The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025

Exemptions U.K.

5.—(1) The Secretary of State may exempt from any requirement of these Regulations or the relevant code of practice a large vessel or class of large vessel if satisfied that the conditions in paragraph (3) of chapter 1.10 (exemptions)(1) of the relevant code of practice are met.

(2) The Secretary of State may in exceptional circumstances not provided for in paragraph (1) exempt from any provision of these Regulations or the relevant code of practice a vessel or class of vessel if satisfied that compliance with such provision is either impracticable or unreasonable in the case of that vessel or class of vessel.

(3) An exemption under paragraph (1) or (2) may be granted subject to such safety requirements as the Secretary of State thinks fit to ensure the overall safety of the vessel.

(4) An exemption granted under paragraph (1) or (2) may, on the giving of reasonable notice, be altered or cancelled.

(5) An exemption granted under paragraph (1) or (2), or an alteration or cancellation under paragraph (4), must—

(a) be in writing;

(b) specify the date on which it takes effect; and

(c) specify the terms, if any, on which it is given.

(6) The requirement that the exemption granted under paragraph (1) or (2), or an alteration or cancellation under paragraph (4), be in writing is satisfied where the text of the approval is—

(a) transmitted by electronic means;

(b) received in legible form; and

(c) capable of being used for subsequent reference.

(7) Where an exemption is granted subject to safety requirements under paragraph (3), the exemption ceases to have effect if those requirements are not complied with.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Reg. 5 applied (with modifications) (12.12.2025) by S.I. 2023/35, Sch. 2 para. 3 (as inserted by The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1195), reg. 1(1), Sch. 1 para. 23 (with reg. 4))

Commencement Information

I1 Reg. 5 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

(1)

The Conventions referred to in paragraph (3) of chapter 1.10 are listed in Annex L to the Common Annexes, which is applied by Chapter 3 of Part A of the Red Ensign Yacht Code. The Common Annexes are found at https://www.redensigngroup.org/media/1alpazfg/reg-yc-july-2024-edition-common-annexes.pdf.