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

Regulation 2(1)

SCHEDULE 1 U.K. Amendments

The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993 U.K.

1.  The Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993(1) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 1 para. 1 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

2.  In regulation 1(2), for the definition of “pleasure vessel” substitute— U.K.

““pleasure vessel” means a pleasure vessel as defined in regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025(2);”.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 1 para. 2 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997 U.K.

3.  The Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997(3) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 1 para. 3 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

4.  In regulation 2(2), in the definition of “sea-going”, for sub-paragraph (a)(iii) substitute— U.K.

“(iii) a ship which is a large vessel within the meaning of regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 in respect of which a certificate of compliance has been issued in accordance with regulation 9 of those Regulations; or”.

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 1 para. 4 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010 U.K.

5.  The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Medical Certification) Regulations 2010(4) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 1 para. 5 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

6.  In regulation 2, in the definition of “sea-going”, for paragraph (c) substitute— U.K.

“(c) a ship which is a large vessel within the meaning of regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 in respect of which a certificate of compliance has been issued in accordance with regulation 9 of those Regulations, or”.

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. 1 para. 6 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2013 U.K.

7.  The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2013(5) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I7 Sch. 1 para. 7 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

8.  In regulation 2(1), in the definition of “sea-going”, for paragraph (c) substitute— U.K.

“(c) a ship which is a large vessel within the meaning of regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 in respect of which a certificate of compliance has been issued in accordance with regulation 9 of those Regulations; or”.

Commencement Information

I8 Sch. 1 para. 8 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

9.  Omit regulation 3(1). U.K.

Commencement Information

I9 Sch. 1 para. 9 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014 U.K.

10.  The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc) Regulations 2014(6) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I10 Sch. 1 para. 10 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

11.  In regulation 2(1), in the definition of “sea-going”, for paragraph (c) substitute— U.K.

“(c) a ship which is a large vessel within the meaning of regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 in respect of which a certificate of compliance has been issued in accordance with regulation 9 of those Regulations; or”.

Commencement Information

I11 Sch. 1 para. 11 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014 U.K.

12.  The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Recruitment and Placement) Regulations 2014(7) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I12 Sch. 1 para. 12 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

13.  In regulation 2(1), in the definition of “sea-going”, for paragraph (c) substitute— U.K.

“(c) a ship which is a large vessel within the meaning of regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 in respect of which a certificate of compliance has been issued in accordance with regulation 9 of those Regulations; or”.

Commencement Information

I13 Sch. 1 para. 13 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018 U.K.

14.  The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Hours of Work) Regulations 2018(8) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I14 Sch. 1 para. 14 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

15.  In regulation 2(1), in the definition of “sea-going”, for paragraph (c) substitute— U.K.

“(c) a ship which is a large vessel within the meaning of regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025 in respect of which a certificate of compliance has been issued in accordance with regulation 9 of those Regulations; or”.

Commencement Information

I15 Sch. 1 para. 15 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping Fees Regulations 2018 U.K.

16.  The Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018(9) are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I16 Sch. 1 para. 16 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

17.  In Schedule 1 (fees under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995), in the table in paragraph 5 (fees for inspections, etc) of Part 1 (surveys, inspections and applications for exemption)— U.K.

(a) in Section A (crew), in the entry for the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Health and Safety at Work) Regulations 1997, in the third column, after “2016/1026” insert—

• “2018/1109

• 2018/1202

• 2022/1219

• 2025/1195”;

(b) in Section B (crew accommodation), in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc.) Regulations 2014, in the third column, after “2018/667” insert—

• “2020/1166

• 2022/1219

• 2025/1195”;

(c) in Section E (fire and life-saving)—

(i) in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements) Regulations 2020(10), in the third column, after “2023/787” insert “2025/1195”;

(ii) in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 2023(11), in the third column, for “None” substitute “2025/1195”;

(d) in Section H (radio and navigational equipment), in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020(12), in the third column, after “2025/134” insert “2025/1195”.

(e) in Section I (construction and equipment)—

(i) omit the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998;

(ii) in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022(13), in the third column, for “None” substitute—

• “2023/1216

• 2025/1195”;

(iii) in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Cargo and Passenger Ship Construction and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023(14), in the third column, for “None” substitute “2025/1195”;

(iv) at the end—

(aa) in the first column, insert “The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025”;

(bb) in the second column, insert “2025/1195”;

(cc) in the third column, insert “None”.

(f) in Section K (manning and certification), in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022(15), in the third column, for “None” substitute “2025/1195”.

(g) in Section L (survey and certification), in the entry for Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2013, in the third column, for “2018/667” substitute—

• “2018/242

• 2018/667

• 2019/716

• 2022/1219

• 2022/1342

• 2025/1195”;

(h) in Section Q (registration), in the entry for the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993, in the third column, after “2017/879” insert—

• “2018/1221

• 2018/1299

• 2019/509

• 2019/746

• 2022/203

• 2022/241

• 2022/748

• 2025/1195”.

Commencement Information

I17 Sch. 1 para. 17 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022 U.K.

18.  The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations 2022 are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I18 Sch. 1 para. 18 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

19.  In regulation 4(2), in sub-paragraph (h), for “a Code of Practice referred to in regulations 4 or 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998” substitute “regulations 9 or 13 of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025”. U.K.

Commencement Information

I19 Sch. 1 para. 19 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022 U.K.

20.  The Merchant Shipping (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Regulations 2022 are amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I20 Sch. 1 para. 20 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

21.  In regulation 54(2), for sub-paragraph (e) substitute— U.K.

“(e) vessels—

(i) which are small vessels as defined in regulation 3(1) of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025; and

(ii) to which those Regulations apply.”.

