UK: regulations for cargo and passenger ship construction

The UK's Secretary of State and the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, on March 6th and 7th, 2023, published five documents on the regulations for cargo and passenger ship construction.

The Merchant Shipping (Cargo and Passenger Ship Construction and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023 enters into force on March 29th, 2023.

These regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The Merchant Shipping (Cargo and Passenger Ship Construction and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023 (SI 2023/246) amend the Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction) Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/1509) and the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ship Construction: Ships of Classes I, II and II(A) Regulations 1998 (SI 1998/2514) and replace those regulations to the extent that they make provision for the requirements under SOLAS Chapter II-1 in UK law.

Ships built on or after January 1st, 2009, engaged on international voyages are required to comply with provisions of Chapter II-1of the Annex to SOLAS (“SOLAS Chapter II-1”) as those provisions apply to those ships, and as amended from time to time.

Amendments made to SOLAS Chapter II-I will be incorporated into UK law by means of the ambulatory reference provision in the 2023 Regulations.