is—

(a)a person who holds a certificate of competency as a Class 1 Deck Officer or Class 1 Marine Engineer Officer, or a certificate of competency which is equivalent to such a certificate;

(b)a naval architect,

(c)a qualified person,

(d)a person with experience of shipping matters, or

(e)a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

(5)An arbitrator appointed under this regulation has the powers of an inspector conferred by section 259 of the Act.

(6)In the application of this regulation to Scotland—

(a)any reference to an arbitrator is to be construed as a reference to an arbiter, and

(b)the reference in paragraph (2) to a single arbitrator appointed by agreement between the parties is to be construed as a reference to a single arbiter so appointed or, in default of agreement, appointed by a sheriff.

(7)The rules for arbitration set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M1613 apply unless alternative arrangements are agreed between the applicant and the Secretary of State before the commencement of arbitration proceedings.

(8)In this regulation—

(a)“applicant” means a person who makes an application for a survey required by these Regulations,

(b)“the parties” means the applicant and the responsible person, and “party” is to be construed accordingly,

(c)“qualified person” means—

(i)a person who satisfies the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis within the meaning of section 50 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 ^note,

(ii)a person who is an advocate or solicitor in Scotland of at least 7 years' standing, and

(iii)a person who is a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland of at least 7 years' standing, and

(d)“responsible person” means the Certifying Authority responsible for the issue of the certificate in connection with which a survey required by these Regulations is carried out.

29Review#

(1)The Secretary of State must from time to time —

(a)carry out a review of regulations 1 to 28,

(b)set out the conclusions of the review in a report, and

(c)publish the report.

(2)In carrying out the review the Secretary of State must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how the SOLAS Convention is implemented in other states.

(3)The report must in particular—

(a)set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory system established by these Regulations,

(b)assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved, and

(c)assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a system that imposes less regulation.

(4)The first report under this regulation must be published before the end of five years beginning with the day on which these Regulations come into force.

(5)Reports under this regulation are afterwards to be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

Schedule · Instruments revoked

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Defined terms · 56

Show every defined term

anniversary date
means the day and the month of each year which correspond to the date of expiry of the relevant certificate;
Antarctic Area
has the meaning given to it in regulation 1 of Chapter XIV;
applicant
means a person who makes an application for a survey required by these Regulations,
Arctic waters
has the meaning given to it in regulation 1 of Chapter XIV;
cargo ship
means any ship that is not a— (a) passenger ship;
category A polar ship
means a ship designed for operation in polar waters in at least medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions;
category B polar ship
means a ship designed for operation in polar waters in at least thin first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions;
category C polar ship
means a ship designed to operate in open waters or in ice conditions less severe than those in which a category A polar ship or a category B polar ship operates;
Certifying Authority
has the meaning given by regulation 4;
Chapter X
means Chapter X in the Annex to the SOLAS Convention (safety measures for high speed craft);
Chapter XIV
means Chapter XIV in the Annex to the SOLAS Convention (safety measures for ships operating in polar waters) and includes the amendments adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.532(107);
Class II(A) ship
means a passenger ship engaged on voyages other than international voyages, which is not— (a) a ship of Classes III to VI(A) as defined in the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes III to VI(A)) Regulations 1998;
Convention Certificate
means a certificate issued in accordance with the requirements of the SOLAS Convention;
Exemption Certificate
means the certificate of that name issued pursuant to regulation16;
first-year ice
means sea ice of not more than one winter’s growth developing from young ice with thickness from 0.3 to 2.0 metres;
gross tons
means gross tonnage ascertained under the Merchant Shipping (Tonnage) Regulations 1997;
high speed cargo craft
means a high speed craft carrying not more than 12 passengers;
high speed craft
has the meaning given to it in regulation 1.3 of Chapter X;
HSOSC
means a craft to which the Merchant Shipping (High Speed Offshore Service Craft) Regulations 2022 apply (see regulation 3 of those Regulations);
immediate family
means, in relation to an individual, the spouse or civil partner of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the individual’s spouse or civil partner;
IMO
means the International Maritime Organization, which is a special agency of the United Nations responsible for shipping safety and security and the prevention of pollution;
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 offshore facilities;
Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate
means the certificate of that description, including the record of equipment, contained in the Appendix to the IP Code, and which confirms that a ship complies with each requirement of the IP Code applicable to it and issued in respect of— (a) a United Kingdom ship pursuant to regulation 13C (issue of Industrial Personnel Safety Certificates in respect of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft);
international voyage
means a voyage from a port in one country to a port in another country, either of the countries being a country to which the SOLAS Convention applies;
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport;
medium first-year ice
means first-year ice of 70 to 120 centimetres thickness;
Merchant Shipping Notice
means a Notice described as such, issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and includes a reference to any document amending or replacing that Notice which is considered by the Secretary of State to be relevant from time to time and is specified in a Merchant Shipping Notice;
mile
means an international nautical mile of 1852 metres;
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;
oil tanker
has the meaning given to it in regulation 1 of Annex I to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973.
old ice
means sea ice which has survived at least one summer’s melt;
open waters
means a large area of freely navigable water in which sea ice is present in concentrations of less than 10 per cent and no ice of land origin is present;
passenger
means a person other than— (a) the master and the members of the crew or other persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship on the business of that ship;
Passenger Certificate
means the certificate of that name issued pursuant to regulation 14;
passenger ship
means a ship carrying more than 12 passengers;
Passenger Ship Safety Certificate
means the certificates of those names issued pursuant to regulation 13;
pleasure vessel
means— (a) any vessel which at the time it is being used is— (a) in the case of a vessel wholly owned by— (aa) an individual or individuals, used only for the sport or pleasure of the owner or the immediate family or friends of the owner;
Polar Code
means the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters as described in regulation 1 of Chapter XIV (safety measures for ships operating in polar waters) and includes the amendments adopted by IMO Resolution MSC.538(107);
Polar Code Safety Regulations
means the Merchant Shipping (Polar Code) (Safety) Regulations 2025;
Polar Ship Certificate
means the certificate of that description, including the record of equipment, contained in Appendix 1 to the Polar Code and which confirms that a ship complies with each requirement of part 1-A of the Polar Code (safety measures) applicable to it and issued in respect of— (a) a United Kingdom ship pursuant to regulation 13B (issue of Polar Ship Certificate);
polar waters
means Arctic waters and the Antarctic Area;
proper officer
means a consular officer appointed by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and, in relation to a port in a country outside the United Kingdom which is not a foreign country, includes an officer exercising in that port functions similar to those of a superintendent;
qualified person
means—
radio installations
means any radio equipment other than radio navigational equipment on board a ship or provided in relation to the ship's life-saving appliances;
relative
means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant;
responsible person
means the Certifying Authority responsible for the issue of the certificate in connection with which a survey required by these Regulations is carried out.
sea ice
means any form of ice found at sea which has originated from the freezing of sea water;
ship of war
has the same meaning as in the SOLAS Convention;
short international voyage
means an international voyage in the course of which— (a) a ship is not more than 200 miles from a port or place in which the passengers and crew could be placed in safety;
special personnel
means a person who is carried on board a ship in connection with the special purpose of that ship or because of special work being carried out on board that ship, but who is not a member of the crew;
special purpose ship
means a ship which is not a passenger ship and which carries on board an aggregate of more than 12 persons consisting of special personnel and passengers where at least one person is special personnel;
Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate
means the certificate of that description, including the record of equipment, contained in the Appendix to the SPS Code 1983 or the Annex to the SPS Code 2008, whichever is applicable, and which confirms that a ship complies with each requirement of the SPS Code 1983 or the SPS Code 2008, as the case may be, applicable to it and issued in respect of— (a) a United Kingdom ship pursuant to regulation 13D (issue of Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate);
the Act
means the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;
the Directive
means Directive 2009/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6th May 2009 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships;
the parties
means the applicant and the responsible person, and “party” is to be construed accordingly,
thin first-year ice
means first-year ice of 30 to 70 centimetres thickness.

