Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 and come into force on 6th April 2018.

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998

2.-(1) The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998(5) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 4 (commercially operated large vessels complying with Code of Practice)-

(a)paragraph (1)(a) becomes paragraph (1);

(b)paragraph (1)(b) becomes paragraph (1A);

(c)for paragraph (3) substitute-

"(3) The following provisions 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-

(a)the statutory instruments listed in Schedule 1; and

(b)regulations 29(2) and 30 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014(6) (crew accommodation requirements and provision for certain older ships)".

(3) In regulation 5 (commercially operated small vessels complying with a Code of Practice)-

(a)in paragraph (2), after sub-paragraph (a) but before the "and" at the end insert-

"(aa)"Marine Guidance Note 490(M) Amendment 1" means the note described as such published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in September 2014;

(ab)"Marine Guidance Note 491(M) Amendment 1" means the note described as such published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in September 2014;";

(b)for paragraph (3), substitute-

"(3) The following provisions do not apply to a vessel which satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3A)-

(a)the statutory instruments listed in Schedule 2;

(b)regulations 29(2) and 30 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 (crew accommodation requirements and provision for certain older ships).

(3A) The requirements are that the vessel-

(a)has been examined and has been issued with a small commercial vessel certificate in accordance with the applicable Code of Practice; and

(b)in the case of a vessel the keel of which was laid or which was at a similar stage of construction on or after 7th August 2014, complies with the standards set out in-

(i)where the vessel is less than 200 tons, Annex 1 to Marine Guidance Note 490(M) Amendment 1; or

(ii)where the vessel is 200 tons or more but less than 500 tons, Annex 1 to Marine Guidance Note 491(M) Amendment 1.";

(c)omit paragraph (5).

(4) In Schedule 1 (statutory instruments disapplied in relation to large vessels complying with a Code of Practice), in the table omit the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014.

(5) In Schedule 2 (statutory instruments disapplied in relation to small vessels complying with a of Practice), in the table omit the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014.

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010

3.-(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010(7) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation)-

(a)after the definition of "the MCA" insert-

""medical condition" includes both injury and illness, and a "significant medical condition" is a medical condition which adversely affects or is reasonably likely to adversely affect the seafarer's ability to carry out his or her duties, including the seafarer's ability to undertake emergency duties;";

(b)in the definition of "medical practitioner", after "means" insert "a person approved by the Secretary of State to issue medical fitness certificates who is".

(3) In regulation 8 (application for medical fitness certificate), after paragraph (2) insert-

"(2A) A person applying for a medical fitness certificate must disclose to the medical practitioner to whom the application is made-

(a)all existing medical conditions from which the person suffers and of which the person is aware (if any); and

(b)all medication which the person is taking (if any).

(2B) Disclosure required by paragraph (2A) must be made with the application or as soon as reasonably practicable afterwards.".

(4) Omit regulation 12(4) (meaning of "medical condition").

(5) After regulation 20 insert-

"Review

21.-(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time-

(a)carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in these Regulations; and

(b)publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2) The first report must be published before the end of 5th April 2023.

(3) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding 5 years.

(4) Section 30(3) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015(8) requires that a review carried out under this regulation must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how Regulation 1.2 and Standard A1.2 of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 are implemented in other ratifying States.

(5) Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 requires that a report published under this regulation must, in particular-

(a)set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph (1)(a);

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

(c)assess whether those objectives remain appropriate; and

(d)if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involves less onerous provision.

(6) In this regulation, "regulatory provision" has the same meaning as in section 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.".

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2013

4.-(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2013(9) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), in the definition of "pleasure vessel"-

(a)in paragraph (a), for sub-paragraph (i) substitute-

"(i)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)in the words after paragraph (b), for "paragraphs" substitute "paragraph".

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014

5.-(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014(10) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), in the definition of "pleasure vessel"-

(a)in paragraph (a), for sub-paragraph (i) substitute-

"(i)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)in the words after paragraph (b), for "paragraphs" substitute "paragraph".

(3) In regulation 30 (application of certain regulations to older ships)-

(a)before paragraph (1) insert-

"(A1) A ship the keel of which was laid or which was at a similar stage of construction before 1st July 1979-

(a)as respects crew accommodation which has not been substantially reconstructed or altered on or after that date, must comply with the requirements set out in Schedule 6 to the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1978(11) as if those Regulations had not been revoked;

(b)as respects crew accommodation which has been substantially reconstructed or altered on or after that date but before 11th July 1997, must comply with the requirements set out in Part 1 of the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1978, as if they had not been revoked;

(c)as respects crew accommodation which has been substantially reconstructed or altered on or after 11th July 1997 but before 7th August 2014, must comply with the requirements set out in the Merchant Shipping (Crew Accommodation) Regulations 1997(12).";

(b)in paragraph (1)-

(i)in the words before sub-paragraph (a), after "construction" insert "on or after 1st July 1979 but";

(ii)in sub-paragraph (a), for "Schedule 6 to" substitute "Part 1 of";

(iii)in sub-paragraph (b), for "the date on which these Regulations come into force" substitute "7th August 2014";

(c)in paragraph (2), for "the date on which these Regulations come into force", in both places where it occurs, substitute "7th August 2014";

(d)in paragraph (4), for "paragraphs" substitute "paragraph (A1),".

