1. The Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996(1) apply in relation to watercraft as they apply in relation to ships, as if—
(a)in paragraph (1)(a) of regulation 2 (application)—
(i)the reference to United Kingdom ships includes a reference to watercraft registered in the United Kingdom under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, and
(ii)the reference to other ships includes a reference to other watercraft;
(b)the references in regulation 5 (exemptions) to any ship or description of ships includes a reference to any watercraft or description of watercraft;
(c)any reference to a master includes a reference to any person for the time being using a watercraft.
S.I. 1996/75, as amended by S.I. 2004/302 and 2015/664