UK: Amended Fire Protection Regulations came into force

The UK's Secretary of State has published the amended Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 2023.

These amended Regulations have been published on 24 May 2023 and entered into force on 15 June 2023.

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

They have general applicability, with certain exceptions.

Firstly, they apply to United Kingdom ships regardless of their location.

Additionally, they apply to non-United Kingdom ships while they are within United Kingdom waters.

However, there are specific cases where these Regulations do not apply.

These include ships covered by the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998, ships of war and naval auxiliary ships, ships owned or operated by a State engaged solely in governmental non-commercial service, fishing vessels, ships not propelled by mechanical means, wooden ships of primitive build, ships exclusively navigating the Great Lakes of North America and the River St Lawrence up to a specific geographical point, non-United Kingdom pleasure vessels of 500 gross tons or above, passenger ships governed by the Merchant Shipping (Passenger Ships) (Safety Code for UK Categorised Waters) Regulations 2010, high-speed craft covered by the Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022, and vessels subject to the Merchant Shipping (Technical Requirements for Inland Waterway Vessels) Regulations 2010.

Furthermore, non-United Kingdom ships flying the flag of a non-party State to the Convention are exempt from these Regulations if they are in United Kingdom waters due to circumstances beyond the control of the master, owner, or charterer, such as inclement weather.

Moreover, if individuals are on board a ship due to the aforementioned circumstances or due to an obligation imposed on the master to carry shipwrecked or other persons, these individuals are not considered when determining the application of any provision of these Regulations to that ship.

Lastly, for the purposes of these regulations, a "non-United Kingdom ship" refers to any ship that is not registered in the United Kingdom.

An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside the instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.