(4) In regulation 50 (shipowner's liability for wages following sickness or injury to seafarer)-

(a)in paragraph (4)-

(i)in the words before sub-paragraph (a), omit "Subject to paragraphs (5) to (7)";

(ii)in sub-paragraph (a), for "that period" substitute "the period of incapacity";

(iii)in sub-paragraph (b), for the words beginning with "that period" where they first occur, to the end, substitute "the period of incapacity";

(b)for paragraph (5) substitute-

"(5) "Period of incapacity" means-

(a)where the seafarer's seafarer employment agreement does not specify a date on which the agreement is to terminate, the shorter of the following-

(i)the period of 16 weeks beginning with the day ("the start day") after the date of injury or the first day of sickness referred to in paragraph (1);

(ii)the period beginning with the start day and ending with the date that the seafarer is again fit for work; and

(iii)the period beginning with the start day and ending with the date that the agreement terminates;

(b)where the seafarer's seafarer employment agreement does specify a date on which the agreement is to terminate, the shorter of the following-

(i)the period specified in paragraph (a)(i);

(ii)the period specified in paragraph (a)(ii);

(iii)the period specified in paragraph (a)(iii); and

(iv)the period beginning with the start day and ending with the termination date specified in the agreement.";

(c)in paragraphs (7) and (8), for "referred to in paragraph (5)" substitute "of incapacity";

(d)in paragraph (11), for "This regulation does" substitute "Paragraphs (1) to (10) of this regulation do";

(e)after paragraph (11), insert-

"(12) A collective bargaining agreement may exclude or limit the operation of paragraphs (4) to (9) if it complies with paragraph (13).

(13) A collective bargaining agreement complies with this paragraph if it requires the person responsible under the agreement for paying seafarers to pay incapacitated seafarers the relevant amount for the period of incapacity.

(14) In paragraph (13)-

"incapacitated seafarer" means a seafarer party to the collective bargaining agreement who would otherwise receive a payment by virtue of paragraph (4);

"relevant amount" in relation to a period of incapacity means the whole or a specified percentage of the basic wages that would have been payable under the incapacitated seafarer's seafarer employment agreement if -

(15) The purported termination by any person of a seafarer's seafarer employment agreement is to have no effect if it is solely or mainly for the purpose of avoiding liability to make any payment under this regulation.".

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014

6.-(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014(13) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), in the definition of "pleasure vessel"-

(a)in paragraph (a), for sub-paragraph (i) substitute-

"(i)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)in the words after paragraph (b), for "paragraphs" substitute "paragraph".

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018

7.-(1) The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018(14) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2(1), in the definition of "pleasure vessel", in paragraph (a)(ii)(bb), for "family and friends" substitute "family or friends".

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make miscellaneous amendments to the following statutory instruments: the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/2771); the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/737); the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1785); the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1613), the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1615) and the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/58).

Regulation 2 amends the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998 to exempt vessels which, depending on their size, satisfy the requirements in Marine Guidance Note 490(M) or 491(M), from being subject to the requirements of the statutory instruments listed in Schedule 2 to those Regulations and the requirements in regulations 29(1) and 30 of the Minimum Requirements Regulations.

Regulation 3 amends the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010, in implementation of Clause 13 of the Annex to Directive 1999/63/EC (O.J. No.L167, 02.07.1999, p.33) as amended by Article 2.4. of Directive 2009/13/EC (O.J. No. L124, 20.05.2009, p.30), to require a person applying for a medical fitness certificate to disclose pre-existing medical conditions and any medication which the person is taking to the medical practitioner to whom the application is made. This regulation also inserts a provision in to the instrument requiring the Secretary of State to review the regulatory provision and publish a report within 5 years of the coming into force of these Regulations (and within every 5 years after that).

Regulation 4 amends the definition of "pleasure vessel" in the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2013. Regulations 5(2) and 6 make equivalent amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 and the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014.

Regulation 5 amends the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014. Regulation 5(3) applies the appropriate crew accommodation legislation to ships where the crew accommodation has been substantially reconstructed or altered within certain dates.

Regulation 5(4) amends regulation 50 of the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 to make changes to shipowners' liability for wages following sickness or injury to seafarers. It provides that shipowners may be liable for wages only for the period of the seafarer's contract, 16 weeks or the duration of the sickness or injury, whichever is shortest. However, where a person purports to terminate a contract solely or mainly for the purpose of avoiding liability to make a payment under regulations 50, that termination is to have no effect. It also provides that collective bargaining agreements may exclude or limit the operation of certain provisions in regulation 50, provided the collective bargaining agreement provides for payment to be made to incapacitated seafarers for a certain period.

Regulation 7 makes a correction to the definition of "pleasure vessel" in the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018.

Marine Guidance Notes are published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency ("the MCA") (an executive agency of the Department for Transport). Copies may be obtained from Marine Guidance Notes, P.O. Box 362, Europa Park, Grays, Essex, RM17 9AY, tel: 01375 484 548, fax: 01375 484 556, or accessed via the MCA's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/maritime-and-coastguard-agency, which also has details of any amendments or replacements.

The Maritime Labour Convention may be downloaded from the website of the International Labour Organisation at www.ilo.org/global/standards/maritime-labour-convention/lang--en/index.htm. Copies of the Maritime Labour Convention may be obtained as a priced publication from www.tsoshop.co.uk, by post form TSO Customer Services, PO Box 29, Norwich, NR3 1GN, tel: +44 (0) 333 202 5070.

A regulatory triage assessment of the effect that these Regulations will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available and is published with the Explanatory Memorandum alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.