The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 1999

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement Council Directive 96/98/EC on Marine Equipment (O.J. No. L46, 17.2.97, p. 26 as amended by Commission Directive 98/85/EC, O.J. No. L315, 25.11.98, p. 14).

The principal provisions of the Regulations are as follows:

(i) equipment to be placed on board UK ships and other ships of specified Classes on or after 5th August 1999 shall comply with the applicable international standards of relevant international conventions (regulation 6(1));

(ii) compliance with the applicable international standards shall be assessed solely by reference to the testing standards specified in Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1734 and to the EC conformity-assessment procedures specified in the Regulations (regulation 6(2));

(iii) requirements of the EC conformity-assessment procedures (regulations 11 to 18);

(iv) the creation of a criminal offence of affixing the mark of conformity to equipment (see regulation 18) otherwise than in conformity with the Regulations, tampering with or altering such a mark or placing on the market, supplying or exposing or offering for supply any equipment which bears a mark affixed otherwise than in conformity with the Regulations or which no longer complies with the applicable international standards (regulation 20);

(v) the creation of a criminal offence (as respects both the owner and master of the ship) of the breach of the provisions of the Regulations in respect of the placing on board ships of equipment which does not comply with the Regulations (regulation 21).

A compliance cost assessment has been produced and a copy placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament. Copies can be obtained from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Road, Southampton SO15 1EG (telephone number: 01703 329186).

Copies of the relevant international conventions can be obtained from the International Maritime Organisation, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 75R. Copies of Merchant Shipping Notices can be obtained from Eros Marketing Support Services Ltd., Unit B, Imber Court Trading Estate, Orchard Lane, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 0BN (telephone number: 0181 957 5028).