The Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Madeat 9.50 a.m. on 27th March 2023

Laid before Parliamentat 3.00 p.m. on 27th March 2023

Coming into force1st May 2023

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 79(1)(a) of the Merchant Shipping Act 19951.

The Secretary of State has consulted with such organisations referred to in section 306(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

Citation and commencement1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 and come into force on 1st May 2023.

2

These Regulations extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Amendment of the Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 19872

1

The Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 19872 are amended as follows.

2

In regulation 3(2)—

a

omit paragraph (a);

b

in paragraph (c), after the words “who is a cadet”, insert the words “or who is employed in a fishing vessel”.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

VereParliamentary Under Secretary of StateDepartment for TransportAt 9.50 a.m. on 27th March 2023

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Merchant Shipping (Seamen’s Documents) Regulations 1987 (S.I. 1987/408) to allow seamen employed in fishing vessels to apply for a British Seaman’s Card.

Regulation 2(2)(a) removes seamen employed in fishing vessels from those excluded from eligibility to apply for a British Seaman’s Card.

Regulation 2(2)(b) includes seamen employed in fishing vessels to be exempt from exclusion from eligibility to apply for a British Seaman’s Card in circumstances where they may earn no or nominal wages.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant impact, on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen. An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.