3.—(1) In these Regulations, “Assigning Authority” means the Secretary of State or any person authorised by the Secretary of State.
(2) Authorisation under paragraph (1) may be given conditionally or unconditionally.
(3) Unless the Assigning Authority is the Secretary of State, the Assigning Authority must comply with regulation 2-1 of Annex I (authorisation of recognized organizations).
(4) The Assigning Authority must assign freeboards to a United Kingdom ship in accordance with the requirements of these Regulations.
(5) The Assigning Authority must in particular—
(a)determine the particulars of the freeboards to be assigned;
(b)determine which of the load lines described in Annex I are to be marked on the sides of the ship in accordance with the requirements of that Annex;
(c)determine the position where the appropriate marks are to be so marked; and
(d)complete a record of the conditions of assignment.
(6) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2), conditions may impose limitations on any person’s authorisation relating to—
(a)individual ships;
(b)classes of ships; and
(c)the extent of any survey to be carried out by that person.
(7) The Secretary of State may direct, in relation to an individual case or to a class of cases, that a survey, or part of a survey, is carried out by the Secretary of State and not by another Assigning Authority.
(8) An Assigning Authority other than the Secretary of State is not to be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown or as enjoying any status, immunity or privilege of the Crown and its property is not to be regarded as property of, or held on behalf of, the Crown.