1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998 and shall come into force on 16th December 1998.

(2) The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1993(2) are hereby revoked: provided that such revocation shall not affect the amendments made by regulation 3 of those Regulations to the statutory instruments listed in Schedule 2 to those Regulations.

Interpretation

2.-(1) In these Regulations-�

"EEA Agreement" means the Agreement on the European Economic Area signed at Oporto on 2nd May 1992(3) as adjusted by the Protocol signed at Brussels on 17th May 1993;

"EEA State" means a State which is a Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement;

"large vessel" means a vessel which is not a small vessel;

"Maritime and Coastguard Agency" means the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, an executive agency of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions;

"pleasure vessel" means-�

In this definition "immediate family" means-�

• in relation to an individual, the husband or wife of the individual, and a relative of the individual or the individual's husband or wife; and "relative" means brother, sister, ancestor or lineal descendant;

"small vessel" means a vessel of less than 24 metres in load line length or, in the case of a vessel the keel of which was laid or which was at a similar stage of construction before 21st July 1968, less than 150 tons; and in this definition-�

"load line length" means the greater of the following distances, measured at and along the waterline-�

The waterline referred to in this definition shall be at 85 per cent of the least moulded depth of the vessel. In the case of a vessel having a rake of keel, the waterline shall be parallel to the designed waterline;

"similar stage of construction" means a stage at which

"tons" means gross tons, measured in accordance with the Regulations for measuring tonnage in force on 20th July 1968.

(2) References to Codes of Practice in these Regulations are references to the Codes of those names published (or treated as published) by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and include any document amending the same which the Secretary of State considers relevant from time to time.

(3) Any reference in these Regulations to "proceeding to sea" includes a reference to proceeding on a voyage or excursion that does not involve going to sea.

Application

3.-(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) below, these Regulations apply to any vessel used for sport or pleasure which is not a pleasure vessel.

(2) These Regulations apply-�

(a)to United Kingdom vessels wherever they may be; and

(b)to other vessels operating from United Kingdom ports whilst in United Kingdom waters.

(3) These Regulations do not apply to vessels carrying more than twelve passengers.

Commercially operated large vessels complying with Code of Practice

4.-(1) (a) This regulation applies only to large vessels.

(b)In this regulation, "Code of Practice" means the Code of Practice for Safety of Large Commercial Sailing and Motor Vessels.

(2) Vessels shall comply with the provisions of the Code of Practice and accordingly any provision of the Code of Practice expressed in the conditional (i.e. "should") shall be a requirement.

(3) The statutory instruments listed in Schedule 1 to these Regulations do not apply to a vessel which has been examined, and in respect of which appropriate certificates have been issued, in accordance with the Code of Practice.

(4) Where a vessel has been so examined and appropriate certificates issued, the vessel shall not proceed or attempt to proceed to sea unless:

(a)the certificates are currently in force; and

(b)the vessel complies with the applicable requirements of the Code of Practice (including any requirements as to operation, manning and maintenance).

Commercially operated small vessels complying with a Code of Practice

5.-(1) This regulation applies only to small vessels.

(2) In this regulation:

(a)"Code of Practice" means "The Safety of Small Commercial Sailing Vessels-A Code of Practice", or "The Safety of Small Commercial Motor Vessels-A Code of Practice"; and

(b)"the phase-in arrangements of the Code of Practice" means such arrangements set out in the relevant paragraphs of a Code of Practice.

(3) The statutory instruments listed in Schedule 2 to these Regulations do not apply to a vessel which has been examined, and in respect of which a certificate has been issued, in accordance with the applicable Code of Practice, or to a vessel which is operating under the phase-in arrangements of the Code of Practice.

(4) Where a vessel has been so examined and a small commercial vessel certificate issued, the vessel shall not proceed, or attempt to proceed, to sea unless:

(a)the certificate is currently in force;

(b)the vessel complies with the requirements of the relevant Code of Practice (including any requirements as to operation, manning and maintenance); and for this purpose any provision of the Code expressed in the conditional (i.e. "should") shall be a requirement; and

(c)the certificate is displayed in some conspicuous place on board; or, if this is not reasonably practicable, is available for inspection on board.

(5) Where a vessel is operating under the phase-in arrangements of a Code of Practice it shall not proceed or attempt to proceed to sea unless it meets the requirements for phase-in which are specified in the Code of Practice.

Equivalent provisions

6. Where these Regulations or a Code of Practice require that a particular piece of equipment or machinery shall be provided or carried in a vessel to which these Regulations apply, or that any particular provision shall be made, the Secretary of State shall permit any other piece of equipment or machinery to be provided or carried or any other provision to be made in that vessel if he is satisfied by trial thereof or otherwise that such other fitting, material, appliance or apparatus, or type thereof, or provision is at least as effective as that required by these Regulations or the Code of Practice.

7. For the purpose of these Regulations, the results of verifications and tests carried out by the bodies and laboratories of other EEA States offering suitable and satisfactory guarantees of technical and professional competence and independence shall be accepted.

Penalties

8.-(1) Contravention of any of these Regulations shall be an offence by the owner and the master of the vessel which shall render both of them 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) It shall be a good defence to a charge under this regulation to prove that the person charged took all reasonable steps to avoid commission of the offence.

Power to detain

9. In any case where a vessel does not comply with the requirements of these Regulations, the vessel shall be liable to be detained and section 284 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (which relates to the detention of a ship) shall have effect in relation to the vessel, subject to the modification that as if for the words "this Act" wherever they appear, there were substituted "the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998".

Regulation 4

SCHEDULE 1LARGE VESSELSSTATUTORY INSTRUMENTS DISAPPLIED IF VESSELS COMPLY WITH THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR SAFETY OF LARGE COMMERCIAL SAILING AND MOTOR VESSELS

The statutory instruments listed below are those referred to in regulation 4 of these Regulations.

Regulation 5

SCHEDULE 2SMALL VESSELSSTATUTORY INSTRUMENTS DISAPPLIED IF VESSELS COMPLY WITH THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR SAFETY OF SMALL COMMERCIAL MOTOR VESSELS OR SMALL COMMERCIAL SAILING VESSELS

The statutory instruments listed below are those referred to in regulation 5 of these Regulations.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations revoke and replace the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1993.

The principal changes are-�

1. the Regulations require compliance by larger vessels (over 24 metres in length, or for older vessels, over 150 gross tons) with the Code of Practice for Safety of Large Commercial Sailing and Motor Vessels ("the Megayacht Code"). Operation in accordance with the Code means that the Regulations listed in Schedule 1 will not apply to such vessels; and

2. the list of Regulations which do not apply to small vessels if they comply with a relevant Code of Practice, in Schedule 2, is updated.

A compliance cost assessment has been produced and a copy laid in the library of each House of Parliament. Copies may be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone 01703 329134).

The Codes of Practice referred to in the Regulations are obtainable from the Stationery Office.