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Merchant Shipping Regulations

Merchant Shipping Regulations, overseen by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, establish safety, environmental, and operational standards for commercial and pleasure vessels operating in UK waters. Current regulatory activity includes amendments on emergency beacons (EPIRB/PLB), mercury controls, vessel registration, passenger counting, nuclear-powered ships, and emerging frameworks for maritime autonomy and remote operations. Multiple consultations and draft regulations are in progress to modernise the regulatory framework.

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2026

1 event
3 Mar 2026 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

Consultation on the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration) (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

This legislation will update existing registration requirements for Emergency Position Indicting Radio Beacons and introduce registration requirements for Personal Locator Beacons

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation Document (16pp)
+7 more
↓ Annex A - The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration… (8pp) ↓ Annex B - Draft - MSN 1924 (M+F) EPIRB and PLB registration… ↓ Annex C – Draft – MGN 665 (M+F) Amendment 1 Mandatory regis… ↓ Annex D - De Minimis Options Assessment for the EPIRB and P… (14pp) ↓ Consultation Feedback form ↓ Response form ↓ Consultation Report: The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB R…

2025

4 events
7 Nov 2025 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

Consultation on the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration) (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — consultation closed

This legislation will update existing registration requirements for Emergency Position Indicting Radio Beacons and introduce registration requirements for Personal Locator Beacons

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation Document (16pp)
+7 more
↓ Annex A - The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration… (8pp) ↓ Annex B - Draft - MSN 1924 (M+F) EPIRB and PLB registration… ↓ Annex C – Draft – MGN 665 (M+F) Amendment 1 Mandatory regis… ↓ Annex D - De Minimis Options Assessment for the EPIRB and P… (14pp) ↓ Consultation Feedback form ↓ Response form ↓ Consultation Report: The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB R…
13 Oct 2025 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

Consultation on the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration) (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — consultation opened

This legislation will update existing registration requirements for Emergency Position Indicting Radio Beacons and introduce registration requirements for Personal Locator Beacons

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation Document (16pp)
+7 more
↓ Annex A - The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration… (8pp) ↓ Annex B - Draft - MSN 1924 (M+F) EPIRB and PLB registration… ↓ Annex C – Draft – MGN 665 (M+F) Amendment 1 Mandatory regis… ↓ Annex D - De Minimis Options Assessment for the EPIRB and P… (14pp) ↓ Consultation Feedback form ↓ Response form ↓ Consultation Report: The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB R…
28 Aug 2025 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

Consultation on the merchant shipping (vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure) regulations 2025

This consultation seeks your views on a new Statutory Instrument and accompanying Code of Practice for Small Vessels in Commercial use for Sport or Pleasure (“Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation Document: The Merchant Shipping (V…
+10 more
↓ Annex A - DRAFT - The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commerc… (21pp) ↓ Annex B - DRAFT - The Code of Practice for Small Vessels in… (265pp) ↓ Annex C - DRAFT - De Minimis Assessment (59pp) ↓ Annex D - DRAFT - MIN YYY – Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code -… (17pp) ↓ Consultation Response Form ↓ Consultation Feedback Form ↓ Consultation Outcome Report ↓ Annex A - Log of Responses Received to Consultation Questio… ↓ Annex B - MCA Response to Comments in the Sport or Pleasure… ↓ Annex C - Summary of Thematic Analysis
25 Feb 2025 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

Consultation on the merchant shipping (vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure) regulations 2025 — consultation closed

This consultation seeks your views on a new Statutory Instrument and accompanying Code of Practice for Small Vessels in Commercial use for Sport or Pleasure (“Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation Document: The Merchant Shipping (V…
+10 more
↓ Annex A - DRAFT - The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commerc… (21pp) ↓ Annex B - DRAFT - The Code of Practice for Small Vessels in… (265pp) ↓ Annex C - DRAFT - De Minimis Assessment (59pp) ↓ Annex D - DRAFT - MIN YYY – Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code -… (17pp) ↓ Consultation Response Form ↓ Consultation Feedback Form ↓ Consultation Outcome Report ↓ Annex A - Log of Responses Received to Consultation Questio… ↓ Annex B - MCA Response to Comments in the Sport or Pleasure… ↓ Annex C - Summary of Thematic Analysis

2024

1 event
4 Dec 2024 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

Consultation on the merchant shipping (vessels in commercial use for sport or pleasure) regulations 2025 — consultation opened

This consultation seeks your views on a new Statutory Instrument and accompanying Code of Practice for Small Vessels in Commercial use for Sport or Pleasure (“Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code”).

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation Document: The Merchant Shipping (V…
+10 more
↓ Annex A - DRAFT - The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commerc… (21pp) ↓ Annex B - DRAFT - The Code of Practice for Small Vessels in… (265pp) ↓ Annex C - DRAFT - De Minimis Assessment (59pp) ↓ Annex D - DRAFT - MIN YYY – Sport or Pleasure Vessel Code -… (17pp) ↓ Consultation Response Form ↓ Consultation Feedback Form ↓ Consultation Outcome Report ↓ Annex A - Log of Responses Received to Consultation Questio… ↓ Annex B - MCA Response to Comments in the Sport or Pleasure… ↓ Annex C - Summary of Thematic Analysis

2023

3 events
14 Apr 2023 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

The Merchant Shipping (Counting and registration of persons on board) (amendment) regulations 2023