Commencement Information

I21 Sch. 1 para. 21 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023 U.K.

22.  The Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023(16) is amended as follows.

Commencement Information

I22 Sch. 1 para. 22 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

23.  In Schedule 2, after paragraph 2, insert— U.K.

Application of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025

3.— (1) The following provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 2025(17) apply in relation to watercraft as they apply in relation to ships.

(2) Regulation 3 (general interpretation), for the purposes of interpreting an applied shipping provision mentioned in this paragraph.

(3) Regulation 5 (exemptions) as if in paragraph (2) the reference to a vessel was a reference to watercraft.

(4) Regulation 6 (equivalents) as if in paragraph (3) the reference to a small vessel was a reference to a watercraft.

(5) Regulation 7 (approvals) as if the reference to a United Kingdom ship was a reference to a watercraft in United Kingdom waters.

(6) Regulation 20 (requirements for small vessels) as if in paragraph (1) the reference to a small vessel was a reference to a watercraft.

(7) Regulation 23 (offences), as if in paragraph (1)—

(a) the reference to a vessel was a reference to a watercraft; and

(b) the reference to the owner and master was a reference to the owner and operator of the watercraft.

(8) Regulation 24 (detention of vessels), as if—

(a) a reference to a vessel was a reference to a watercraft; and

(b) a reference to the master was a reference to the owner or operator of the watercraft.”.

Commencement Information

I23 Sch. 1 para. 23 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

Regulation 2(2)

SCHEDULE 2 U.K. Revocations

Commencement Information

I24 Sch. 2 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

Regulations revoked	References	Extent of revocation
The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) Regulations 1998	S.I. 1998/2771	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) (Amendment) Regulations 2000	S.I. 2000/482	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Consequential and Minor Amendments) Regulations 2014	S.I. 2014/1614	Regulation 11
The Merchant Shipping (Vessels in Commercial Use for Sport or Pleasure) (Amendment) Regulations 2016	S.I. 2016/353	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018	S.I. 2018/242	Regulation 2
The Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendments etc) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018	S.I. 2018/1221	Paragraph 11 of the Schedule
The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements) Regulations 2020	S.I. 2020/501	Paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of Schedule 1
The Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020	S.I. 2020/673	Paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of the Schedule
The Merchant Shipping (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2021	S.I. 2021/1316	Paragraphs 18 and 19 of Schedule 1
The Merchant Shipping (Cargo and Passenger Ship Construction and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023	S.I. 2023/246	Paragraph 11 of the Schedule
The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 2023	S.I. 2023/568	Paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule 1

Regulation 19(2)

SCHEDULE 3 U.K. Large Vessels

Commencement Information

I25 Sch. 3 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The provisions of the statutory instruments listed in the table are disapplied in relation to large vessels which have been issued with a certificate of compliance.

Statutory Instruments	References	Extent of disapplication
The Merchant Shipping (Cargo Ship Construction) Regulations 1997	1997/1509	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998	1998/1011	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1998	1998/2070	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998	1998/2241	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc) Regulations 2014	2014/1613	Regulations 29(2) and 30
The Merchant Shipping (Load Line) (Amendment) Regulations 2018	2018/155	The Whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements) Regulations 2020	2020/501	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020	2020/673	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Cargo and Passenger Ship Construction and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023	2023/246	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 2023	2023/568	The whole Regulations

Regulation 20(2)

SCHEDULE 4 U.K. Small Vessels

Commencement Information

I26 Sch. 4 in force at 12.12.2025, see reg. 1(1)

The provisions of the statutory instruments listed in the table are disapplied in relation to small vessels which have been issued with a Small Sport or Pleasure Code Certificate.

Statutory Instruments	References	Extent of disapplication
The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection: Small Ships) Regulations 1998	1998/1011	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998	1998/2241	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Maritime Labour Convention) (Minimum Requirements for Seafarers etc) Regulations 2014	2014/1613	Regulations 29(2) and 30
The Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 2015	2015/508	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 2016	2016/1025	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements) Regulations 2020	2020/501	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Regulations 2020	2020/673	The whole Regulations
The Merchant Shipping (Fire Protection) Regulations 2023	2023/568	The whole Regulations

(1)

S.I. 1993/3138, amended by S.I. 1999/3206; there are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(2)

S.I. 2025/1195.

(3)

S.I. 1997/2962, amended by S.I. 2014/1616; there are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(4)

S.I. 2010/737, amended by S.I. 2014/1614; there are other amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(5)

S.I. 2013/1785, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(6)

S.I. 2014/1613, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(7)

S.I. 2014/1615, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(8)

S.I. 2018/58, to which there are amendments not relevant to these Regulations.

(9)

S.I. 2018/1104, amended by S.I. 2022/1169, 2022/1218, 2022/1219, 2022/1269, 2023/246, 2023/568, 2023/1216 and 2025/1103; there are other amendments which are not relevant to these Regulations.

(10)

S.I. 2020/501, amended by S.I. 2022/1219 and 2023/787.

(11)

S.I. 2023/568.

(12)

S.I. 2020/673, amended by S.I. 2015/134.

(13)

S.I. 2022/1219, to which there is an amendment not relevant to these Regulations.

(14)

S.I. 2023/246.

(15)

S.I. 2022/1342.

(16)

S.I. 2023/35. These Regulations amend the Order in reliance on section 105(1) of the Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20).

(17)

S.I. 2025/1195.