The Merchant Shipping (Safety at Work Regulations) (Non-UK Ships) Regulations 1988

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations apply to ships other than United Kingdom ships when in ports of the United Kingdom the provisions of the following Regulations (with minor exceptions of matters not appropriate to foreign ships):—

• The Merchant Shipping (Guarding of Machinery and Safety of Electrical Equipment) Regulations 1988

• The Merchant Shipping (Means of Access) Regulations 1988

• The Merchant Shipping (Entry into Dangerous Spaces) Regulations 1988

• The Merchant Shipping (Hatches and Lifting Plant) Regulations 1988

• The Merchant Shipping (Safe Movement on Board Ship) Regulations 1988

As previously worded those Regulations only give certain powers of inspection and detention of foreign ships for compliance with the Regulations. These Regulations enable criminal proceedings to be taken for non-compliance.

The Regulations amended give effect in part to the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention 1976 (International Labour Organisation Convention 147) (Cmnd 7163), laid before Parliament on 24 April 1978 and ratified by the United Kingdom on 28 November 1980 which is in force internationally and requires provisions to be made substantially equivalent to those of (amongst other Conventions) the Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention 1970 (International Labour Organisation Convention 134, Article 4) (Cmnd 4800) which is in force but has not been ratified by the United Kingdom. The Regulations as now amended implement fully certain provisions of the Convention, and a recommendation, concerning occupational safety and health in dock work (International Labour Organisation Convention 152) (Cmnd 8118) laid before Parliament in December 1980 and in force internationally, but not ratified by the United Kingdom.

The command papers containing I.L.O. Conventions 147 and 134, Cmnd 7163 and Cmnd 4800, are no longer in print, but photocopies of them may be obtained through Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Copies of I.L.O. Conventions may also be obtained from the UK Office of the I.L.O., Vincent House, Vincent Square, London SW1P 2NB.