1Citation and Commencement#

2Revocation#

3Interpretation#

4Certifying Authorities#

5Application and exemption#

6Surveys of passenger ships#

7Surveys of cargo ship safety equipment#

8Surveys of cargo ship radio installations#

9Surveys of cargo ship structure, machinery and equipment#

9ASurveys of HSOSC#

9BSurveys of ships operating in polar waters#

9CSurveys of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft carrying industrial personnel#

9DSurveys of special purpose ships#

10Responsibilities of owner and master#

11Surveys and inspections – general#

12Procedure to be adopted when the ship is deficient#

13Issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships engaged on international or short international voyages#

13AIssue of certificates to HSOSC#

13BIssue of Polar Ship Certificate#

13CIssue of Industrial Personnel Safety Certificates in respect of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft#

13DIssue of Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate#

14Issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships not engaged on international voyages#

15Duration and validity of certificates#

16Issue and duration of Exemption Certificates#

17Extension and other provisions#

18Issue and endorsement of Certificates by another Government#

19Requests made by other SOLAS Governments#

20Passenger ships which are not United Kingdom ships#

21Cancellation of a certificate#

22Availability of certificates#

23Prohibition on proceeding to sea without the appropriate documentation#

24Prohibition on proceeding on a voyage or excursion without the appropriate certificate#

25Limit on the number of passengers on passenger ships#

25ALimit on the number of persons on HSOSC#

25BLimit on the number of persons on cargo ships and high speed craft carrying industrial personnel#

25CLimit on the number of persons on special purpose ships#

26Penalties#

27Powers to detain#

28Arbitration#

29Review#

Schedule · Instruments revoked

Connections

History · 6 versions

Defined terms · 56

Key facts

1Citation and Commencement#

2Revocation#

3Interpretation#

4Certifying Authorities#

5Application and exemption#

6Surveys of passenger ships#

7Surveys of cargo ship safety equipment#

8Surveys of cargo ship radio installations#

9Surveys of cargo ship structure, machinery and equipment#

9ASurveys of HSOSC#

9BSurveys of ships operating in polar waters#

9CSurveys of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft carrying industrial personnel#

9DSurveys of special purpose ships#

10Responsibilities of owner and master#

11Surveys and inspections – general#

12Procedure to be adopted when the ship is deficient#

13Issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships engaged on international or short international voyages#

13AIssue of certificates to HSOSC#

13BIssue of Polar Ship Certificate#

13CIssue of Industrial Personnel Safety Certificates in respect of cargo ships and high speed cargo craft#

13DIssue of Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate#

14Issue of certificates to United Kingdom ships not engaged on international voyages#

15Duration and validity of certificates#

16Issue and duration of Exemption Certificates#

17Extension and other provisions#

18Issue and endorsement of Certificates by another Government#

19Requests made by other SOLAS Governments#

20Passenger ships which are not United Kingdom ships#

21Cancellation of a certificate#

22Availability of certificates#

23Prohibition on proceeding to sea without the appropriate documentation#

24Prohibition on proceeding on a voyage or excursion without the appropriate certificate#

25Limit on the number of passengers on passenger ships#

25ALimit on the number of persons on HSOSC#

25BLimit on the number of persons on cargo ships and high speed craft carrying industrial personnel#