The Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement Directive 2003/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14th April 2003 amending Council Directive 98/18/EC on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (O.J. L 123, 17.05.2003, p. 18). They implement the Directive by inserting the necessary provisions into the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/2687, amended by S.I. 2003/771, S.I. 2004/302) and S.I. 2004/1107. The requirements of Directive 2003/24/EC as so implemented include requirements of Directive 2003/25/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14th April 2003 on specific stability requirements for ro-ro passenger ships (O.J. L 123, 17.05.2003, p. 22).

The amendments made by these Regulations relate to stability requirements for and phasing-out of certain ro-ro passenger ships, and to safety requirements for persons with reduced mobility.

Through the insertion of Article 6a into Directive 1998/18/EC, implemented in these Regulations by inserting regulation 7A into the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) Regulations 2000, the Directive extends to domestic ro-ro passenger ships of Classes A, B and C the construction of which begins after 1st October 2004 the stability requirements of Directive 2003/25/EC, which are also the stability requirements of the International Agreement concluded in Stockholm on 27th to 28th February 1996 and entitled “Agreement Concerning Specific Stability Requirements for Ro-Ro Passenger Ships Undertaking Regular Scheduled International Voyages Between or to or from Designated Ports in North West Europe and the Baltic Sea” (see in particular regulation 2(6)).

Regulations 3 and 4 make consequential amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification Regulations) 1995 (S.I. 1995/1210) and the Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/302).

A Regulatory Impact Assessment and Transposition Note have been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1EG. Copies have been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.

Merchant Shipping Notices can be read or downloaded free from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency website (www.mcga.gov.uk). Printed copies can be obtained from Mail Marketing (Scotland) Ltd, Unit 6 Bloomsgrove Industrial Estate, Norton Street, Nottingham, NG7 3JG (telephone 0115 901 3336).