This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to introduce additional flexibility in relation to persons counting obligations on passenger ships.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation document
+7 more
↓ Consultation response form ↓ Annex A - DRAFT Counting and Registration of persons on boa… (4pp) ↓ Annex B - DRAFT MSN 1794 (M) Amendment 2 (14pp) ↓ Annex C - De Minimis Assessment (7pp) ↓ MCA Consultation feedback form ↓ Consultation outcome report: Consultation on the proposal t… (10pp) ↓ Consultation outcome report: Consultation on the proposal t…
28 Mar 2023 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

The Merchant Shipping (Counting and registration of persons on board) (amendment) regulations 2023 — consultation closed

This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to introduce additional flexibility in relation to persons counting obligations on passenger ships.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation document
+7 more
↓ Consultation response form ↓ Annex A - DRAFT Counting and Registration of persons on boa… (4pp) ↓ Annex B - DRAFT MSN 1794 (M) Amendment 2 (14pp) ↓ Annex C - De Minimis Assessment (7pp) ↓ MCA Consultation feedback form ↓ Consultation outcome report: Consultation on the proposal t… (10pp) ↓ Consultation outcome report: Consultation on the proposal t…
28 Feb 2023 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

The Merchant Shipping (Counting and registration of persons on board) (amendment) regulations 2023 — consultation opened

This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to introduce additional flexibility in relation to persons counting obligations on passenger ships.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation document
+7 more
↓ Consultation response form ↓ Annex A - DRAFT Counting and Registration of persons on boa… (4pp) ↓ Annex B - DRAFT MSN 1794 (M) Amendment 2 (14pp) ↓ Annex C - De Minimis Assessment (7pp) ↓ MCA Consultation feedback form ↓ Consultation outcome report: Consultation on the proposal t… (10pp) ↓ Consultation outcome report: Consultation on the proposal t…

2022

2 events
28 Feb 2022 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022

This consultation seeks views on the implementation of the updates of the International High Speed Craft (HSC) Codes which operate under Chapter X of SOLAS.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation document The Merchant Shipping (Hi… (20pp)
+6 more
↓ Annex A Draft regulations The Merchant Shipping (High Speed… (19pp) ↓ Annex B Draft guidance on the Merchant Shipping (HSC) Regul… (31pp) ↓ Annex C Chapter X of SOLAS and the HSC Codes 1994 and 2000 (12pp) ↓ Consultation response form ↓ Consultation feedback form ↓ Consultation Outcome Report

2021

2 events
6 Oct 2021 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022 — consultation closed

This consultation seeks views on the implementation of the updates of the International High Speed Craft (HSC) Codes which operate under Chapter X of SOLAS.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation document The Merchant Shipping (Hi… (20pp)
+6 more
↓ Annex A Draft regulations The Merchant Shipping (High Speed… (19pp) ↓ Annex B Draft guidance on the Merchant Shipping (HSC) Regul… (31pp) ↓ Annex C Chapter X of SOLAS and the HSC Codes 1994 and 2000 (12pp) ↓ Consultation response form ↓ Consultation feedback form ↓ Consultation Outcome Report
12 Aug 2021 | Consultation outcome Maritime and Coastguard Agency linked

The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022 — consultation opened

This consultation seeks views on the implementation of the updates of the International High Speed Craft (HSC) Codes which operate under Chapter X of SOLAS.

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK · ↓ Consultation document The Merchant Shipping (Hi… (20pp)
+6 more
↓ Annex A Draft regulations The Merchant Shipping (High Speed… (19pp) ↓ Annex B Draft guidance on the Merchant Shipping (HSC) Regul… (31pp) ↓ Annex C Chapter X of SOLAS and the HSC Codes 1994 and 2000 (12pp) ↓ Consultation response form ↓ Consultation feedback form ↓ Consultation Outcome Report

2011

1 event
21 Jan 2011 | Bill stage linked

Marine Navigation Aids Bill [HL]

Second Reading 10:06:00 Moved By Lord Berkeley: That the Bill be read a second time. Baroness Anelay of St Johns: My Lords, before the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, is able to make his speech, it falls to me to make …

▤ View Bill · ↗ Parliament

2010

4 events
26 May 2010 | Bill stage linked

Marine Navigation Aids Bill [HL]

First Reading A Bill to establish a marine navigation aids commission; to establish an office of marine navigation aids regulation; to amend the Merchant Shipping Act 1995; and for connected purposes. The Bill was introduced by Lord Berkeley, read a …

▤ View Bill · ↗ Parliament
5 Feb 2010 | Bill stage linked

Marine Navigation Aids Bill [HL]

Second Reading 11:17:00 Moved By Lord Berkeley: That the Bill be read a second time. Lord Bassam of Brighton: My Lords, I have it in command from Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales to …

▤ View Bill · ↗ Parliament

2009

4 events
19 Nov 2009 | Bill stage linked

Marine Navigation Aids Bill [HL]

First Reading A Bill to establish a Marine Navigation Aids Commission; to establish an Office of Marine Navigation Aids Regulation; to amend the Merchant Shipping Act 1995; and for connected purposes. The Bill was introduced by Lord Berkeley, read a …

▤ View Bill · ↗ Parliament
14 May 2009 | Bill stage linked

Marine Navigation Aids Bill [HL]

First Reading 11:42:00 A Bill to make provision for a marine navigation aids commission, to establish an office of marine aids regulation, to amend the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and for connected purposes. The Bill was introduced by Lord Berkeley, …

▤ View Bill · ↗ Parliament